Directed by:
Bennett MillerCinematography:
Greig FraserComposer:
Rob SimonsenCast:
Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo, Sienna Miller, Anthony Michael Hall, Vanessa Redgrave, Tara Subkoff, John W. Iwanonkiw, Samara Lee (more)VOD (3)
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Olympic Gold Medal-winning wrestler Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) is struggling in obscurity and poverty in Wisconsin when he is invited by wealthy heir John du Pont (Steve Carell) to move on to his lavish estate to form a team and to train for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Schultz seizes the opportunity, eager to step out of the shadow of his revered older brother Dave (Mark Ruffalo), a prominent wrestling coach and Gold Medal winner himself. With his vast financial resources and state-of-the-art training facility at Foxcatcher Farm, du Pont appoints himself head coach of the team, eager to win the respect of his peers and the approval of his condemning mother (Vanessa Redgrave). (Sony Pictures Classics)
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A film almost without music, big gestures, and last-minute action. It relies on the fact that it will be watched by an experienced viewer who will let it resonate and sink in slowly and calmly, along with the theme it addresses. Lately, these slightly minimalist, raw, taciturn and emotionally charged sports films have been extremely popular (Moneyball), and this one too had an Oscar buzz. Unfortunately, the slow pace and stereotypes were an unforgiving companion throughout the entire 130 minutes.
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Raging Bullshit. Muted autumn colours. Long pauses between sentences. Mostly slow movements by the generally aloof camera. Absolutely no humour. Miller’s arduous effort to let us know how serious a social-psychological drama (sport is a narrative pretext rather than a necessity) he has made leads not only to a stifling atmosphere, but also to awkwardness in the storytelling (Capote at least had a title character with a sense of humour). Only a perceived tragedy prevents us from laughing at the prosthetic nose (often shown in profile) worn by Du Pont, who divides his time between shopping for tanks, birdwatching and rigged fights with broad-shouldered men in their fifties. Mark serves as a dramaturgical device for humanising the monstrous billionaire and he shares with his new patron an unfulfilled longing for approval (whether from his mother, brother or nation), while allowing us to take a more forgiving view of Du Pont’s eccentric behaviour. Miller uses the two men’s tense relationship as a means of giving us a look into the dark alleys of Reagan’s (triumphalist) America, as well as for a universal reflection on the attractive image that the United States creates of itself (media manipulation is one of the key thematic storylines in the climax). Du Pont personifies a degenerate version of America’s veneration of winners. His victories are shaky constructs that he himself doesn’t much believe in and serve only to satisfy his frustrated ego. He callously removes from his path everything that distorts his image of his own perfection and leads Mark to engage in the same behaviour. Mark’s withdrawal from the world of small pleasures and warm interpersonal relationships, from the world represented by his brother, usually surrounded by gregarious company, in reminiscent of the transformation of Damon’s character in Behind the Candelabra. As Scott Thorston was for Liberace, Mark is just another trophy for Du Pont, another actor in a performance that the more experienced of the two men stages in order to enhance his own prestige. Foxcatcher is not a film that I would “enjoy” or “savour”, but I did find that it contained some thought-provoking ideas not only as an anti-Rocky examination of 1980s “USA! USA!” patriotism, but also as a commentary on class inequality. 75%
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I somehow I didn't manage to grasp the meaning of what the film was trying to say, and I don't understand why it’s more than two hours long. It's not about nothing, the story is based on real events (I hope you can hear the irony) and embraces themes of desire, moral and sporting decline, brotherly love and murder, but the film as a whole is terribly disjointed and its ambiguous ideas are arranged in a downright chaotic manner. For those two hours, we watch the stubborn oaf Tatum from the point of view of the disturbed millionaire Carell, waiting with growing impatience to see how their relationship will develop and culminate, but nothing actually happens. Nothing from the point of view of the script, which fails to build up, and nothing from the point of view of the actors, who, with the exception of Ruffalo, go through the story with unchanging expressions, giving the viewer no opportunity for any emotional experience. A noble borefest packed with famous names that I really don't want to see again.
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An untraditional sports thriller with a cast that suits it perfectly. Tatum as the “ungrateful monkey" gives the performance of his life and Carell is just plain nasty. The sparring itself is dark and absorbing also thanks to the music. I enjoyed watching the classic patriotic sports promo turn into a terrifying thriller about two wrecks who lose their marbles. Perfect directing, Miller is an old hand. Again it applies that it’s ideal not to know more about it than appeared in the trailer.
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I was looking forward to excellent acting performances, and of course, I got them, from all three actors on the poster. Mark Ruffalo was the best, although Steve Carell is still unforgettable thanks to the makeup. Moreover, this film also has a good foundation in real events that show how crazy people can be. And that's shown in how it all eventually turns out and how it affects you in this excellent cinematic rendition.
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