Outfoxed

Rating: Null/10 (24 September 2017)

Invited to train for the Seoul Olympics at a facility run by an eccentric millionaire, a young wrestler struggles to maintain his sanity in this downbeat but engrossing drama based on a true story. The project is carefully directed by Bennett Miller who deliberately paces the material with many elongated silent shots of the protagonist just sitting around and contemplating. This might not sound particularly interesting, but with Channing Tatum in solid form as the wrestler in question, all these non-action based moments give us a great glimpse into his mind. Steve Carell is also excellent in a supporting turn (the BAFTAs got the category correct) as the mysterious millionaire with an unspoken hidden agenda. On one hand, it is a little underwhelming how the dynamics of Carell and Tatum's friendship are only ever implied with only some suggestion of Carell liking Tatum as more than just a friend; on the other hand, there is a lot to admire in how Miller leaves it up to our imagination regarding the highs, lows and rifts between the pair. Mark Ruffalo is also terrific as Tatum's brother, though he is far less subdued. Providing far more questions than answers regarding what occurred between the real life Mark Schultz and John Du Pont, 'Foxcatcher' does not necessarily offer the most satisfying narrative out there, but there is much to like in how moody and unsettling an experience it is.