SO what’s “Foxcatcher” about?
Not yoicks, tally-ho, tantivy or any of the other traditions observed by the galloping unspeakable in pursuit of the inedible. Directed by Bennett Miller, written by Dan Futterman, “Foxcatcher” is a sombre account of three men chasing a dream, a real-life tragedy set among excessive wealth and heart-wrenching and irresolvable family differences.
The patent rights for chemical products including nylon and Teflon generate enormous wealth for Du Pont family companies. In the 1980s, the only family members alive to rattle around the mansion on the 325 hectare Foxcatcher estate are matriarch (Vanessa Redgrave) and scion John. Her passion is horses, his is wrestling. John believes he has the skill to coach Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) to win wrestling gold at the Seoul Olympics and that introducing him to cocaine will do no harm. Mark has lived most of his life in the shadow of older brother David (Mark Ruffalo) also a wrestler.
Steve Carell’s portrayal of John subtly and convincingly expresses the uncomfortable mixture of mental instability and emotional impoverishment besetting him, a man unloved, unloving (except of his wrestling passion) and if not a repressed homosexual, probably an asexual getting a buzz from physical and visual contact with beautiful male bodies.
Cinema ticket sellers tell buyers to “enjoy the movie”. That routine blandishment is simply not appropriate for “Foxcatcher”. Slow-paced, lacking humour or compassion, its Oscar nomination is nevertheless worthy. Wealth and social power carry an important between-the-lines message.
At Palace Electric, Dendy and Capitol 6
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