Film Review: ‘The Armstrong Lie’ Relies Mostly on Overkill

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CHICAGO – Lance Armstrong lied, we get it. He was busted in that lie, and he went to the nations confession facilitator – Oprah – and looked appropriately concerned when he did confess that he was dishonest. Alex Gibney’s further indictment, “The Armstrong Lie,” has the feeling of piling it on.

Rating: 3.0/5.0

This is a dissection of the untruths that Armstrong perpetuated – through his entourage, through his sport of cycling – and does lend context to the circumstance of a bitter situation. But this is 122 minutes long, and it’s like sitting through 122 minutes of the trial scene from ‘JFK’ – “back, and to the left, back and to the left.” It’s overkill, and smacks of a personal hit job. Gibney was originally hired to chronicle Armstrong’s comeback in the Tour de France, but ended up feeling shafted by his own admission. This is comprehensive, but too much, and unless you have a hatred toward Lance Armstrong and/or professional cycling (which is pretty much a farce), just go to YouTube and download the confession to Father Oprah again. That will do just fine.

“The Armstrong Lie” begins with the background. Documentary maker Alex Gibney (“Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room,” “Taxi to the Darkside”) takes on the assignment of Lance Armstrong’s 2009 comeback to win and unprecedented eighth Tour de France championship. In the midst of the filming, the accusations begin to fly about Armstrong’s performance enhancing doping, which he had previous and vehemently denied. The walls start tumbling down.

What’s that line that Rhett says to Scarlett in “Gone with the Wind”? Lance is like the thief who is not regretful about what he stole, but is damn regretful that he got caught. The seven championships were revoked (which brings up a favorite quote of the character Annie Hall - “La di da”) and Lance ends up in Oprahland talking to the guru. Gibney adds several indicting testimonies, including former riders and insiders. We get it, cycling is a cheater’s sport, and Lance was king.

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of ”The Armstrong Lie”

The Cyclist Trains for His Comeback in ‘The Armstrong Lie’ Photo credit: Sony Pictures Classics

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of ”The Armstrong Lie”