A really dark, disturbing and extremely ambiguous film!

Rating: 9/10 (21 January 2015)

'FOXCATCHER': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five)
Critically acclaimed biographical thriller about two Olympic champion brothers, who are asked by an eccentric multimillionaire to be a part of his future wrestling team. It stars Steve Carell as the multimillionaire, named John E. du Pont, and Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo as the wrestling brothers, Mark and David Schultz. It was directed by Bennett Miller; who also directed another critically acclaimed 'true crime' thriller (in 2005) called 'CAPOTE', as well as another critically acclaimed sports film (in 2011) called 'MONEYBALL'. It was written by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman (Futterman also wrote 'CAPOTE') and it's based on the tragic true events; which surrounded the lives of the Schultz brothers and John E. du Pont. The film received mostly positive reviews from critics and it was nominated for five Academy Awards; including Best Director, Best Actor (Carell), Best Supporting Actor (Ruffalo) and Best Original Screenplay. It's a really dark, disturbing and extremely ambiguous film; I enjoyed it quite a bit.
Mark and David Schultz (Tatum and Ruffalo) both won gold medals for wrestling, in the 1984 Olympics. Four years later Dave lived happily with his wife (Sienna Miller) and kids, but Mark was relatively depressed and poor (despite his gold medal and past fame). So when Mark is suddenly contacted by a multimillionaire, named John E. du Pont (Carell), and asked to come stay at his estate in order to help train a wrestling team for the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Mark happily takes him up on his offer (as he's paid very well in return). Du Pont asks Mark to invite his brother along as well, but Dave doesn't want to leave his family. A strange bond forms between Mark and du Pont as Mark is eager to win another gold medal and du Pont sees an opportunity to become a respected wrestling coach, as well as finally win the approval of his overbearing mother (Vanessa Redgrave). Things don't go as planned and tragedy strikes.
The real Mark Schultz served as a consultant for much of the film's production but when he first saw the completed movie, he ranted on Twitter about how much he hated it. Critics had pointed out that the relationship shown in the film, between his character and du Pont's, has 'homosexual undertones'. This is what upset Schultz the most; but he later apologized for his harsh words and now says he loves the movie. I think there is some homosexuality, implied in the film, but like everything else, in the movie, it's very ambiguous. That's what I kind of like most about it; it's very dark and creepy but nothing is spelled out for the viewer. I think almost everything, in the film, is left up to an individual's interpretation. Miller has said he was trying to show a "narrative of a cult"; with the characters and situations being studied in the movie. I think it's all very fascinating and well made. It's maybe a little too slow paced and seemingly uneventful, at times, but it does have a powerful payoff. Carell really did an amazing job transforming himself into the role; and he does deserve all of the acclaim he's been getting. Tatum is pretty good as well but he seems more naturally fitting to his role; so it doesn't seem like it was as big of a stretch for him to do. Ruffalo is good, like always, but no better than he normally is, in my opinion. It's an all around well made film. Probably not one of the very best of the year, but a pretty good one all the same.
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