Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, and Mark Ruffalo star in “Foxcatcher,” Bennett Miller’s brooding depiction of events surrounding wrestling enthusiast John du Pont’s recruitment of Olympic gold medal winners Dave and Mark Schultz, and what lead to events between 1987 and 1996. Steve Carell gives a bone-chilling display as John du Pont; for the role, he undergoes a jaw-dropping transformation, courtesy of Bill Corso and Dennis Liddiard. The film serves as an electric depiction of what happened between these three men, and a detailed character study of John du Pont.
Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) is an Olympic wrestling champion; he now spends his time speaking at elementary schools, continuing his training, and feeling overshadowed by his brother, Mark Ruffalo. That is until wrestling enthusiast and multi-millionaire John du Pont invites Mark to join his fledgling wrestling team in Pennsylvania and to be paid to train for the World Championships and the 1988 Summer Olympics. Despite having one Olympic champion on his team, John is hungry for more; he requests that Dave comes to train at Foxcatcher, but he declines, not wanting to uproot his family. But with strings pulled and circumstances changed, Dave relocates to Pennsylvania and joins the team. As John’s becomes increasingly paranoid and self-destructive, his behaviour threatens the stability of Team Foxcatcher and its members, leading to an unexpected and fatal tragedy.
A Career-Best Performance from Steve Carell
Steve Carell delivers an unforgettable and career-best performance as he brings du Pont’s eccentric persona to the screen. “Magic Mike” star Channing Tatum shines alongside Carell, delivering a remarkable performance. His highlight is an intense binge-eating sequence in which Tatum genuinely cut his own forehead after violently smashing a mirror. Mark Ruffalo tops off “Foxcatcher’s” trio of gripping performances, giving an equally impressive performance as his co-stars. Bennett Miller’s phenomenal directing allows the film to cover the emotion and wrestling in perfect balance; he creates a film that even non-sport fans can enjoy.
“Dune” cinematographer Greig Fraser works his magic behind the camera, providing “Foxcatcher” with cool-toned, delectable cinematography that makes the film a visual feast for the eyes. Although based on true events, Miller takes creative liberty. This includes scenes that imply a ‘bromance’ between du Pont and Mark—something that was later publicly criticised by Schultz. It should come as no surprise that Bennett Miller received a second ‘Best Director’ nomination at the 2015 Oscars. “Foxcatcher” is a directorial triumph for Miller; he received his first nomination for “Capote” in 2005, a film in which he directed Philip Seymour Hoffman to a ‘Best Actor’ win.
Steve Carell and Mark Ruffalo in “Foxcatcher.” (Photo: Annapurna Pictures).
5 Oscar Nominations, All Well-Deserved
Despite being a stirring slow-burn of a film, ‘Foxcatcher’ builds its way to an explosive climax; for people unfamiliar with the Foxcatcher story, it will come as a devastating surprise. Even though you may not feel emotionally connected to the characters on-screen, Bennett Miller and writers, E. Max Frye (“Something Wild”) and Dan Futterman (“Capote”) still manage to create a film you simply can’t take you eyes off, gripping onto every word.
Bennett Miller directs Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, and Mark Ruffalo to Oscar-worthy performances. Featuring a culmination of mesmerising cinematography, steady pacing, and superb writing that keeps you thoroughly engaged across the 134-minute runtime. “Foxcatcher” is one of 2014’s best films; not only due to the meticulous filmmaking, but also the plethora of accolades the film gained, from winning Best Director at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival to five Academy Award nominations and two BAFTA nominations.
“Foxcatcher” is currently available to stream on STARZ by Prime Video and Apple TV.
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