Exceptional

Rating: 9/10 (17 December 2014)

Exceptional fact-based drama by workmanlike Bennett Miller, who directed Capote and Moneyball previously. Concerning the murder of a wrestling coach by millionaire heir John du Pont, the film examines what led to the tragedy. The major theme here is wealth and class in America, and it's one of the best films about that that has ever been made. The three major characters, du Pont and two brothers who both won Olympic gold medals, Mark and David Schultz, are beautifully written and plaid by Steve Carell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo respectively. Carell is a product of pure, American royalty, but having grown up relatively isolated from actual society, he's a giant weirdo. Tatum, the younger brother, lives only for wrestling and doesn't have much besides his older brother outside of that. When du Pont invites him to wrestle under his tutelage, he jumps at the opportunity. Ruffalo is content in his life with his loving family and at first refuses to join the team, though du Pont is very insistent. Of course, he can buy anything, and eventually does, spending an undisclosed amount of money to bring Ruffalo in. The action upsets Tatum, and the whole situation starts to go to Hell. The film is very cold, and quite slow moving, but I was deeply interested throughout. One of the films of the year, no doubt.