Cannes 2014 Review: ‘Foxcatcher’

Even before its Cannes screening there was Oscar buzz surrounding Bennett Miller’s Foxcatcher, based on the a real-life story of Olympic Gold Medal-winning wresters and an obsessed millionaire. Touted as a gripping, intelligent and well-acted drama, I went into the screening with keen anticipation. And I can now tell you that the hype was well-founded. Foxcatcher is a gem of a film.

We meet brothers Mark & Dave Schultz in the gym, sparing with each other on the mat. Despite their shared passion for wrestling the brothers couldn’t be more different: Dave is smart and a family man, helping to coach upcoming champions; Mark, however, is on the breadline having failed to convert his Olympic success into a life outside the ring.

Enter eccentric millionaire Jon DuPont, who promises Mark a lead role at his new national training facility and a chance to win a second Gold medal. Mark leaps at the chance to come out from in his older brother’s shadow and finds in DuPont a friend and mentor. But DuPont’s delusional dreams of restoring America’s supremacy through dominance in the ring push Mark to his mental and physical limit.

Despite its grandiose premise, Foxcatcher is often a very subtle film. The wrestling elements are entertaining and the film’s aesthetics stunning but, much like Ornonsfky’s The Wrestler, neither overshadows the character-driven script at any point. Miller handles the character elements with finesse, often without the need for exposition – unlike many American sports movies. The initial sparing between the brothers tells us everything we need know about them and their relationship.

The taut script is brought to life by brilliant performances from the key cast. Tatum turns in a career best and a barely-recognisable Carrel is superb too, proving he’s not a one-trick comedy pony. But it’s Mark Ruffalo who really shines. Despite Dave being something of a secondary character, the film hinges on the brothers’ relationship and Mark’s resulting motivations. And to that end Ruffalo’s performance makes the film tick.

For me, the test of a film like this is if you come out of the cinema wanting to know more about the story – how much was real versus dramatic licence – and Foxcatcher most certainly did that for me.

A gold medal hit and deserved Oscar contender.

9/10

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