Foxcatcher (2014)

"Based on the shocking true story"

Directed by Bennett Miller
Produced by Bennett Miller, Megan Ellison, Jon Kilik, Anthony Bregman
Written by E. Max Frye, Dan Futterman
Starring: Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo, Vanessa Redgrave
Music by Rob Simonsen, West Dylan Thordson
Cinematography: Greig Fraser
Edited by Stuart Levy, Conor O'Neill, Jay Cassidy
Production company: Annapurna Pictures, Likely Story
Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics
Release date: 20 November 2014 (Israel)
Running time: 134 minutes
Country: United States
Budget: $24 million
Box office: $14.2 million

"Foxcatcher" is a biographical sport drama film directed by Bennett Miller and written by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman. It's loosely based on 1984 Olympic gold medalist and two time world champion US wrestler Mark Schultz's autobiographical memoir,"Foxcatcher: The True Story of My Brother's Murder, John du Pont's Madness, and the Quest for Olympic Gold". The film's plot revolves around multimillionaire E.I. du Pont family heir and wrestling enthusiast John E. du Pont's recruitment of Schultz and his older brother, Dave, also a 1984 Olympic gold medalist, to help coach US wrestlers for participation in National, World, and Olympic competition, and the tragic events that followed.

Cast

• Steve Carell as John Eleuthère du Pont
• Channing Tatum as Mark Schultz
• Mark Ruffalo as Dave Schultz
• Vanessa Redgrave as Jean du Pont
• Sienna Miller as Nancy Schultz
• Anthony Michael Hall as Jack
• Guy Boyd as Henry Beck
• Brett Rice as Fred Cole
• Samara Lee as Danielle Schultz
• Jackson Frazer as Alexander Schultz
• Jane Mowder as Rosie
• Daniel Hilt as Robert Garcia
• Lee Perkins as Corporal Daly
• David Bennett as Documentary Director

The director Bennett Miller is known for such biographical pictures as "Capote" (2005) and "Moneyball" (2011). "Foxcatcher" got several main awards and nominations that makes watch the film and agree or disagree with these decisions. Despite the fact that the picture is based on on the true story so it's difficult to judge, however personally I can't say that I'm deeply impressed with what I had seen. Probably because I'm not keen on wrestling but I don't think it's a real reason. 

Some words about the cast. The performance of Steve Carell caught my attention with its many-valuedness. A multimillionaire, philanthropist and wrestling enthusiast who goes insane step-by-step. Strong and mad at the same time. What a wonder! Mark Ruffalo ("Begin Again" (2014)) as Dave Schultz seemed a confident winner fully enjoying his life instead his brother, Mark. Mark Schultz performed by Channing Tatum had always been in Dave's shadow as he thought so. It prevented as much to live happily.

And the last feature I want to mention: the sound. There a viewer almost doesn't here music themes, only voices of characters that makes the sound of three fateful shots more tragic.

Advantages

• Steve Carell as John Eleuthère du Pont
• Mark Ruffalo as Dave Schultz
• Three shots

Disadvantages

• Too slow moving

"Strangenesses"

• Why?

Clue Moments

• Trainings
• Competitions

As the Cheshire Cat from "American McGee's Alice" said: "When the remarkable becomes bizarre, reason turns rancid". So did John du Pont. In an attempt to get the first prize, to become a great coach he made up his mind to murder an innocent person. John du Pont was obsessed with his desire to win.

Obsession. It never leads to anything good. They say that obsession is a kind of altered state of consciousness. When one idea is all a person can think of it keeps one's mind intent and brings to forget about everything else: a family, a place, time and so on. It isn't even a real factually. And does any obsession worth these sacrifices?

To put it mildly, in fact the story was a bit different. So real Mark Schultz was absolutely displeased with the film. He shared this on Facebook: "I was already an Olympic and WORLD Champion before I met du Pont. The director took my 1985 World Title away in the film. I was not emotionally fragile as critics suggest. I didn't move to Pennsylvania to wrestle for Foxcatcher. I took an assistant coaching job at Villanova. I never looked up to duPont as a mentor, leader, father figure. He was a lot dirtier the first time I met him and he was drunk. He told me he would have nothing to do with Villanova which was the only reason I went there. du Pont was a repulsive sickening freak. I could barely stand looking at him. I never touched him except for a photo at the hall of fame and when I threw him in a headlock for a documentary. I never showed him any moves or taught him anything about wrestling. I never coached him in a wrestling match. I never read any speech he gave me. I never dyed my hair. Dave was my older brother, not a father-figure. After I won the NCAA's and Dave took 2nd, Dave started asking me about technique and calling himself Mark Schultz's brother. I was a 3x NCAA Champion. Dave won once. After 1986 I started beating Dave in practice consistently. I never worked out in the new wrestling complex duPont built in the film. If du Pont ever slapped me I'd have knocked his head off. I never wrestled after Dave moved onto Foxcatcher Farms. I was doing Jiu-Jitsu at BYU. Dave was never a head coach anywhere. I was a Division I University Head Coach for 6 years. Dave was intelligent but no more than me. Just coz I wasn't filling the silence with superfluous noise all the time doesn't mean I was inarticulate. I earned a masters degree with a 3.6 gpa. I'm a corporate speaker and life coach. The movie doesn't show hardly any of my victories. It focuses on only my losses. The personalities and relationships between the characters in the film are primarily fiction and somewhat insulting. Leaving the audience with a feeling that somehow there could have been a sexual relationship between du Pont and I is a sickening and insulting lie. I told Bennett Miller to cut that scene out and he said it was to give the audience the feeling that duPont was encroaching on your privacy and personal space. I wasn't explicit so I didn't have a problem with it. Then after reading 3 or 4 reviews interpreting it sexually, and jeopardizing my legacy, they need to have a press conference to clear the air, or I will" (Read more here). 

Soundtracks

1. Rob Simonsen - Home Movies
2. Rob Simonsen - Corruption
3. West Dylan Thordson - Palaces
4. Bob Dylan - This Land Is Your Land
5. Rob Simonsen - Duponts
6. Mychael Danna - Valley Forge
7. West Dylan Thordson - To Forget
8. Rob Simonsen - Strange New World
9. This Will Destroy You - Villa Del Refugio (Edit)
10. Rob Simonsen - The Continuation Of Things
11. Rob Simonsen - Olympic Losses
12. Rob Simonsen - Honor
13. West Dylan Thordson - Child (To Forget)
14. West Dylan Thordson - Times Achanging
15. Joshua L. Pearson - Sealion
16. Arvo Pärt feat. Alexander Malter - Für Alina

Quotations

* * *

John du Pont: Coach is the father. Coach is a mentor. Coach has great power on athlete's life.

* * *

John du Pont: You're going to do great things, Mark.
Mark Schultz: I'm gonna give you everything I have.

* * *

John du Pont: Ornithologist, Philatelist, Philanthropist.

* * *

John du Pont: I'm getting Dave. And I don't care how much it costs.

* * *

Mark Schultz: I just don't wanna let you down.

* * *

David Schultz: Hey, John. What's happening?
[notices that John has a gun]
David Schultz: Whoa.
John du Pont: You have a problem with me?
Fred Cole: No, John, don't!
David Schultz: John, I don't have a problem. Hey, John...
[John fires at him]

* * *

You can see the trailer here.

Plot: 7/10

Entertainment: 6/10

Acting: 8/10

Originality: 7/10

Music and Sound: 7/10

7/10