Review of Foxcatcher (2014) by Kriebelr — 22 Dec 2014

What do you get when a rich megalomaniac with mommy-issues who hates horses basically buys a wrestling team, names himself coach, and, after failing to see a gold medal from the 1988 Olympics, doesn't quite get his way? I won't spoil it for you, but it's closely based on a true story so you could look it up if you saw fit. The film is a slow paced march toward that inevitable conclusion. The pacing is brilliant and winds tension up beautifully all the way through. Long moments of silence that leave you to wonder just what is going on in the characters' heads.

Bennett Miller has coaxed amazing performances from three great leads. This is by far Steve Carrell's best work. Ruffalo and Tatum are great as well. Dialogue is sparse and emotions are understated and real. It is fasinating to watch Du Pont's slow spiral into madness. It made me think of "affluenza." If he weren't so rich and intimidating to those around him, someone probably would have noticed that something just wasn't quite right, and the audience of this movie surely will.

This won't be for everyone. Not everyone has the patience for a slow moving, plodding drama. I recommend Googling the conclusion. I think I enjoyed the movie more knowing what was coming, and it still surprised me. That knowledge helped the suspense build more.