Uncomfortably good

Rating: 7/10 (22 February 2015)

Quickie Review:
Mark Shultz (Channing Tatum) and his brother Dave Shultz (Mark Ruffalo) are both Olympic gold medalist wrestlers. In a chance to prove himself away from his brother's shadow, Mark joins Team Foxcatcher created by millionaire John E. du Pont (Steve Carell). As their working relationship starts to develop Mark comes to realize John's inner demons. Foxcatcher, is a suspenseful drama exploring very human insecurities and the actions it can drive us to take. Both Channing Tatum and Steve Carell give likely their career defining performance so far. Though a slow burn, the slow rising temperature is worth the wait.
Full Review:
Steve Carell is a comedy icon, and deservedly so. Meanwhile, a once laughable actor Channing Tatum had found his niche with the Jump Street franchise. Now we gladly laugh at Tatum because we genuinely find him to be great in comedy. However, with Foxcatcher both of these actors are daring to try something out of their comfort zone. That's the reason why I was so excited to see this film.
Channing Tatum has really come a long way since his Step Up days (when in mood for puns you could even say he "stepped up"). Looking at the massive success of 21 & 22 Jump Street I wouldn't have been shocked if Tatum continued to do comedies. Instead he chose to do a dramatic role with the director of Moneyball, Bennett Miller. A ballsy move, but one that pays off. He completely changes himself into a different person in this film. Yes, at first glance you would pass him off as a big bulky gym junkie, but there is more to him than that. He wants to be the best, to be seen as a hero. In his quest for greatness, Tatum effectively shows the jealousy and competitiveness of his character. A quest that inevitably alienates him from his loved ones. As for Steve Carell, he has the obvious physical changes but the dramatic transformation he goes through is much more impressive. His character John presents himself as a visionary and a leader. However, that is all a façade he hides his insecurities behind. His need for approval makes him manipulate people and his own public image. The more this need grows, the more questionable decisions he makes that constantly builds the tension between him and the rest of the cast. Their relation together is what makes the audience remain on the edge.
One thing I should mention that some people may have a problem with, the length of the movie. I personally enjoyed the slow pace because it made sense with the psychology of the lead characters. That slow burn and tension led to a narrative climax that I physically reacted to. The only reason I bring this up is because I did notice several people leaving the cinema well before the film ended. The number of people was significant enough that it made me wonder if I was the only one who didn't mind the pacing. Nevertheless, I'm just cautioning you in case that does happen to be of any concern.
In the end, I really liked Foxcatcher. It is always great to see actors take risks, even more so when they succeed. Tatum and Carell certainly did succeed, and I hope this isn't the last we see of them in a dramatic role.
Check out more on my movie review blog The Stub Collector: http://thestubcollector.wordpress.com/