The Program review: Ben Foster exposes the dark heart of drugs cheat Lance Armstrong

Ben Foster looks and sounds a lot like Lance Armstrong in The Program, but director Stephen Frears fails to get under the skin of a drugs cheat stripped of his seven consecutive Tour de France titles.

Frears doesn't hang about when it comes to the doping scandal, cutting straight to Armstrong's confession on Oprah in January 2013 before tracking back to chronicle his habitual drug-taking, of which there was plenty. These early scenes create instant shock value before the film settles into a groove, following Armstrong's descent without ever going too deep. Lone Survivor's Foster plays the part, warts n'all, arguably veering too far towards the uglier side of Armstrong's character.

His arrogance is fuel to get him from the day-racing circuit in America to leading the pack in the gruelling European road races which Fears shoots in atypically dynamic style. Beneath that, there are hints of Armstrong's victim complex. Alex Gibney's 2013 documentary The Armstrong Lie painted a more detailed picture of the man in this regard, which was more sympathetic without pulling punches.

Armstrong's much-publicised battle with cancer is not the turning point although screenwriter John Hodge (Trainspotting, Trance) uses it as the hinge for his fall from grace. Working from a book by The Times journalist David Walsh (here, portrayed in standard crusade mode by Chris O'Dowd) it marks the moment when Armstrong first admits to doping after being confronted by his oncologist.

Crucially, he allowed teammate Frankie Andreu (Edward Hogg) and his wife Betsy (Elaine Cassidy) to stay in the room, a decision that comes back to haunt him. Of course, Frankie was also doping - along with the entire US Postal team (1998-2005) - in the most systematic, efficiently run program of drug-taking currently known about in sports.

Apart from that, what fascinates here is the apparent untouchability of Armstrong; hiding in plain sight on a playing field where it seems everyone is dosed up. But as he becomes more dominant among his peers, on and off the course, he also becomes more remote as a character. He builds a defensive shield around himself and Frears can't get past it.

Breaking Bad's Jesse Plemons becomes the beating heart of the film, playing his young Quaker teammate Floyd Landis, whose doubts about the program (and a sense of personal injury after being caught out) offer a counterpoint of human emotion after Armstrong has made himself a machine.

The brains behind 'the program', team doc Michele Ferrari (Guillaume Canet) is another intriguing figure, not motivated by money but, rather like a modern-day Dr Frankenstein, eager to perfect the chemical formula for superhuman endurance. It's easy to see Armstrong as his monster and Foster delivers vein-throbbing rage in bucket-loads.

There are moments when Armstrong reveals a conscience, too – and a heart – like the time he spends with a young cancer patient. Conceivably, the Livestrong Foundation is Armstrong's personal program for redemption - or else just a way of justifying his sins. It's never clear to see. Frustratingly, Frears only circles around the real Lance Armstrong, watching him as he builds his legend and countering that with an enigma.

Director: Stephen Frears; Screenwriter: John Hodge; Starring: Ben Foster, Chris O'Dowd, Jesse Plemons, Dustin Hoffman, Lee Pace; Running time: 103 mins; Certificate: 15