If you dive into the biographical wrestling film Foxcatcher without knowledge of the events that inspired it, the disturbing finale may drop you to the mat. This certainly was the case for me, even though the foreboding tune the gripping film had been softly humming in my ears had set up some expectation of a dark finale. 

Yes Foxcatcher sneaks up on you, and this is in large part due to the fact that its deeply engaging performances are delivered by actors who aren’t known for dramatic roles. Driving the film is Steve Carrel (John Eleuthère du Pont) who under his makeup is almost unrecognisable as his comedic self. Here, he plays an aging multimillionaire (yes, that du Pont family) who is eccentric to put it mildly.

We learn that in his youth John had few friends except for those paid to play this role, and in his old age continues to live for the approval of his mother. Wealthy beyond words and perhaps learning from the lesson of buying friends in his childhood, John, as a fan of wrestling, decides to create his own legacy as a coach, pioneer, and promoter of the sport.

Channing Tatum is tremendous as a hot-headed young man, but Mark Ruffalo is even more impressive as his loving older brother. Particularly moving scenes are where the elder brother embraces his tantrum-throwing sibling with love when any other person would have slapped him silly.

Here, he finances his own documentary where wrestlers painfully credit John’s support, writes speeches for those under his wing that sing his praises, and even ‘wins’ a tournament for senior wrestlers.

Those who manage wrestling and the wrestlers themselves accept John’s flaws because of the monetary benefits of his involvement in the sport. Keep in mind that the film takes place in the 1980s, a period where such unglamorous sports were short on both funds and organisation.

Here, filmmaker Bennett Miller is masterful in his examination of the middle class. Miller doesn’t tell you that the two Olympic gold-medal winning brothers, Mark and Dave Schultz, who are the focus of John’s ambitions, are facing economic challenges, but he lets you feel their hardships instead. 

In particular, Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) who is seemingly living paycheck to paycheck is enticed by John’s offer of money. Anyone from a middle class background can appreciate Dave’s inner struggle as John’s demands on him drift from awkward to alarming.

Channing Tatum is tremendous as a hot-headed young man, but Mark Ruffalo is even more impressive as his loving older brother. Particularly moving scenes are where the elder brother embraces his tantrum-throwing sibling with love when any other person would have slapped him silly. It is an expression of unconditional love that only those with siblings could understand.

The great performances and strong narrative are what make Foxcatcher such a compelling film. It is a nuanced take on an incredible story that made headlines around 25 years ago. Although Bennett Miller takes some liberties with the actual story, he thankfully strikes the right balance between authenticity and dramatisation. It is strange however that Foxcatcher actually ignores some of the weirder incidents involving John Eleuthère du Pont which painted him as a bigger oddball than the film actually does. I can only imagine that these omissions were made because they seemed stranger than fiction.

Rated R for some drug use and a scene of violence

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, March 22nd , 2015

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