Filmmaker and avid amateur cyclist Bryan Fogel decides to make a documentary on how easy it is to get away with doping in sport. He sets out to take illegal performance-enhancing substances, improve his cycling performance and show that the substances are undetectable. His task leads him to Grigory Rodchenkov, the head of the Russian anti-doping laboratory. Little does Fogel realise at the time but he is about to be involved in, and a chronicler of, sport's greatest ever doping scandal, as details are revealed of Russia's systemic, widespread, government-sponsored doping program.
Superb documentary. 'Documentary' undersells this film - 'thriller' is more like it. Starts off with a rather simple (though never innocent) agenda with its focus on one issue and evolves into something huge on another (related) issue. There's plot twists and danger, knock-on effects and jaw-dropping revelations. The pacing also feels like a good thriller - starts sedately and gets more and more intense as the film goes on.
Rivalling the revelations for shock value is the fact that film was never meant to be on the ultimate subject. It is pretty much an accidental documentary as the original project could easily have gone nowhere or, at best, would have been low-key. Incredible how candid and unplanned it all is - talk about being in the right place at the right time!
Won the 2018 Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. This was well-deserved - an outstanding documentary.
Superb documentary. 'Documentary' undersells this film - 'thriller' is more like it. Starts off with a rather simple (though never innocent) agenda with its focus on one issue and evolves into something huge on another (related) issue. There's plot twists and danger, knock-on effects and jaw-dropping revelations. The pacing also feels like a good thriller - starts sedately and gets more and more intense as the film goes on.
Rivalling the revelations for shock value is the fact that film was never meant to be on the ultimate subject. It is pretty much an accidental documentary as the original project could easily have gone nowhere or, at best, would have been low-key. Incredible how candid and unplanned it all is - talk about being in the right place at the right time!
Won the 2018 Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. This was well-deserved - an outstanding documentary.