The Armstrong Lie

Name: The Armstrong Lie
Genre: Documentary
Released: November 8, 2013
Duration: 124 min
Rating: 67
Cast: Lance Armstrong

2013

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Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Ratings

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7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Ratings

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The Armstrong Lie

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: November 8, 2013 | R

Starring: Lance Armstrong

Summary: In 2009 Alex Gibney was hired to make a film about Lance Armstrong's comeback to cycling. The project was shelved when the doping scandal erupted, and re-opened after Armstrong's confession. [Sony Pictures Classics]

Director: Alex Gibney

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: R

Runtime: 124 min

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Critic Reviews

Chuck Wilson

Nov 5, 2013

To use a phrase from the film, The Armstrong Lie is a "myth-buster." It's wholly necessary, brilliantly executed, and a complete bummer. Read full review

Chris Nashawaty

Nov 6, 2013

It's a fascinating film that points the finger at a charismatic master of deception — as well as our willingness to buy his deceit. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Nov 7, 2013

The whole truth about the complicated, charismatic man may never come out, but The Armstrong Lie is closer than we ever thought we'd get. Read full review

Ella Taylor

Nov 8, 2013

If Gibney was looking for contrition, though, he didn't find it. Armstrong is candid about his doping and his legendary belligerence with the press. But he's confessing, not apologizing. And that "maybe not," mumbled to Oprah, is about as equivocal as he gets — on or off camera. Read full review

Jeff Baker

Dec 12, 2013

All of Gibney's movies are worth watching. The best ones – "We Steal Secrets" (about WikiLeaks), "Client 9" (about Spitzer) and "Taxi to the Dark Side" (about Afghanistan) – speak truth to power in daring, unexpected ways. The Armstrong Lie feels like wheel-spinning, outraged that Armstrong lied not only to millions of people but to Gibney and then not pushing the evidence to the finish line. Read full review

Sara Stewart

Nov 7, 2013

Overall, Gibney does a fine job documenting the timeless nature of Armstrong’s fall from grace. It’s undeniably satisfying to see the man himself lay it out: “It’s very hard to control the truth forever,” he says, awkwardly. “This has been my downfall.” Read full review

Elizabeth Weitzman

Nov 7, 2013

There’s so much more to this story — as any number of articles about the people he wronged attest — but this time, Gibney never really gets in gear. Read full review

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User Reviews

Trailesque

Mar 14, 2023

Here is another excellent documentary from Alex Gibney, focusing on one of our era's most fascinating morality tales. I saw another film that was much harsher in its assessment of the great cyclist and cheater Lance Armstong. Gibney had a lot of access to his subject, and his viewpoint isHere is another excellent documentary from Alex Gibney, focusing on one of our era's most fascinating morality tales. I saw another film that was much harsher in its assessment of the great cyclist and cheater Lance Armstong. Gibney had a lot of access to his subject, and his viewpoint is more nuanced. We can see that Armstrong is a complicated man, and that while he clearly lied and connived and meted out revenge to some, he was also a positive presence in many people's lives, and he has done some wonderful charity work. Also, it is important to remember that while Lance was admittedly using banned substances and practices, so was pretty much every other cyclist - they really were all doing it. The film sets out to cover his 2009 attempt at a Tour de France comeback, and ends up doing that and a lot more. As always with Gibney's work, there is some great footage and excellent interviews to take in.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

foxgrove

Jul 22, 2014

A riveting film from documentary film maker Alex Gibney about 7 times Tour De France winner Lance Armstrong. What started out as a celebration of the man and his achievements became something else entirely when mid production it was revealed that Armstrong had used body enhancing drugs toA riveting film from documentary film maker Alex Gibney about 7 times Tour De France winner Lance Armstrong. What started out as a celebration of the man and his achievements became something else entirely when mid production it was revealed that Armstrong had used body enhancing drugs to assist him to those triumphs. The man himself comes over as a paradox, charismatic on one hand, but also Machiavellian and self serving. His life has certainly been eventful, what with his bout with cancer, and one does get a sense that he feels a deep sorrow about the lie that not only crushed him, but also affected the lives of many others. The film pertinently points out that even though his 7 championships were won with the help of drugs, this was in an era when the whole sport was tarnished in this way. It's also interesting to be privy to other smaller corruptions that were taking place on the track, with intense rivalries not just between other teams and individuals, but also between team mates! This is what documentary film making should be all about. It is both Informative and compelling.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

geewah

Feb 2, 2022

Gibney's doco on Lance Armstrong starts off about his comeback to cycling, but morphs into a fasinating look at this narcissistic bully and drug cheat who shows no remorse and those who enabled it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JE61

Nov 17, 2013

The Armstrong Lie is an allegorical tale of America. Lance Armstrong exhibits phenomenal athletic greatness and Machiavellian villainy. With the complicity of the media, Armstrong shrewdly sells the beautiful lie because that's what people want to believe meanwhile abusing power crushing theThe Armstrong Lie is an allegorical tale of America. Lance Armstrong exhibits phenomenal athletic greatness and Machiavellian villainy. With the complicity of the media, Armstrong shrewdly sells the beautiful lie because that's what people want to believe meanwhile abusing power crushing the weak in order to perpetuate fairy tale. Gibney is a consummate story teller and provides insight into the complex relationships of big money corporate sports in an age of moral relativism.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

rebelmswar

Sep 23, 2015

Cycling and dope and a dude lying through his teeth... on film.

This had me so disliking the person that the mere watching of it further was becoming increasingly difficult. A fabulously made documentary that shows hypocrisy of the highest order.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

alwayswatching

Jan 2, 2015

Just a movie to convince us that we should forgive Armstrong even though he used performance enhancement drugs and lied about it over and over and over. If you want to get a glimpse of arrogance, watch Armstrong in this documentary.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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