Foxcatcher - Movie Review

While “Foxcatcher” is inspired by real people and events the film’s roots are in a psychological examination of its lonesome and disturbed characters. Channing Tatum plays Mark Schultz, the 1984 Gold Medalist in Men’s Wrestling. Going nowhere with employment and training, he receives a chance of a lifetime from being recruited by John E du Pont (Carrel), a reserved and awkward multi-millionaire, who wants America to win the gold again in the 1988 Olympics. At Du Pont’s mother’s farm, he organizes the new US wrestling team for the International games. Their relationship becomes the basis of this film and how it rises and then ultimately deflates.

From the first five minutes we are introduced to Du Pont, he is presented as a wealthy, charismatic individual with a peculiar way of speaking and an even more peculiar nose. Progressively, we get to see the type of man Mark has befriended as he spirals out of control, engaging in drug abuse, guns, and irrational behavior. Carrel has performed a role at first glance may seem hard to swallow. However, he portrays his character in such a style that it is truly terrifying. Beneath the hours of make-up, he can display absolute nothingness, uncontrollable rage, and even pure narcissism without even speaking. Director Bennett Miller relies heavily on non-verbal scenes, allowing the silence between the actors on camera to create tension and intriguing interactions. This is a tough accomplishment, and he hits it head-on at every point. 

The screenwriters supply the actors with straight-to-the-point, yet brilliant dialog, and the cast carry the weight of their characters superbly. Who could have imagined that Channing Tatum or even Steve Carrel could deliver such vulnerable and sophisticated characters? Mark Ruffalo is extremely limited in screen time but he is up to par with his leading co-stars as Mark’s caring brother. The only setback “Foxcatcher” has is the ending. The first 100 minutes are electrifying and engaging, but the final 20-30 minutes kind of meander and depict a series of events that feel thrown in together. Too much of Carrel and Tatum looking depressed make a snail’s pace for this timeframe. I wanted more character interaction and an actual conclusion that ties in with the violent tragedy of Dave Schultz’s murder. It merely happens and Du Pont is arrested. No trial. No final face-to-face showdown between Mark and Du Pont. Not even a moment where Mark mourns his brother. As a viewer, the ending is quite cold and rather withholding.

“Foxcatcher” is a great movie. I would definitely buy it when the Blu-Ray hits retail stores. Yet I don’t think it is as great as some of the other movies released in 2014.