Common Sense Media Review
By Tracy Moore
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Intense docu about cyclist's fraud has some strong language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Stop at Nothing: The Lance Armstrong Story
What's the Story?
Lance Armstrong fooled the world about the extent of his gifts as a cyclist, but eventually the friends he relied on to protect his extensive doping scheme would expose him after he asked too much of them. Archival footage of news conferences, depositions, press conferences, and key interviews with former friends and members of the cycling community show how deep the deception went, and to what lengths Armstrong was willing to go to protect his image as an extraordinary winner.
Is It Any Good?
If you followed the Armstrong case at all, there's not much in STOP AT NOTHING: THE LANCE ARMSTRONG STORY that feels breakthrough. But there's something to piecing together the full timeline of events with Armstrong's persistent denials, badmouthing, and stonewalling that gives viewers an added grasp on the extent of the deception and the nightmare of the experience for the former friends and fellow cyclists he dragged through the mud.
There's a bit of f-bomb profanity throughout from Betsy Andreu, in some cases understandable because she was particularly maliciously discredited by Armstrong. But for sports fans or those interested in watching how we build our heroes up, only to tear them down, there's a good train wreck here to pick over and discuss. Teens will extract a glimpse of understanding into our desperate need to believe that athletes are gods among men, when they are, in fact, just men.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the Stop at Nothing's portrayal of Armstrong. Is he humanized at all in the documentary? Why or why not?
How much does the culture of needing winners or heroes factor into the Armstrong story? What does his ability to get away with doping for so long say about us as sports fans?
What was the price of honesty for some of the people in the documentary? Do you think those who lied should be forgiven? What was the real consequence of Armstrong's deceit?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : May 27, 2014
- Cast : Lance Armstrong , Betsy Andreu , Frankie Andreu
- Director : Alex Holmes
- Studio : Indie Rights
- Genre : Documentary
- Run time : 104 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : March 13, 2020
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