Wednesday 10 February 2016

Alternate Best Actor 2015: Ben Foster in The Program

Ben Foster did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Lance Armstrong in The Program.

The Program details the story of Lance Armstrong and his drug doping in order to become the number one cyclist in the world.

The Program is a film that struggles to work in a rather strange fashion leaving the always underrated Ben Foster in a rather odd position. Now a bad film being centered around a performance is a rather common occurrence, but that's not what The Program is. The Program falters in part due to extremely rushed pace as it tries to cram in every detail of Armstrong's life including his first Tour de France,  the general culture of doping in the sport, Floyd Landis(Jesse Plemons)'s own similair story, and David Walsh(Chris O'Dowd)'s trials trying to uncover all of this. This actually presents even more of challenge than just questionable material as Foster is barely given any time to cover any given facet of Armstrong's life as the film moves from one aspect to the next in rapid succession. To make things even harder the film almost has a belligerent tone towards Armstrong, not that he's not a man who deserves some scorn, but the film does feel somewhat reactionary. The film has a certain tone almost as though it's saying "You know this is what Armstrong really was like?", as though to be the opposite of the original most likely inspirational film planned for the man. So where does that leave Ben Foster? Well yet again without a true break out, but that's never made Ben Foster phone it in before.

Now just to examine the film's kind of absurd pace in a matter of the first eighteen minutes of the film we get Lance before his first Tour De France race, losing to dopers, taking the dope himself, winning a portion of the race, getting diagnosed with cancer, going through his cancer treatment, trying to rebuild himself, then going to the mastermind behind the doping to become a true champ. This is all within also frequently cutting away to David Walsh covering the tour as well. It's more than a little ridiculous and it would be easy to see how an actor would not be able to find their grounding for his character in time. Ben Foster pulls it off though. Before the first race Foster brings the enthusiasm of a real athlete as his claim of just wanting to ride his bike seems to be the truth. With the loss though Foster reveals the palatable desire in Lance to simply compete, and is able to show even his choice in doping as surprisingly sympathetic through his depiction of just a desire to be able stand against the other dopers. The original choice, despite it being rushed over, Foster manages to bring some vulnerability within the decision that in no way comes from just a crazed ego. At this point Foster importantly barely portrays any ego in Lance, rather just a man who wants to succeed.

This begins to change when he begins to win and Foster's excellent in crafting the development of his personality through the excessive confidence he portrays after winning part of the race. This though is quickly changed when Armstrong coughs up blood and finds out he has cancer. Foster is indeed heartbreaking in the scene as he shows the reality of the situation crush that earlier confidence in a matter of seconds. In the cancer scenes Foster continues to excel in portraying the damage of the treatment physically as well as mentally. Foster realizes the weakness in the man as he painfully tries to remind himself that he was the champ. There are some great moments for Foster on the road to recovery and he never lets the pace of the film trip him up. In these scenes Foster manages to find the needed pathos for Lance as he portrays just how vulnerable he has become due to his cancer. Even in one of the scenes where he must interact with the dopers' mad scientist played by Guillaume Canet doing everything his power to ruin the scene with his own performance, Foster is able to save it to a certain degree through so vividly realizing how spent Lance is emotionally suggesting the way this state of defeat sends him to only go down further in the path of doping.

Before he relaunches his bike career, now with a specific strategy, and an agent, Lance also wants something else. That being his own organization to help in the fight against cancer. Although the scene is set up as though it wants to be slightly superficial with the way his intention is broken down by the agent, Foster does not play it as such. There's only a very real passion in his voice when he mentions the idea, and in no way attempts to alter Lance's intention with his performance. Lance quickly makes his way back in the tour de France and with his team of dopers easily squash the competition. As the victories mount up Foster grows Lance's ego brilliantly because he does not make this a distinctly negative thing at first. When Lance is in competition or trying to hide his drug usage Foster brings out this larger than life charm, making Lance a guy who just seems happy to be alive. However the problems of the ego develop just as quickly as in more private moments, or when someone questions his legitimacy. Foster is so perfectly smarmy. He carries the right pompousness that gives the sense of entitlement as though he's above being questioned even.

Foster does not let the negative elements overwhelm his performance, though the film seems to desire the opposite at times. When Lance gives a speech in front of his organization Foster succeeds in being downright inspiring by bringing back only that real passion once again as Lance is fighting against cancer. He stands as the great sportsmen he should be, and in these moments Foster again only allows this to be true. An outstanding moment for Foster again comes right afterwards as Lance ponders on his struggle with cancer again. Foster reveals well just again that vulnerability in the man whose been through a terrible ordeal, and even though the dialogue almost suggests he's faking it Foster does not play it that way. There's another scene where Lance visits children with cancer and takes time to visit one patient in particular. Again its hard to shake the feeling that the film almost wants to undercut this in some way. Foster seems to refuse this once again by depicting only a genuine empathy in Lance as he looks upon the sick boy, as Lance's own memories of his treatment seem to be flooding through his mind by Foster's reaction. Foster does not allow this humanity in Lance to be forgotten and makes it a pivotal part of who Lance is as a person.

