Foxcatcher (2014)

Foxcatcher (2014) — a true-story drama directed by Bennett Miller — follows Olympic wrestling champions Mark and Dave Schultz as they become entangled with eccentric billionaire John du Pont at his vast Pennsylvania estate, Foxcatcher. Mark (Channing Tatum), hungry to escape poverty and step out of his brother’s shadow, accepts du Pont’s lavish offer to train at a state-of-the-art facility. Dave (Mark Ruffalo), more stable and family-oriented, is wary but drawn into the complicated dynamic. Steve Carell gives a chilling, transformative performance as du Pont, whose increasingly erratic and controlling behavior corrodes the athletes’ lives and ambitions. Watching Foxcatcher is a slow-burning, unsettling experience: the film trades action for psychological pressure and quiet menace. The cinematography and deliberate pacing create a cold, claustrophobic atmosphere that heightens tension as du Pont’s need for respect and approval morphs into paranoia and cruelty. The relationship between patron and athletes shifts from beneficence to manipulation, and the movie gradually approaches a devastating, real-life tragedy that reframes everything you’ve witnessed. The film is equal parts character study and true-crime drama, exploring themes of power, masculinity, loneliness, and the corrosive effects of wealth and obsession. Performances are central — Carell’s unrecognizable, volatile du Pont, Tatum’s brittle vulnerability, and Ruffalo’s grounded compassion — making the deterioration of trust and safety painfully credible. Expect an emotionally heavy, thoughtful, and sometimes uncomfortable viewing: Foxcatcher is haunting rather than sensational, compelling because it insists you watch the slow unravelling of people who could not save themselves. Content note: the story culminates in a violent, tragic outcome and contains psychological intensity and disturbing behavior. Recommended for viewers interested in character-driven dramas, true stories, and actors’ transformative performances.

Actors: Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo

Director: Bennett Miller

Runtime: 134 min

Genres: Biography, Drama, History

6.3 /10 81 /100 7.0 /10 7.1 /10