Foxcatcher (2014)

i must have seen a different film!!

Highly Overrated But Still Good

A Disappointing Continuation

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

If you enjoy a slow, unbearably slow, movie... If you enjoy a nearly wordless movie... If you enjoy weird, cringe-worthy characters and dialogues in movies... Watch this movie.If, however, you see "sports drama" and think "ohhhh this is going to be one of those gut-wrenching, tear-inducing, nail-biting, "Go! Go! Go!"-screaming-at-the-TV!!! movies", do yourself a favor and go see "The Blind Side", "We are Marshall", "Coach Carter". This movie should be ashamed of itself to belong to the same category as these great films and others like them.

Finding his run in the remake of The Office to be hilarious,I've been meaning to see Steve Carell's Oscar nominated role,but have somehow always missed the chance. Finding out it was to be shown on the BBC, I got set to finally catch the fox.The plot:Whilst they have both won Olympic gold, Olympic wrestling champion Mark Schultz still feels he is being overshadowed by his brother Dave. Training one day, Mark gets an invite to meet multi millionaire John E. du Pont. Previously having success at Olympic wrestling, Pont invites Mark to be the star player for the new team he is starting up: Team Foxcatcher. Accepting the offer, Mark at first finds Pont to be a father figure he has always wanted, but overtime,they both find their relationship to get trapped in a foxhole. View on the film:Keeping any punchlines in the foxhole, Steve Carell gives a reptile- like performance as du Pont, whose stoic manner and fading vocal delivery cast a shadow of a man worn down to the bone. Smashing his head into a mirror as an improve, Channing Tatum gives a very good performance as Mark,whose passion for the sport Tatum turns from energetic to tired, whilst Mark Ruffalo gives the bio-pic some real folk charm as David.For the third in his "Based on true life" trilogy, director Bennett Miller & cinematographer Greig Fraser wrestle with a raw, unsettling calm atmosphere,as lingering shots on the conversations between Pont and Mark grab the sour turn the almost father/son relationship takes. Backed by a very good sombre Industrial hum from Rob Simonsen, the screenplay by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman successfully grapple with the decade spanning time-line, by wonderfully building the gradual breakdown of the relationship between the Schultz and the increasingly reclusive du Pont, as the foxcatchers get outfoxed.

This was a well made film, but ultimately felt pointless. The ending, and the entire plot, reeks of true crime via tabloid.The prosthetics were distracting and unnecessary. It was obvious that the three main actors were trying their hardest to imitate their real life counterparts, which was unnecessary, and distracting. I spent a lot of time thinking of what the actor was thinking and the uncanniness of the acting/makeup/characters amplified that. It was all unnecessary and distracting, did I mention that...The male love triangle was well done, two are brothers so its not a gay love triangle. Other than 1-2 implications, physical male love was left out of it.6.5/10 because it was watchable, but unless I submit this review now, im dropping it to 5 for its sheer pointlessness.

A very slow paced film that tells the story of a delusional and deranged wealthy man who believes he can be a hero among the wrestling community, A feat which he ultimately fails to do and in a fit of anger he tarnishes his family dynasty by heinously killing Dave Schultz, the older brother of legendary wrestler Mark Schultz. This film is unique in its pacing and its dryness to the audience with much of the characters being very stern unemotional men who draw no real drama. That is a real challenge to put on the big screen but I feel they cast well and told the story with dignity if nothing more. Steve Carrell has to be applauded for his Steller portrayal of the harsh and unusual John Du Pont, an eccentric rich man that has no friends and instead buys his way into the life's of others. Steve who is primarily known for his comedic roles captures John Du Pont so well that you completely forget it is in fact Steve who is playing the role. Channing plays Mark Schultz to the best of his ability but other than athletically there really isn't much in the way of a great performance to be done.The ending really was hard hitting and unexpected as John Du Pont callously murders Dave Schultz for no real reason other than the small matter of Dave not appearing on the video. For me this film leaves you with a certain feeling of emptiness and much of this I believe comes from the real lack of emotion in Foxcatcher. The characters at times feel peculiar in the way they react or more likely don't react to certain things and it all just feels a little stale and lifeless in that regard. I almost feel bad for saying it but we really could have used that Hollywood dramatization to liven things up and keep you entertained until the shocking conclusion. That being said I was never bored during the film and it did keep me watching all 2hr 15 min runtime but it did however feel like for the most part Foxcatcher was on the edge of a very thin line between entertainment and uninteresting. Overall a pace that I didn't agree with but understood because of the story they had to work with, which at its height was intriguing and enlightening with great acting performances mainly from Steve Carrell but I do feel it could have been done better and with more drama, emotion and a better well rounded ending that focused on life after the shooting, I could have truly praised this film.