Based on true events, 'Foxcatcher' tells the dark and fascinating story of the unlikely and ultimately tragic relationship between an eccentric multi-millionaire and two champion wrestlers. It was awarded the Best Director prize at Cannes and picked up five Oscar nominations.
When Olympic Gold wrestler Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) is invited by wealthy heir John du Pont (Steve Carell, 'Beautiful Boy', 'Vice') to move on to the du Pont estate and help form a team to train for the 1988 Seoul Olympics at his new state-of-the-art training facility, Schultz jumps at the opportunity, hoping to focus on his training and finally step out of the shadow of his revered brother, Dave (Mark Ruffalo). Driven by hidden needs, du Pont sees backing Schultz’s bid for Gold and the chance to “coach” a world-class wrestling team as an opportunity to gain the elusive respect of his peers and, more importantly, his disapproving mother (Vanessa Redgrave).
Flattered by the attention and entranced by du Pont’s majestic world, Mark comes to see his benefactor as a father figure and grows increasingly dependent on him for approval. But soon du Pont’s erratic behaviour and cruel psychological game-play begin to erode the athlete’s already shaky self-esteem. Meanwhile du Pont becomes fixated on Dave, who exudes the confidence both he and Mark lack, knowing that these are things even his money cannot buy. Fueled by du Pont's increasing paranoia and alienation from the brothers, the trio is propelled towards a tragedy no one could have foreseen.
★★★★★ "Superb variant on the underdog sports movie" - Peter Bradshaw's Film of the Week, The Guardian
★★★★★ "A momentous, history-making film about money and influence in modern America" - Robbie Collin, The Telegraph
15
134 minutes
2014
Drama, Award Winners
United States
English, French
English
eOne