Cold, thrilling and dramatic, Foxcatcher scores across the board

Rating: 9/10 (16 February 2015)

Every time I thought I had found my favourite scene in Foxcatcher, another appears on screen. Its the scene where duPont wins the farce of a 50+ wrestling tournament, or its the scene where duPont forces Dave to rave about his mentorship, or its Mark's school assembly address, or the scene where duPont's mother comes to watch the wrestling. I just can't choose
The Fighter meets The Last King of Scotland in this chillingly directed, superbly acted, intricately scripted and all around stunning film by Bennett Miller. In just two hours, Foxcatcher delves deeply into three key relationships - Dave and Mark, Mark and John, and John and his mother. The relationship between Mark and John is the focal point of the film and is truly excellent, thanks to beautiful writing and stunning performances from Channing Tatum and Steve Carell.
Steve Carell is from another planet in this film. When he first appears outside Mark's window, I almost died in fright. Chilling, frightening and yet amazingly sympathetic in places, Carell gives one of the finest performances of 2014. Bennett Miller's brilliant move in having Carell place his most dark thought on a piece of paper and have it within Miller's reach during filming, if I identify the scene correctly, was a masterful move and brought something very special to Foxcatcher. Carell's duPont is narcissistic, obsessive, paranoid, bitter, jealous and resentful, and Carell displays all of this with unparalleled skill.
As for the rest of the cast, they are excellent. In her only significant scene, Sienna Miller cuts down Mark with venom with the delivery of a single line. In just five minutes, Tatum had conveyed to me everything I needed to know about how Mark feels. Ruffalo is superb and subtle, with his key moment during one of duPont's many narcissistic self-chronicles. Redgrave owns the camera in each of her few scenes.
Bennett MIller's efforts are unparalleled. The performances he has received from his actors are incredible, there are too many perfect scenes to count, and Foxcatcher is his masterpiece. If this was his vision for Foxcatcher, then he has succeeded on every front.