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DIRECTV to launch 'The Program'

posted 9 years ago by cinles
5 replies | jump to latest

DIRECTV and Momentum Pictures announced their exclusive premiere of The Program, the Lance Armstrong movie from Academy Award-nominated director Stephen Frears (The Queen, Philomena), on DIRECTV Cinema this February.

The film, which made its world premiere in September at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival, is about disgraced cycling champion Lance Armstrong’s doping scandal and downfall. It documents the true story of the meteoric rise and fall of one of the most celebrated and controversial men in recent history: Lance Armstrong (Foster), the world-renowned Tour de France champion.

Frears directed The Program from a screenplay by John Hodge (Trainspotting) who adapted the script from David Walsh’s book Seven Deadly Sins: My Pursuit of Lance Armstrong. Besides Lee Pace, the film also stars Guillaume Canet, Jesse Plemons and Academy Award winner Dustin Hoffman.

DIRECTV Cinema is a premium pay-per-view service that brings customers exclusive access to select, new films before they are released in theaters. The DIRECTV Cinema Exclusives Premiere program has premiered over 45 films to date. DIRECTV works with a number of studios to secure films for this program to release films exclusively on DIRECTV during a 30-day window prior to their theatrical debut. This release marks Momentum Pictures’ first exclusive film with the satellite TV provider.

SourceSo when will it be released in theaters & why since it's already on TV?

[–] liki92002 9 years ago

I wouldn't hold my breath for its US release.

[–] cinles 9 years ago

The Program is now out on DVD in the UK. I don't know if it's available in the US.

[–] digitaldiva 9 years ago

Hi liki92002,

The Program got a limited Los Angeles release today. It's only in one theater. I just heard a review on a local station - Despite the stellar cast and famous director, the story just didn't jell.

[–] liki92002 9 years ago

I must say I haven't seen it yet, so I can't talk about the story but I think the movie has had a bad PR from the beginning. Is it because of the subject itself? Maybe. There are people in USA who aren't ready to admit and openly talk about doping.

[–] digitaldiva 9 years ago

Hi liki92002,

Thanks for posting this. I have DIRECTV and will wait to see how the film handles it though I'm not expecting too much. On a personal note, I worked for a company that was a major sponsor of Mr. Armstrong. We used to have posters of the Tour de France in our lobby. People were devastated when the found out the truth. I do want to see The Program but to be honest, I'm not expecting too much.