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| Channing Tatum & Steve Carell (r) star in Foxcatcher |
To Catch a Fox
Rotten Tomatoes Plot: FOXCATCHER is a psychological drama directed by Academy Award nominee Bennett Miller (MONEYBALL) and starring Golden Globe winner Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Academy Award nominee Mark Ruffalo, Academy Award winner Vanessa Redgrave and Sienna Miller. The film was written by E. Max Frye and Academy Award nominee Dan Futterman. FOXCATCHER tells the story of Olympic Gold Medal-winning wrestler Mark Schultz (Tatum), who sees a way out from the shadow of his more celebrated wrestling brother Dave (Ruffalo) and a life of poverty when he is summoned by eccentric multi-millionaire John du Pont (Carell) to move onto his estate and train for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Desperate to gain the respect of his disapproving mother, du Pont begins "coaching" a world-class athletic team and, in the process, lures Mark into dangerous habits, breaks his confidence and drives him into a self-destructive spiral. Based on actual events, FOXCATCHER is a gripping and profoundly American story of fragile men who pinned their hopes for love and redemption on a desperate obsession for greatness that was to end in tragedy.
You can't make this stuff up. Foxcatcher is chilling, creepy and uncomfortable to watch. It's also captivating, well-acted and true. Over two hours long, it's probably too depressing to enjoy (save for a hilarious helicopter ride with du Pont and Mark) but I can't imagine not recommending you see it. Talk about a conundrum. Carell's character doesn't say much; but he delivers an Oscar-worthy physical performance. Tatum and Ruffalo shine too, especially Tatum, who struggles to forge his own identity. Binge eating, pretend coaching & videotape endorsements = brilliant, yet distressing: You could say the same about Foxcatcher. Proceed with caution.
Grade: B
