Foxcatcher Review

I've seen my share in the past year of films that set your skin crawling, but there is nothing quite like a true story to really put you on edge. Bennet Miller has crafted an unsettling film based on the relationship between the Olympic wrestling Schultz brothers and their unstable sponsor, John du Pont. The first images in the film are black and white footage of Foxcatcher Farm, a beautiful rolling landscape with horses. Nostalgic piano plays in the background, the men and women in the shots are smiling... there's even a shot of a fox darting into the woods, to match the farm's title. It's a delightful little snapshot of a happy, peaceful life.

Then we abruptly cut to the life of Mark Schultz, Olympic medalist wrestling champion (played by Channing Tatum). The cinematography is quiet, cold... it's like switching channels to another movie. From this point on, you will see a straightforward, no-nonsense story.

Mark has hit a point of stagnation in his career. He gives motivational speeches to school children to make extra cash, and trains with his brother, David (Mark Ruffalo) who also won a medal and works as a wrestling coach. The young man clearly lives under the shadow of his big brother; Tatum plays him as aggressive on the mats, but submissive in life, his self esteem not quite up to par with the standards of his sport. Even when multimillionaire John du Pont (Steve Carrell) contacts Mark to offer a sponsorship, which includes using his land (the Foxcatcher Farm from the old footage) as a training ground for the upcoming Olympics in Seoul, Mark is unsure, reluctant to stop training with his brother until he gives him his blessing.

But there isn't something quite right about John du Pont. At first it's hard to place your finger on it -- sure, he's kind of an awkward conversationalist, and the offer itself seems a bit odd, but Mark knows he can't pass up the opportunity. But as he and a handful of other wrestlers begin training at Foxcatcher Farms, calling John "Coach" despite the lack of training he actually provides, the man's true colors begin to slowly seep out. John is like a spoiled child chasing after his current obsession -- he even has a disapproving mother who lives with him on the farm. John is essentially living out his fantasy, even going so far as to fund a documentary about himself as wrestling coach. He just wants a gold medal, and he pushes Mark to separate himself from the achievements of his brother in preparation for the Olympics... but when that doesn't work, he brings Dave onto the farm.

If you don't already know the story, I won't ruin the rest of it for you, but suffice it to say that FOXCATCHER is a fascinating story, albeit unsettling. And with Carrell, Tatum, and Ruffalo on screen, the film is a masterpiece. Never have I seen such a transformation for Carrell -- he far exceeds his previous roles -- and both Tatum and Ruffalo's performances are superb.

As is the case with most films based on true stories, the story is tweaked to give the film a better flow (in truth, Dave did not come to Foxcatcher Farm until Mark had already left). Overall, writers E. Max Frye and Dan Frutterman did a great job of crafting the story to best reveal the disturbing nature of Mark and John's relationship. This will not be the most cheerful of films to watch, but I definitely recommend giving it a shot. Now playing at the Midtown Cinema!