finally - got to see this highly rated film from 2014
even though not fussed about another american sports film
boxing, baseball, grid-iron all done to death - this one - wrestling
but not the hyped-up, faked-up, all show and glamour stadium format
this the pure olympic discipline with real skill and technique required
the film opens with dated scenes of horses and riders being prepared
and 'foxcatcher' seen emblazoned on the blanket of one of the horses
next we're inside a gymnasium and 2 wrestlers seen having a workout
brothers mark and dave schultz - both gold medal winners 3 years prior
l a olympics - 1984 - this is a true story which adds to the film's appeal
dave seems to have it over mark who increasingly gets more aggressive
some brotherly jealousy at work it seems - mark then seen at his home
a simple apartment, basic eating habits and then a late night phone call
a request for mark to visit john dupont - an all expenses paid trip offered
nothing to lose so off he goes - and to the sprawling estate of foxcatcher
dupont is one creepy guy played by an almost unrecognisable steve carell
his aloof, detached and very measured manner seems quite other-worldy
he wants mark to come and join his wrestling team - oh and bring dave
dave cannot - he has a wife, kids and a contract to honour - but go for it
mark has already agreed to a salary of $20k - which is what he asked for
scenes then of him adjusting to a solitary life on the luxury property
training incessantly and willingly - he wants to make the man proud
dupont befriends him - and flies him in his private jet to a function
on the way cocaine is imbibed by both - mark not wanting to say no
at the charity function mark makes a sycophantic introduction speech
a turning point - training slides, food, alcohol and drug intake ascends
and with it more insight into the life and motivation of john dupont
he an only child - his elderly mother (vanessa redgrave) lives there
she a horse lady and very disapproving of her son's own obsession
telling him wrestling is a low sport john - and i hate to see you low
he also revealing to mark she paid a boy to be his childhood friend
filthy rich he may be but he has no friends and indulges in hobbies
he an ornithologist (birds), philatelic (stamps) and military expert
even indulging in veterans wrestling with submissive opponents
mark's self-indulgence means he misses selection for seoul '88
and dupont finally getting his way with brother dave signing up
he relocates his family to foxcatcher and becomes chief trainer
the demise of mark then continues - dupont calling him a big ape
but he is released with a salary - brother dave to the rescue again
dave now has the job of training the team and placating dupont
though seen resisting laying on the platitudes in a documentary
not long after which dupont's mother dies and john is in a funk
watching the video and realising dave's reticence he pays a visit
pulls a gun and asks don't you like me dave - and 3 shots are fired
a very realistic death scene in the snow with wife nancy distraught
and so the slowly simmering creepiness of the man finally realised
the final scenes - dupont is arrested and mark seen entering a ring
he has converted to ufc - the 'sport' where brutality a pre-requisite
and a suggested outlet for the pent-up anger and resentment he feels
a final reminder as the film wraps up - it's all based on a true story
dupont sentenced for murder and died in prison in 2010 aged 72
so well done - director bennett miller matching his capote film
steve carell - now considered a seriously good serious actor
and mark ruffalo (dave) - can do no wrong - now must-see
this is a film that will definitely hold up to repeat viewing...
