Film review: Foxcatcher (15, 134 mins)Drama/Romance

Carell’s seriously psychotic
Foxcatcher: Channing Tatum and Steve CarellFoxcatcher: Channing Tatum and Steve Carell
Foxcatcher: Channing Tatum and Steve Carell

In the 1980s, philanthropist John Eleuthere du Pont attempted to buy sporting glory for America by using his vast fortune to establish a world class wrestling facility at his sprawling Foxcatcher Farm on the outskirts of Philadelphia.

He recruited Olympic champion David Schultz to his stable, which included David’s younger brother and fellow Olympic gold medallist Mark, who lived on the estate to ensure the focus was always on the wrestling.

Team Foxcatcher won numerous competitions.

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On January 26, 1996, du Pont shot and killed David and was subsequently convicted of third degree murder.

He died behind bars, 14 years into his sentence.

Bennett Miller, who was deservedly Oscar nominated for Capote, directs this dramatisation of du Pont’s fraught relationship with the Schultz brothers and his steady descent into murderous madness.

The film is distinguished by a superb ensemble cast including a creepily dramatic performance from Steve Carell, replete with facial prosthetics, as the eccentric millionaire who lost everything with the pull of a trigger. He’s heavily tipped for an Oscar because this marks such a striking departure from his lovable, goofball roles.

Star rating: 6/10

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