The Program

I'm a big fan of professional cycling and I was very aware of Lance Armstrong and the controversy surrounding him for many years before his confession. Having seen so much of Lance, cycling, and all the people involved with the Tour throughout the years, it was positively amazing to see how perfectly these actors captured the essence of their subjects. Ben Foster as Armstrong was breathtaking. He nailed every aspect of Lance, from his physical ticks when he speaks to his EXACT posture on the bike. Stephen Frears smartly got David Millar to advise the racing portions of the film, and Millar's oversight brought such an authenticity to the filming that I often could not tell the difference between racing footage and the actors themselves. This film is a tour-de-force job by everyone involved - if you are a fan of cycling you cannot miss this. 4.5/5

The Program on Netflix

Quartet

A perfectly lovely & charming movie with a quiet plot & wonderful acting & music, but I wanted more depth. 3.5/5

Quartet on Netflix

Barney's Version

Paul Giamatti is exquisite (as is Hoffman) in this romantic dramedy about life and love. Simply splendid. 4/5

Barney's Version on Netflix

Midnight Cowboy

OMG AWESOME. Hoffman & Voight are perfect. How have I gone my whole life not seeing this? Sheer brilliance. 5/5

Midnight Cowboy on Netflix