FilmSnobReviews

Title: Foxcatcher
MPAA Rating: R 
Director: Bennett Miller
Starring: Channing Tatum, Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo
Runtime: 2 hr 14 mins

What It Is: Olympic wrestling champion Mark Schultz (Tatum) is trying to come up with his next move follow winning a gold medal at the previous games. Right now he’s stuck in a rut, outside of training with his gold medalist brother Dave (Ruffalo). One day he receives a mysterious invite from millionaire John du Pont (Carell) heir to the du Pont chemical fortune. You see du Pont has taken an interest in the Schultz brothers, and want to help them get to the next Olympic games under his Foxcatcher Farm banner. Mark agrees to join the team, and John will “coach” them. In reality though John wants Dave to coach the team with him. What unfolds is a story of obsession, love, and wrestling. But what the Schultz brother do not realize is the man behind Foxcatcher Farm is not what he truly appears to be.

What We Think: Bennett Miller once again shoots a very good, if not forgettable sports film. Much like his previous endeavor Moneyball this is a story where sport is the foreground but not the purpose. Sport is really just background for a character study, and here there’s two very interesting and layered characters in the lead. Carell shines as du Pont, and Tatum shows he has some acting chops as Mark Schultz. Ruffalo is brilliant as well as the older Schultz brother. Miller as always gives the film that desaturated look about it. Lots of grays and coldness all around, I find this to be a signature of Miller’s films and a reason I love them.

Our Grade: B-, It’ll leave you speechless for a bit after it ends and thinking about it after you leave the theater. The only issue is that it’s pacing sags a bit and it also seems to suffer from a small case of ennui. You don’t really get a sense of the themes behind the films actions, but Miller’s style lends itself well to this material. Check this one out! It’ll probably get some award show love for it’s acting but I can’t see Miller sneaking in anywhere given the competition.