Foxcatcher

"Foxcatcher" is simply not the kind of movie that the Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences wants to honor. Though it was nominated for five Academy Awards it won none. It's dark, bleak, angsty and horrifying with no clear resolve in the end. It certainly isn't inspirational, but it's undeniably brilliant.

The story mostly takes place on John du Pont's 800-acre estate in New Town, Pennsylvania. Grandeur and elegance that most people can hardly imagine are always present behind the chilling, weird, socially awkward heir to the du Pont fortune, a fortune fundamentally built through the sale of munitions.

Steve Carell plays against type as the powerful yet hopeless John du Pont. His tremendous make-up, by Bill Corso and Dennis Liddiard, plays a big part in making his portrayal convincing, and Carell shows depths that surprise even his fans.

With his vast financial resources, du Pont brings the Olympic Gold Medal-winning wrestler, Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) to train for the 1988 Seoul Olympics at his Foxcatcher Farms training facility.

Schultz, a very traditional American man, has a belief in honor and integrity, a silent machismo and respect for his elders. He also has a frail self-esteem and a need for love, acceptance and mentorship. These two proud men face-off in a battle of wills, but mostly they fight with self-doubt and underlying need for each other.

Manipulatively, du Pont brings Schultz' confident and skillful brother Dave (Mark Ruffalo) to Foxcatcher Farms as an assistant coach. But there's never a doubt that the du Pont / Schultz dynamic is reeling toward tragedy.

The juxtaposition between slow burning suspense, quirky/dark humor and subtle naturalism is a feat to behold in this psychologically suspenseful true-to-life account. It is a story layered with symbolism and nihilistic commentary on the American Dream.

This Blu-ray comes with two brief deleted scenes and a fine documentary featurette, "The Story of Foxcatcher." This substantial addition offers a detailed interview with the director (Bennett Miller) and great stories from the actors, especially Ruffalo.

"Foxcatcher"
Blu-ray
Rated R / 134 min.
www.SonyClassics.com