Icarus

Starring: Bryan Fogel, Grigory Rodchenkov, Ben Stone, Don Catlin, Richard McLaren
Director: Bryan Fogel
Rating: TV-MA
Genre: Documentary, Sport
2017

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Bryan Fogel begins an exploration of doping in bicycle racing but his connection to Grigory Rodchenkov pulls him into one of the biggest sports scandals of all time.

Review:

Tim: Icarus is an exceptionally entertaining documentary. It's one that almost defies belief- a bit of luck was involved, as filmmaker Bryan Fogel just happened to be connected with the right Russian scientist at the time when he became the central figure in the largest doping scheme in sports history. However, you also can't dismiss this whole thing to "being in the right place at the right time". Fogel deserves more credit than that- he befriended Grigory Rodchenkov, saw the opportunity to help his friend while exposing a shocking conspiracy, and he made it happen. This is a movie well worth seeing.

The film starts out conventionally enough. Fogel is a bicyclist and he gets the idea to start taking banned performance enhancing drugs. The plan is to compete in an amateur event while juiced up, and do it in a way that doesn't get him caught, thus exposing the falsity of the "doping regulations" in the sport. The beginning of the movie is entertaining because we see what Fogel subjects his body to (similar in concept to Super Size Me). The steroid regiment isn't for the faint of heart. It's a fascinating look at what cheating athletes have done to obtain an edge. Surprisingly, though, the months of doping don't quite have the effects Fogel imagined. This movie would have been interesting- for him to follow that story further- taking more steroids, understanding what he needed to do to turn himself into a top athlete. However, a twist of fate hijacks his movie and turns it into something very different.

While pursuing his doping regimen, he befriends a Russian scientist, Grigory Rodchenkov, who was helping him with the plan. During this process, news breaks about a major doping scandal in Russia, involving Olympic athletes. Rodchenkov is at the center of this. The movie abruptly changes tone and takes on the feeling of an international thriller. Rodchenkov must flee to the United States and decide whether to act as a whistle-blower against his country. It's truly stunning to watch behind-the-scenes. And, like the best documentaries, it shows an intimate look at this well-known event. I was of course aware of the Russian conspiracy to use steroids with its athletes and its attempts to cover it up. However, what you learn from a cursory review of the news is nothing compared to the in-depth examination that this movie takes. It's so remarkable that Fogel was sheltering the very man who was able to expose Vladimir Putin and the Russian government's unethical, state-sponsored cheating conspiracy.

Fogel wisely balances the science and the "how to" of the cheating scandal (in a very Ocean's Eleven manner) with the quieter, more human elements. Fogel doesn't thrust himself into the limelight, but he ensures he plays a major role in this film. He was relatable and intelligent on screen and he is a sympathetic character. The movie really sparkles as it examines Grigory Rodchenkov, though. He is absolutely fascinating character. Some of it might have to do with his Russian heritage, but outside of the cultural influences, he's a remarkable individual. He's obviously brilliant, but his involvement in this sports cheating scandal reveals interesting things about his character. His worldview about the whole thing, how he explains it to himself, is riveting stuff. He's hard to pin down. Few would applaud his actions/behaviors towards his family back in Russian, but he's obviously a generous friend and eventually, does the right thing. You almost can't believe this guy is real while watching the movie. It's quite entertaining.

Icarus is a film that everyone should watch. It feels like two movies in one, but the abrupt turn is explained well. I do wish Fogel would have had a line or two talking about how he abandoned his original plan for the documentary. However, the journey as a whole is well worth taking. This movie reveals a great deal about the Russian government's doping scheme, about the International Olympic Committee's toothless response, and about the illusion of sports being "clean". This is a well-crafted movie and one of the better documentaries I've seen in recent years. It's a movie that deserves its Academy Award win for Best Documentary.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Super Size Me, American Factory