Review of Foxcatcher (2014) by Blurb10 — 10 Dec 2014
A couple of brief thoughts on Foxcatcher:
A fascinating, albeit slow, character-driven study of the corroded American dream, privilege, devotion and entitlement. The film's muted color palette is painterly - but a dash of sunshine/color here and there would have been a welcome respite from all the doom and gloom. It's all seen through the prism of shattered aspirations and hopelessness - we get it, Bennett Miller, you don't have to choke us with it!
Mark Ruffalo's performance is the most effective, buoying the film with a much-needed warmth; he's the heart and soul of "Foxcatcher" (and of pretty much every film he's in).
Steve Carell, while effectively frightening, needy and insecure as DuPont, seemingly had trouble fully committing to the performance - from time to time, a glimpse of "The Office"'s Michael Scott surfaces through all the layers of make-up. It's in a gesture, a mannerism - the prosthetics, once again (see: "The Hours"), prove distracting, making one focus on recognizing familiar aspect of the established celebrity personality, rather than the character being played. That said, there are several powerful moments where the actor truly shines, utilizing the gargantuan nose and thin lips to great (and greatly creepy) effect.
Channing Tatum is technically the protagonist of the film, featured in almost every scene, and he's compelling to watch, imbuing his staple "dumb-but-talented oaf" character (see: "Magic Mike") with gravitas and a sense of purpose. Still, he weighs the already-heavy film down with a resolute seriousness. Crack a smile, just once, Channing! There are also moments where he overdoes it a bit, such as the sequence where he bashes through a mirror with his head, weeping and scowling. Method acting, folks!
The film presents the final murder as totally random and unexpected - supposedly, that's how it happened in real life. It's effective on one level, but also made me wish the narrative had more of a sense of purpose, more of a drive, a momentum that led to this point. Miller's "Moneyball" was far more entertaining; this is more of a return to his "Capote" roots, where everything is meaningful and disconnected at the same time, and the final result drags.
As it stands, watching "Foxcatcher" is like looking at a beautiful, impactful painting that you wouldn't want hanging in your living room.
This review of Foxcatcher (2014) was written by Blurb10 on 10 Dec 2014.
Foxcatcher has generally received positive reviews.
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