Foster allows that to be kept in mind as he only goes down the path of furthering his ego, as he has to deal with continued allegations while he continues to dope up. Foster is the right spokesman in any scene where he answers questions, as again his method to conceal the truth is as though the question should never have been asked in the first place. There's a terrific undercurrent of aggressiveness that Foster brings in these moments as though Lance will ride right over the accusers just as he does the competition. One of my favorite scenes of Foster's performance is when he practicing in the mirror repeating the phrase that "I've never tested positive for performance enhancing drugs". The vanity of the man just oozes out through Foster's performance as he manages to make this reassurance so pathetic, as he shows a man building his own image in the moment, an image of someone who simply is above it all. Foster only builds the the fake image as the film proceeds as the accusations keep coming and he only keeps denying. I think when one heard of Foster being cast in the role they probably thought this would where Foster would shine the most. Well Foster does indeed and is amazing in just creating the raw out of control self-importance. The man only gets bigger and Foster delivers this all the way through bringing that trademark intensity right when it is needed. Foster only keeps growing this showing that Armstrong does not start to think he's as great as his fans think he is, but rather greater. Foster plays this as a man only going faster and faster as he begins to believe he can accomplish anything, anything at all, though along with this he only seems to become more and more hollow. The film rushes Lance's confession, as there is basically one scene then suddenly he's confessing. The dialogue in the scene that sets this up even makes it sound like Lance's ego makes Lance do it, that way he's personally cleaning up cycling. Again Foster brings far more nuance to the role and makes sense to why Lance's confesses. It is an astonishing scene for Foster as he presents a man who at this point just wants to stop as he seems to have nothing left of himself anymore. Foster is even heartbreaking, after having been the villain, by playing it as a moment of self-reflection as though Lance knows all his work has simply made him false icon. Foster even with the film ridiculous pace never misses a step effectively showing were Lance is at any given point, and never making his personal arc feel disjointed. He never loses sight of the character finding the right moral complexity in the man rather than being a one note despicable cheater. The Program is not a great film about Lance Armstrong, but Ben Foster gives a great performance as him.

74 comments:

Robert MacFarlane said...

By all accounts, Armstrong is a bigger douche in real life.

Louis Morgan said...

Don't take this review as me defending Armstrong, I was not trying to, rather I firmly believe that biopics are always more effective when they take a more varied approach on the subject matter.

GM said...

1. Tremblay
2. Fassbender
3. Bateman
4. Foster
5. McKellen

Robert MacFarlane said...

I'm gonna wait for the American (probably VOD) release to see this.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Also, on both lists:

1. Segel
2. Jordan
3. Mendelsohn
4. Hardy
5. Depp

1. Bateman
2. Foster
3. Tremblay
4. McKellen
5. Fassbender

Calvin Law said...

1. McKellen
2. Fassbender
3. Foster
4. Bateman
5. Tremblay

Matt Mustin said...

Ben Foster is so, so, underrated. Honestly, I think what he needs is a really great TV role.

RatedRStar said...

Canet was pretty unintentionally hilarious, as for The Program, well it did have a great trailer, helped by that great Placebo song =D.

Ben Foster apparently said he did actually take some drugs to prepare for the role, great dedication even if I do worry a little lol.

Luke Higham said...

Great Review, Great Performance. :)

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Is The Program #3 or #4 on your Ben Foster ranking.

Michael Patison said...

1. Tom Hardy
2. Michael B. Jordan
3. Jason Segel
4. Ben Mendelsohn
5. Johnny Depp

1. Michael Fassbender
2. Ian McKellen
3. Ben Foster
4. Jacob Tremblay
5. Jason Bateman

Alex Marqués said...

Ben Foster has to be one of the most underrated modern actors.

Anonymous said...

Great review. He wouldn't be a 5 for me, but I still liked him.

Michael McCarthy said...

I would argue that it's not just genuine empathy he plays in the scene with the kid, I personally thought it was some of that but also a largely him trying to keep up appearances. Not to belittle the performance though, I actually think that that angle is less compromising to the character.

1. Hardy
2. Segel
3. Jordan
4. Depp
5. Mendelsohn

1. Fassbender
2. Tremblay
3. Foster
4. McKellen
5. Bateman

Anonymous said...

Louis: Ratings and thoughts on:
John Carradine in The Return of Frank James, The Ten Commandments and The Shootist
Arthur Kennedy in Inherit the Wind and Boomerang!
John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn in Rooster Cogburn

RatedRStar said...

