Icare

Just noticed that most of reviews rate either very high (9/10 or 10/10) if the reviewer believes this movie tells the truth or very low (1/10 or 2/10) if the reviewer dismisses this movie as propaganda.

Now in year 2020 we already know that the facts in this movie have been confirmed (in 2019 WADA recommended that Russia be barred from hosting and participating for 4 years).

The movie is gripping and interesting and as I said, is underrated because of 1/10 rates claiming it is a propaganda movie which is not.

On the negative side: I would like to see more clarity and more documents in such an investigation movie, similar to e.g. 'Chaika' or "Don't call him Dimon" by FBK.

I almost never write reviews for anything, but after seeing this movie and seeing a completely spiteful, misinformed review from another poster I feel obliged to post. This is an incredibly powerful documentary that had me at the edge of my seat for nearly the entire two hours. Honestly have no idea what movie the other poster was watching or if they're simply bitter or don't enjoy the documentary format, but I highly recommend this to anyone in an interest in sport, current world politics (US/Russia), or conspiracy. Both the director Bryan and protagonist Grigory are engaging and entertaining, and the movie will seriously leave you feeling like you just got a backstage pass to a very recent global conspiracy between Russia and the world.

This documentary shows in a fascinating yet disturbing way the lengths to which Russian officials, and subjectively, the lengths of how everyone in sports takes winning over ethical and moral values. The truly intricate system in which Russia doped their athletes and evaded/cheated the doping tests is incredible, and even more baffling is how deep within Russian society and high level government officials the doping scandal gets. A truly fascinating watch, very well made, keeps you interested throughout its long run-time.

I wanted to write this review because I don't understand how anyone can claim that this is for a fact propaganda, without providing any proof. Those reviewers say the movie is propaganda because the filmmakers have no proof, yet I would say the movie provided more than they did for their claims.

Anyone can scream propaganda - but I would like to know why. This movie started years ago when Brian didn't even have a clear idea on what his documentary will be about exactly (nor am I sure he was even trying to make a full documentary). It was born out of personal reasons but he came across something he couldn't have imagined. So, he ended up with an incredibly shocking documentary which took years to be made.

Those who say it's propaganda just because it involves the Russians; I couldn't care less if it were Russians, English or Brazilian. What shocked me was the incredible amount of evidence and detail this RUSSIAN man gave to the public about an incredibly elaborate state-wide conspiracy (and he wasn't the only one, nor was he the one who started this whole thing). It is actually quite incredible how they pulled it off.

So, I am more inclined to believe this person who devoted years of his life to expose what was going on and what he himself was also a part of than government officials who say "No, it is not true". If you remember, Lance himself said many times in the beginning that he has never taken drugs. Then, he admitted.

The same thing happens here; someone accuses you of a monstrosity like this one, you are very well going to deny it.

To those whose argument is "well, it's not like the US or China don't have the same doping programme" I say: where is their Grigory? That's the difference.

To me, it is incredible how a nation could have gotten away with this. Well, not really - Putin can get away with anything. Just like the US.

It's a documentary about doping in sports. While opining on the many incidents of drugs in sports, it quickly zeroes in on the Russian efforts. Grigory Rodchenkov led the Russian national anti-doping program and would become a big time whistleblower. His allegations lead to physical evidences of cheating in Sochi after the Russians suffered an embarrassing performance in Vancouver.

Cheating in sports is a big target. Grigory's whistleblowing is very compelling. I do remember some of the news reports during that time. It's even less sophisticated that I imagined. The bottles are left with marks and there are telltale chemicals in the samples. So the allegations are undeniable and therefore they will keep denying. They are not geniuses and more like arrogant brutes. They keep lying and force their lies upon the world until they shout down everyone else. It's the new world order and nice guys finish last.