the decadent rich

Rating: 9/10 (7 February 2015)

An isolated, pathetic heir convinces an Olympic wrestling star to utilise his wealth and resources in return for some reflected glory. When the flaws of the mentor seep into the mentored, the star's brother gets involved, with tragic consequences. Carrell has rightly been lauded for his beguiling performance of a deeply damaged individual whose access to power allows him to corrupt others. Looking small wandering around his vast property, having arid, brittle exchanges with his emotionless mother, he is both pitiful and sinister. Tatum also nails the immature, needy and therefore vulnerable younger brother. But it is Ruffalo who impresses most as the most conflicted character in the narrative. He wants to look after his brother, gain access to the benefits the mentor offers, and maintain a relationship with the mentor while keeping him at a safe distance. The complexities of all that are brilliantly captured by Ruffalo, who is fast taking character acting to new levels. E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman fashion an engrossing, tight narrative that crackles till it breaks. Based on a true story that it is best to know little or nothing about before watching.