Ill change slightly
1. Fassbender
2. Foster
3. McKellen
4. Tremblay
5. Bateman

JackiBoyz said...

1. Michael Fassbender
2. Ben Foster
3. Jacob Tremblay
4. Ian McKellen
5. Jason Bateman

RatedRStar said...

I saw Al Pacino in Cruising, yep didnt really like that one, sorry Mark Kermode lol.

Anonymous said...

RatedRStar: What is your rating for Pacino in Cruising?

Calvin Law said...

Louis: is Christoph Waltz a 3 or 3.5 for Spectre now? Also revised thoughts on his performance.

RatedRStar said...

Anonymous: 3

Robert MacFarlane said...

I have a friend who made a pretty passionate argument Waltz was one of the year's worst performances.

Alex Marqués said...

Waltz seems to be dangerously close to the "Johnny Depp zone"

Louis Morgan said...

Michael:

I'd argue again that Foster played it as genuine. The scene is written as a put on with him asking the boy if he wants any thing making it seem very superficial. Again I prefer Foster's take which I don't think is compromising the character as I feel its realistic to show Lance to be a bad person who can still do a good thing.

Anonymous:

Carradine - The Return of Frank James - (He really has no part other than to stand around looking evil, but Carradine's still certainly delivers in looking evil)

The Ten Commandments - (Well cast as Aaron, after all he has a great voice, but Aaron really has no purpose when Moses is played by Charlton Heston who also has a great voice. Aaron really does not do much but Carradine does well with what he has)

The Shootist - (An enjoyable single scene performance being perfectly cast as undertaker, as he brings a nice darkly comic approach as he grimly inquires on handling Wayne's remains)

Arthur Kennedy - Boomerang! - 3.5(He's rather good in his first scenes in depicting emotionally vulnerable state of his character and gives sense to why he would give a confession to the crime he did not commit. Then he is in fact rather moving in giving his straightforward and genuine testimony later in the film)

Kennedy's not in Inherit the Wind.

John Wayne - (Basically does what he did in True Grit no better no worse really either)

Hepburn - 3(Basically doing her African Queen routine but this time its a bit less inspired, though it still works just fine)

Calvin:

3, and I could go lower Batista gave the better villain performance. That's not an extra dig by the way, Batista is quickly proving himself to be quite a capable actor. Waltz's whole take just felt uninspired. He did not have a lot to work with to begin with I'll grant, but you know Donald Pleasance had even less to work with and did more with the part. He gave just an extremely stock villain performance. I hope he does something like Zero Theorem again soon, but it does not look like that's going to be the case.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Oops, sorry. What are your ratings and thoughts on Kennedy in Elmer Gantry?

Anonymous said...

Louis: Do you consider None But The Lonely Heart Grant's worst performance?

Calvin Law said...

Can't believe I was pegging Spectre as my Best Picture choice in November. How my feelings have waned.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

3.5(It's funny that he and Kelly both played a fictionalized version of the same man in the same year, they both do about just as well I'd say. Like Kelly he gets down well the needed biting sardonic attitude for the writer covering something he certainly has a strong opinion of. There is a difference though as Kelly's role requires that he be hollow at heart. Kennedy's requires that his be a good man at heart. Kennedy does this well by portraying a convincing respect in the writer for certain things he feels has value.)

Anonymous:

From what I've seen yes.

Calvin:

Yes it's one I've decided not to re-watch and I'll just hold on to be entertained well enough with my initial viewing.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Who do you think should have played the main role of that film instead of Grant? I wonder what was Grant thinking when he decided to play that part.

Louis Morgan said...

Dirk Bogarde.

Anonymous said...

Louis: So what do you think Twelve O'Clock High needed to be a better film?

Robert MacFarlane said...

Any 2015 movies you have left to see?

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

Well for starters better chosen character actors just to make each stand out more visually, and shot flight footage, the stock footage just did not work.

Robert:

I need to finish Straight Outta Compton one of these days, I started it some time ago, Son of Saul of course which I've had absolutely no chance to see. I'm open to other suggestions.

Calvin Law said...

Me & Earl & The Dying (gets strangled by Robert and Michael McCarthy)

Anonymous said...

Louis: I'd also say that Peck's character probably should have been more complex as well, wouldn't you agree?

Calvin Law said...

On a more serious note re-watching that film killed me, it is quite terrible, I think my liking of it first time round came from just being in a sentimental mindset at the time. I stand by liking Rachel Cooke a lot though.

Calvin Law said...

