A Movie Review: Foxcatcher

Foxcatcher is based on true events. Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) and David Schultz (Mark Ruffalo) are brothers and Olympic champions in wrestling.  Both won gold medals in the 1984 Olympics.  Wrestling isn't a high profile sport so even with gold medals they are still struggling to make ends meet.  The movie opens up with Mark Schultz giving a school speech for just $20.  Considering inflation, that's perhaps $50 in today's money?  Not very much at all.

Luck that really isn't luck hits Mark Schultz.  One of the richest men in America, John du Pont (Steve Carell), has an interest in wrestling.  He wants to put America at the top of the wrestling world.  John du Pont's assistant gives Mark a call and asks him to meet with his boss.  Mark is asked to move to the du Pont compound where he'll be put in charge of developing and training future wrestling champions.  Mark soon ends up being John du Pont's puppet, having to give praise where praise is not due.  You also get the sense that John du Pont really thinks more highly of David (as a better coach, maybe not as a better wrestler) and that hiring Mark was just a way to try and get David into the fold.

Mark is soon introduced to cocaine by John du Pont.  One almost suspects that this cocaine introduction was done on purpose, perhaps John du Pont is thinking that a washed-up Mark will finally convince David to join the compound.  David eventually does sign-up, which leads to a disastrous ending.  

I have to admit that during this Oscar season of movie releases, I haven't been into the based on true event movies.  The Imitation Game.  The Theory of Everything.  And now Foxcatcher.  There is some great acting in all three movies.  You get an interesting history lesson.  But over-all, they're just okay in my opinion.

In regards to Foxcatcher, I love Steve Carell's portrayal of John du Pont.  Here's one of the richest men in the world and his only desire in life is to gain his mother's approval.  Yet, he does have an independent streak.  He knows his mother hates wrestling and that she'd rather see him excel in the equestrian sport.  He prefers to go his own way, but still desires his mother's approval.  This inability to gain her approval perhaps plays a role in his mental illness weakness that eventually wrecks havoc for the Schultz family.    

Mark Ruffalo portrays a loving brother and family man as David Schultz.  He probably has an understanding that his younger brother has more inherent ability than him (though unlikely the better wrestler as David appears to understand strategy better), but never shows any jealousy.  And instead is someone who always encourages.

If you're interesting in the accuracy of the movie, click on this Slate link.