foxcatcher
2015 review number 2:
Foxcatcher: (Drama): 72 out of 100: It's awards season in Hollywood and here's a movie that has been featured in many nomination lists so far. Although a good movie, it doesn't deserve all the possible accolades heading its way.
Steve Carell dons the make up and prosthetic nose to look nothing like his true self. He plays John du Pont, multimillion sponsor and leader of Team Foxcatcher, who lures Olympic Gold medal winning wrestler Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) to his team. Schultz wants to escape from the shadow of his more illustrious wrestling brother Dave (Mark Ruffalo). Although initially admiring his new 'coach', Schultz finds his confidence spiraling out of control with dramatic consequences.
The main actors are all convincing but Carell's performance is overshadowed by his different look which makes it very distracting. He's more known as a comedic actor and shows his dramatic chops here. Ruffalo also looks different and he has been nominated for numerous supporting actor awards but he has been better in other movies. Tatum shows that he is not just a pretty boy and that he can actually act.
Greco-Roman wrestling is not a particularly exciting sport for this viewer so the wrestling scenes didn't really do much for me. However, the wrestling scenes are not the main focus of the movie. It's more character-driven than anything else, showing how the interactions between the characters lead to repercussions and downfalls. The characterisation is absorbing although it would have been even more interesting with the brothers' relationship being extended.
The pace of the movie is leisurely at times. Bennett Miller ("Capote" and "Moneyball" is the director and he has a number of shots of flora and fauna unrelated to the scenes unfolding. This movie would benefit from a good 15-20 minute edit to make it tighter.
"Foxcatcher" is intriguing and engaging but it could have been a more memorable film, given the nature of the plot which was based on a true story. It is a solid film overall but not deserving of any major awards. Perhaps it will just have to settle for the nominations that are expected to head its way.
Starring Steve Carell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo
(134 minutes)
Parental Advice: Violence and Drug use
Additional scenes during or after credits: No
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8361stZ8n0w (Movie trailer)
(Reviewed on Thursday 8th January, 2015)
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