On a serious note, Mistress America, Life, and True Story are worth watching if only for the performances. Not that they were all great but certainly interesting to talk about.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Zero stars. Literally zero. Olivia Cooke is the only part that would make me reconsider. You thought you hated Diary of a Teenage Girl, Louis? You'd be doing backflips for it if you endured the parade of suck we did with Me and Racial Stereotype and the Dying Plot Device.

Louis Morgan said...

Calvin:

I'm pretty sure Robert warned me that any one who recommends that film must be the devil in disguise, so I'm watching you.

Anonymous:

Yes I'd agree to that as well, that way his breakdown at the end could have been actually earned.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Apparently Gable was the first choice for Douglas' role in The Bad and the Beautiful. How do you think he would have turned out?

Calvin Law said...

Haha :) Frankly none of those films are must - sees so only take a look if you dare heed my word.

On a separate note, saw Deadpool. Enjoyable and does exactly what it says on the package. Perhaps a bit too knowing and clever at points and you can tell it didn't have much of a budget, and the villain is as thin as they come, but I liked it.

Reynolds: 4.5
Baccarin: 2.5
Skrein: 2
Carano: 2.5
Miller: 3.5
Hildebrand: 3

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

A bit strange in that I could've sworn Gable could've been the father of Lana Turner's character in terms of the description for the man.

Anonymous said...

Louis: I'd also say that Gable could have worked as well for Will Kane in High Noon.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Just a reminder, Louis, depending on how high of a score Bateman gets may result in me requesting whoever the hell played "Ill Phil" in Me and Earl for bonus rounds.

Calvin Law said...

Anonymous: I have to disagree, Gable would've probably been ill suited to the stoicness of Kane as a character. I know I'm in the minority here but I've always thought Cooper was a great actor and no one else could've played his role in High Noon as well as he did.

Anonymous said...

Calvin: Well, Gable would have played the character in a different way, but I liked Cooper as well.

Michael Patison said...

Anonymous & Calvin: I agree with Calvin, though I think Gable would've been wrong simply because he had so much charisma. Cooper has some, and his career-best utilization of it is in High Noon imo, but Gable has too much. For me, the most important part of Kane is that he's a hero who doesn't really give a damn about being a hero; he just wants to stop the bad guys. I'm not sure Gable could've done that convincingly.

Michael Patison said...

Has anybody ever tried to make a list of what you think are the top 10 best TV episodes you've ever seen? I'm trying to do it right now and it's one of the harder things I've done recently.

Alex Marqués said...

I've thought about it, but the only thing that I know for sure is that Ozymandias and the last episode of Deadwood's second season would be in the list. And the Remedial Chaos Theory episode from Community.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Is Craig still a 4.5 for Spectre.

Alex Marqués said...

Woah, Guilleme Caunet gives a performance worthy of a "Tommy Wiseau" rating in The Program. Simply awful.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Is Melanie Laurent Lead or Supporting in Inglourious Basterds.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Can I have your ratings and thoughts on Avatar & The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring, The Two Towers and The Return Of The King.

Anonymous said...

Louis: The original choice for Colman's role in A Double Life was Olivier. How do you think he would have turned out?

Anonymous said...

Luke: He probably will give Avatar a rating of 1,5 or 2.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: After reading his thoughts on Titanic, I'd expect less than a 2, as there were no redeeming features whatsoever.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Probably a 1, then?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I'll go with a 1.5.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Foster needed a better script and director for this. He's a great talent that is so underrated.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: It needed another 20 minutes and Foster did the absolute best he could with the material. Foster's unquestionably one of the best actors in the world and it's a shame he's being undervalued.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: If the film was better, You can imagine, how I would feel if he received his first nomination.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I already know that you'd feel happy if he was nominated. I also greatly like him as well.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I will be seeing Deadpool tonight, though Calvin's thoughts do worry me slightly.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Why? Because Deadpool is self-aware?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: No, Weak Villain as usual in a Marvel film, even though it isn't related to the MCU.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I'm sure I'll enjoy it anyway. Looking forward to Reynolds.

Anonymous said...

Luke: We have already discussed 1939 Lead and Supporting a few times, but who do you think is going to be the fifth nominee for Alternate Lead?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Apart from Laughton, Fonda, Cagney and Wayne.
Basil Rathbone in The Hound Of The Baskervilles or The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes
Jean Gabin in Daybreak
Burgess Meredith in Of Mice And Men
or Boris Karloff in Son Of Frankenstein

Anonymous said...

Luke: I'm sure Chaney Jr is going to be put in supporting.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I put him in Lead by accident.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Other likely choices would be Colman in The Light That Failed or Grant in Only Angels Have Wings.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Down to a 4. I put Laurent in lead.

Anonymous:

He would have been perfectly cast in that role, and I think he probably would have been pretty great.

Anonymous said...

There will be 10 for 1939 I think in both categories.

Anonymous said...

Great review. Expected a 5, however.