https://staging2.theplaylist.net/review-lance-armstrong-drama-the-program-starring-ben-foster-lacks-insight-20160315/ Wed, 31 Aug 2016 02:59:18 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://staging2.theplaylist.net/review-lance-armstrong-drama-the-program-starring-ben-foster-lacks-insight-20160315/#comment-128064 Mon, 23 May 2016 02:51:39 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2016/more/uncategorized/review-lance-armstrong-drama-the-program-starring-ben-foster-lacks-insight-261674/#comment-128064 Saw this crap at TIFF last year. We know Toronto gives standing ovations to any film, but for this one, the tepid applause, the half empty auditorium and the lack of enthusiasm was so evident that I felt bad for Frears and his cast.
Granted the mediocre script and direction are the main reason this film belongs to Lifetime TV, but I absolutely disagree that Foster’s performance was any good. He’s over the top, you can see how hard he tries and chews scenery like he usually does in other movies. That’s one of the reasons he’s still underrated as you said, and he will continue to be for a long time if he keeps choosing Oscar-bait roles. His main characteristic as an actor is being oriented to roles that are showy and over the top enough to guarantee a couple of scenes that people would mistake as great acting. IMO, he’s one of the reasons the Armstrong portrayal remains on the surface and lake of insight: the kid is unable to be subtle, he needs to chew scenery. Just think about this: doing the junkets Foster was convinced that he gave a balanced, insightful portray as Lance the good guy, whereas every person that watches the movies comes to the conclusion that he’s Tony Montana on a bike. What a disconnection between what the actor believes he did and what the audience perceives. Best performance of the film? Jesse Plemons.

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