Livestrong

Author(s): Ryne
Location: Portland

“Livestrong"



Directed by Sam Mendes
Written by Gregory Allen Howard
Cinematography by Oliver Wood
Make-up by Deena Adair
Art Direction by Richard L. Johnson

Principal Cast:

James Denton as Lance Armstrong
Vera Farmiga as Sheryl Crowe
Matt Dillon as Chris Carmichael
Barbara Streisand as Linda Armstrong Kelly
Ed Harris as Terry Armstrong
Jennifer Esposito as Kristen Richard Armstrong
Michael Douglas as Eddie Gunderson

Tagline: "Riding was his life. Survival is his legacy"

Synopsis: 7- time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong is a man of courage, devotion, and dedication. Livestrong tells the story of this extraordinary man and his ability to push through the troubles of life and come out of top.

Lance Armstrong (Denton) sits impassively in front of a podium outside his house in Texas. He is comforted by his wife, Kristen (Esposito), and his best friend and trainer, Chris Carmichael (Dillon), as he prepares to make his gloomy announcement. Lance’s mind drift to his youth when his father, Eddie Gunderson (Douglas), walked out on both him and his mother, Linda (Streisand). That moment compares nothing in contrast to what he about to face in the coming months. He comes back to reality and addresses the curious crowd. Tearfully, Lance admits he has testicular cancer that has metastasized to his brain and lungs and he has a 3% chance of survival. Lance has a long struggle fighting cancer, but with the help of Kristen, his mother and his stepfather, Terry (Harris), Lance is able to overcome the odds to beat cancer.

Years after first being diagnosed with cancer, Lance has returned to cycling with vengeance. He has to prove to himself that he deserves to still be alive. Because of the lack of a personal relationship and Lance’s time spent training, Kristen files divorce papers and her and Lance divorce six months later. During Lance’s spree of multiple Tour de France victories, he meets Sheryl Crowe (Farmiga) and falls in love with her. However, his newfound love is overshadowed by the suspicion of steroid use, and his sexuality. Lance is hounded with questions about these things every time he steps outside. In November 2005, Lance strains to cope with Sheryl’s diagnosis of breast cancer. It evokes memories of what he had to go through while fighting cancer. He finds comfort from his stepfather and his mother. In a emotional scene, Lance and Linda share recollections from their heartrending past and Lance’s plans for the future with Sheryl.

Livestrong concludes one year later at a cancer awareness benefit. Lance Armstrong tells his story of cancer and what he is doing to help find a cure. In the crowd, sit individuals from Lance’s past. Sheryl Crowe, who is now just a friend, sits at the front table with Chris Carmichael, Terry Armstrong, and Linda Armstrong. Lance smiles at them, but notices a stranger from the past standing by the door. This stranger has come to witness for himself what a courageous and wonderful man his son has become.

What the press would say:

Who is Lance Armstrong? Some might say just a bike rider, others might say a doper. They are wrong. Lance Armstrong is hope; hope for the future, hope for the human race. Sam Mendes’s Livestrong does the life story of Lance Armstrong perfect justice. Mendes somehow pulls this movie off perfectly despite its 150 minute running time. He could have easily made it too controversial or too boring, but he doesn’t overwhelm the audience nor does he dumb the movie down. Mendes asks the most out of all actors and each and every one of them respond to the challenge. James Denton gives a flawless performance as the heroic Lance Armstrong. He shows an array of emotions that even the most veteran of actors would have difficulty achieving. Denton gets inside Lance Armstrong’s skin and portrays him with picture-perfect precision. The Academy should go ahead and just inscribe Denton’s name into his Oscar. This performance is utterly stupendous to the point that it deserves not just one, but two Oscars. His performance might just go down as an all-time great. Outweighed by Denton’s powerhouse performance, are the supporting roles of Vera Farmiga, Matt Dillon, Michael Douglas and Barbara Streisand. Some might question the casting of Vera Farmiga as Sheryl Crowe, but they are wrong. Farmiga is perfect as the beautiful country singer. Her and Denton have such chemistry on the screen that you believe you are watching the real life Lance Armstrong and Sheryl Crowe. Farmiga’s performance ranks among the best of the year. She isn’t afraid to show us the side of Sheryl Crowe we never knew. Matt Dillon gives his best performance of his career as Lance Armstrong’s best friend and trainer. Chris is one of only two people to stick with Lance through all the hard times and Dillon does his character justice with this brilliant performance. His performance is one of his best and it might just be better than his role in Crash. Even with only fifteen minutes of screen time, Michael Douglas gives a great performance as Lance Armstrong’s biological father. The audience will both hate and love Eddie Gunderson. Hatred throughout the movie transformed into love and happiness come the closing moments. However, without a doubt the best supporting performance in this amazing ensemble goes to Barbara Streisand. She impeccably depicts Lance Armstrong warm-hearted mother. Some of the best scenes in Livestrong take place when Linda is alone grieving over either her ex-husband or Lance’s cancer. These scenes are indisputably to the credit of Streisand. She makes these scenes what they are. Her performance shouts “O-S-C-A-R” and I personally believe she will be rewarded with her second Oscar victory. Livestrong is one of the most powerful and meaningful biographical movie to come around in many decades and should be a frontrunner in many categories come award season.

FYC:

Best Picture
Best Director (Sam Mendes)
Best Actor (James Denton)
Best Supporting Actress (Vera Farmiga)
Best Supporting Actress (Barbara Streisand)
Best Supporting Actor (Matt Dillon)
Best Supporting Actor (Michael Douglas)
Best Adapted Screenplay (Gregory Allen Howard)
Best Cinematography (Oliver Wood)
Best Make-up (Deena Adair)
Best Art Direction (Richard L. Johnson)