Not much to it

Rating: 4/10 (19 September 2015)

(spoilers) The story details the relationship between multi-millionaire John DuPont and the Schultz brothers (Mark and Dave), world class wrestlers. DuPont was interested in promoting wrestling, particularly in promoting Mark in world championships and then in the 1988 Olympics. DuPont established an upscale wrestling training facility on his extravagant estate in Pennsylvania, called Foxcatcher. After enticing Mark to train at Foxcatcher DuPont was set on getting Dave to come as well. There was a big build-up about DuPont wanting Dave and Dave not wanting to come, but then all of a sudden Dave shows up with no explanation given.
I think there are two things that attract an audience to this movie. One is seeing Steve Corell in a dramatic role and the other is the knowledge of the tragic ending. It *is* a surprise to see Corell in this movie and almost immediately my reaction to his performance of DuPont was "creepy." But Corell never gets away from a one-note interpretation. Obviously DuPont was slipping into some serious mental state by the time he murdered Dave, but Corell plays DuPont the same throughout. Corell has received kudos for getting DuPont right, but if you look at the YouTube video of DuPont (google "DuPont video") I find the DuPont there to have much more of a normal vocal range and appear to be somewhat normal, albeit a bit idiosyncratic, in his interpersonal behaviors. Also, he is much more physically fit than Corell. Can you picture Corell's DuPont enjoying a fishing trip? There is heavy focus on Corell's large nose (exaggerated from DuPont's real nose, if you look at photos of DuPont). Corell must have felt that he need have done no more than show up with this nose in order for his performance to be highly rated. At every possible opportunity Corell is filmed in profile.
If Corell's performance is unvarying, Channing Tatum's, as Mark, is not much better. His performance consists of a deliberate walk, a worried look, and a monotone voice. The word automaton comes to mind.
The only actors who have any screen presence are Mark Ruffalo, as Dave, and Vanessa Redgrave (in a cameo performance), as DuPont's mother. Without Ruffalo this affair would have been quite tedious.
There is a goodly amount of wrestling footage, both training and competition. If you don't find that sport particularly appealing, then you will likely feel the urge to fast forward over that footage.
The score, which frequently is no more than an ominous low note, is effective only if you know that there is going to be a tragic end.
In summary, what you have is: the novelty of Carell in a dramatic role, the grotesquerie of the nose, some wrestling footage, and a murder. Not enough to compel my full attention for two hours.
I think a documentary about DuPont would be more interesting than this movie. For all his creepyness, he was a complex character with diverse interests and talents; his contributions as a philanthropist were significant.