An Exceptionally Haunting Character Study

Rating: 10/10 (3 February 2015)

Over three weeks have passed since I viewed this film at the cinema, and to this day it has been continuously on my mind.
'Foxcatcher' was one of my most anticipated films of 2014; primarily being hooked by the plot synopsis as well as the cast and director involved. The trailers further heightened both my excitement and expectations, surprisingly I wasn't feeling sceptical about actors mostly involved in comedy portraying characters in a serious film like this. In fact, I was pleased to see Carell taking on such a challenging role, and hopefully expanding his versatility as an actor in terms of portraying another antagonist of sorts since 'The Way Way Back'.
Thankfully, this film utterly exceeded my expectations, despite being dissimilar to what the trailer indicated. I was expecting a decent drama with swift pacing and strong performances, instead, I was swept up in a realistic character study which felt strangely atmospheric due to its overriding gritty tone. One of the reasons why the film stuck in my mind as much as it did, was due to the way it 'felt' and left me feeling afterwards; it was as if I simply 'observed' three people's lives. This was achieved by the slow pacing, long takes showcasing REAL emotion and the minimal use of a soundtrack allowing me to effectively experience and take in the chemistry between the characters.
The performances did not disappoint either, they were phenomenal and according to me achieved exactly what was required in order for the plot to feel enticing. Firstly, I believe Steve Carell knocked it out of the park; his performance genuinely felt creepy and haunting, merely his presence and figure expression in a given scene evoked a sense of ceaseless dread. Both Mark Ruffalo and Channing Tatum equally delivered, their performances felt truly genuine; displaying intensity both mentally and physically in a flawless manner. I personally believe all three performances were equally worthy of an Oscar, both Ruffalo and Carell certainly deserved their nominations.
To conclude, the wait for this film was definitely worthwhile. Although some people may find the slow pacing and gritty tone distasteful, I found that it helped the film and character development maintain engaging throughout. In addition to this, the film looked excellent, the cinematography was alluring and effectively further helped to set the tone. I'm giving this film a strong 9,7 as it provides an exceptionally haunting and enticing character study, and thus essentially achieves everything it strives for as a compelling biopic.