Review of The Armstrong Lie (2013) by Thomas W — 25 Apr 2014

If we didn't already know that Lance Armstrong was a sociopathic megalomaniac, this documentary might be shocking to its audience. In 2009, filmmaker/documentarian Alex Gibney was hired to make a film that chronicled the glorious comeback of Armstrong to the Tour de France after years of retirement.

At the time, Armstrong was a polarizing figure who dodged many doping allegations and accusations throughout his numerous Tour wins after the man had miraculously -- I STILL give him this -- overcome advanced testicular cancer years before that had spread throughout his body all the way to his brain.

As his chances of survival were low, it was even more remarkable that the survivor was able to return to the world of professional cycling as it is an ardently strenuous sport. But ... the man has proven to be much a fraud as Armstrong's vanity-driven (?) return to the Tour resulted in him officially testing positive for a lesser-known performance enhancing drug that brought down his career.

Armstrong the man is despicably selfish and vain and he used his celebrity and influence to destroy the lives of his detractors that had called him out years ago. Gibney ultimately comes across a little soft on the man but the doc still reveals the power of fame and money and what it can do for those who wield it.

Armstrong is a survivor but he is also a slithering snake who is still not fully aware that he ever did anything wrong. Of course ... he's also now a "victim" (or so he says). "Poor" him.