Foxcatcher

I've said before and I'll say it again, truth is stranger than fiction. This has got to be one of the motivating factors Hollywood has in producing films based on a true story as with the case of "Foxcatcher". This is a true character study whereas if it wasn't based on something true, I believe that Hollywood would be hard-pressed to come up with this particular premise.

Based on a true story, this tells the dark and fascinating story of the unlikely and ultimately tragic relationship between an eccentric multi-millionaire and two champion wrestlers. When Olympic Gold Medal winning wrestler Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) is invited by wealthy heir John du Pont (Steve Carell) to move on to the DuPont estate and help form a team to train for the 1988 Seoul Olympics at his new state-of-the-art training facility, Schultz jumps at the opportunity, hoping to focus on his training and finally step out of the shadow of his revered brother, Gold Medal winner Dave (Mark Ruffalo). Driven by hidden needs, DuPont sees backing Schultz's bid for Gold and the chance to "coach" a world-class wrestling team as an opportunity to gain the elusive respect of his peers and, more importantly, his disapproving mother (Vanessa Redgrave). Flattered by the attention and entranced by DuPont's majestic world, Mark comes to see his benefactor as a father figure and grows increasingly dependent on him for approval. Though initially supportive, DuPont soon changes and begins to lure Mark into an unhealthy lifestyle that threatens to undermine his training. Then as DuPont's erratic behavior and psychological game-play ensues, that begins to erode Mark's already shaken self-esteem. What really drives DuPont's paranoia over the edge is how Dave exudes the self confidence that both he and Mark sorely lack which propels toward a tragedy no one could have foreseen.

Others to round out the cast are Sienna Miller as Nancy Schultz, Dave wife, Anthony Michael Hall as Jack, DuPont's assistant, Guy Boyd as Henry Beck, Brett Rice as Fred Cole, Jackson Frazer as Alexander Shultz, Dave and Nancy's son, Samara Lee as Danielle Schultz, Dave and Nancy's daughter, Francis J. Murphy III as Wayne Kendall, Jane Mowder as Rosie, David Bennett as Documentary Director, Lee Perkins as Corporal Daly, Daniel Hilt as Roberto Garcia, and Allan Oppenheimer as DuPont Dynasty Narrator.

This was brilliantly directed by Bennett Miller ("The Cruise" (Documentary) '98, "Capote" '05, "Moneyball" '11). Granted, this guy hasn't done a ton of work, but if one just reads this guy's resume, you will see that it's short on amount, but huge on quality. He obviously chooses his projects wisely-- kind of like Terrence Malik. He also does limited projects, but masterpieces in their own right. The subtlety he extracts from his actors is short of perfection-- it almost seems like one is eaves-dropping into real people's lives. It was equally written with such suppressed intensity and grit by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman. The character development was both subtle in how these guys transformed within the story and showed us the complexities of these characters as well. These writers and director can work together any time they desire, because we will only be the victors of such a quality film as this certainly was. The end, however a bit bittersweet, surely shows us the realities of life we cannot avoid and hopefully will learn from.

Certainly if you're into great directing, writing and acting-- both Carell and Tatum were stunning in their roles, then this will be a feast for the eyes, because even though this moves a bit slow in spots, be patient, because it moves at this pace for a reason. There are possible Oscar nods written all over this film, so enjoy it for the art, and not so much for the way the story turns.

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                 Rated: R                              134mins.