Although this one has been out for several months, finally got around to seeing it last night.
Foxcatcher is the true story of multi-millionaire John E. DuPont and former OU wrestlers Mark and Dave Schultz. DuPont was played brilliantly by comedian Steve Carrell, who received several award nominations. I am always interested in movies where a comedian plays a dramatic role to see if they can pull it off and Carrell does an amazing job with this role (see Robin Williams in "Awakenings," Bill Murray in "The Razor's Edge" and Jim Carrey in "The Majestic" and "The Truman Show."). Mark Schultz is played by Channing Tatum and his older brother, Dave Schultz, is played by Mark Rufalo, who also do a very nice job with this movie.
DuPont is portrayed as an uber-patriot who wants to help the U.S. "bring home the gold" and builds a training facility for wrestlers, swimmers and decathalon athletes at his sprawling estate in eastern Pennsylvania. As a wrestling "groupie," DuPont is well aware of the Schultz brothers and their many collegiate, World and Olympic wrestling championships. He gets Mark to come to the facility, where he pays the younger, impressionable brother to be part of his vision and join his wrestling team. Although Dave refuses at first, he too eventually moves his family to the Foxcatcher compound to live, coach and train his wrestlers.
DuPont is also incredibly eccentric and an ego-maniac and as the movie progresses, his behavior becomes more unpredictable and erratic. Although the movie doesn't spell it out, it is implied that DuPont is attracted to and may have forced himself on Mark in return for being paid to live and train at his facility. Shortly after Dave arrives, Mark becomes distant, sullen and withdrawn and makes it clear that he intensely dislikes DuPont. This constantly puts Dave in the middle, playing peacemaker between the man who is writing the checks and his star wrestler, his brother.
Eventually, the relationship between Dave and DuPont sours and in a paranoid state, DuPont confronts Schultz in his driveway and shoots him in front of his wife and DuPont's personal bodyguard. Although I was familiar with Schultz's death from the news of his killing, I was really interested in this movie and how the characters were portrayed. The acting is outstanding, the story is very factual and the characters are very believable, particularly Carrell as DuPont. I give Foxcatcher 8.5 out of 10 Sooner Schooners.
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Foxcatcher is the true story of multi-millionaire John E. DuPont and former OU wrestlers Mark and Dave Schultz. DuPont was played brilliantly by comedian Steve Carrell, who received several award nominations. I am always interested in movies where a comedian plays a dramatic role to see if they can pull it off and Carrell does an amazing job with this role (see Robin Williams in "Awakenings," Bill Murray in "The Razor's Edge" and Jim Carrey in "The Majestic" and "The Truman Show."). Mark Schultz is played by Channing Tatum and his older brother, Dave Schultz, is played by Mark Rufalo, who also do a very nice job with this movie.
DuPont is portrayed as an uber-patriot who wants to help the U.S. "bring home the gold" and builds a training facility for wrestlers, swimmers and decathalon athletes at his sprawling estate in eastern Pennsylvania. As a wrestling "groupie," DuPont is well aware of the Schultz brothers and their many collegiate, World and Olympic wrestling championships. He gets Mark to come to the facility, where he pays the younger, impressionable brother to be part of his vision and join his wrestling team. Although Dave refuses at first, he too eventually moves his family to the Foxcatcher compound to live, coach and train his wrestlers.
DuPont is also incredibly eccentric and an ego-maniac and as the movie progresses, his behavior becomes more unpredictable and erratic. Although the movie doesn't spell it out, it is implied that DuPont is attracted to and may have forced himself on Mark in return for being paid to live and train at his facility. Shortly after Dave arrives, Mark becomes distant, sullen and withdrawn and makes it clear that he intensely dislikes DuPont. This constantly puts Dave in the middle, playing peacemaker between the man who is writing the checks and his star wrestler, his brother.
Eventually, the relationship between Dave and DuPont sours and in a paranoid state, DuPont confronts Schultz in his driveway and shoots him in front of his wife and DuPont's personal bodyguard. Although I was familiar with Schultz's death from the news of his killing, I was really interested in this movie and how the characters were portrayed. The acting is outstanding, the story is very factual and the characters are very believable, particularly Carrell as DuPont. I give Foxcatcher 8.5 out of 10 Sooner Schooners.
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