Oddball movie, but it all makes sense in the end

Rating: 6/10 (21 December 2016)

FOXCATCHER is a film I knew nothing about when I sat down to watch it and I think that's the best way to go. Certainly if you know the events of what really happened - this is a true story - then it will spoil the experience. I knew nothing and watched the tale unfold at a leisurely pace, finding myself drawn into the lives of the characters even though the subject matter bored me.
In essence, this is a tale about two wrestling brothers, one of whom is sponsored by a millionaire eccentric to train for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. There's no more story to it than that. This is a slow, character-focused drama that probably could have used some judicious cutting to excise some of the more repetitive moments; still, there are a couple of powerful set-pieces that really work and make it worth watching.
Channing Tatum is well chosen for the main role; I've never liked the actor but he convinces as the wrestling meat head here. An unrecognisable Steve Carell garnered all the attention for playing the kooky oddball and he's certainly very good, but my favourite performance was Mark Ruffalo who gives an excellent performance once again. Just as in ZODIAC and SPOTLIGHT, Ruffalo plays a quiet and intensely sympathetic character full of nuance and realism. It makes me wish he'd make more great thrillers instead of wasting his time in token comic book fare.