There’s a new film hitting theatres that’s getting some serious Oscar buzz. The movie is called “Foxcatcher.”
Does it deserve the buzz that it is receiving?
Well, that’s what I’m here to tell you.
“Foxcatcher” tells the true story of millionaire John du Pont and his affection towards patriotism, power, and Olympic wrestlers Mark and David Schultz.
John du Pont (Steve Carell) is in love with the sport of wrestling and is determined to build a team that will take the gold at the 1988 Olympics. He puts together a team anchored by Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) and calls it ‘Team Foxcatcher’.
Schultz, an already established Olympic gold medal wrestler, falls in love with the money that du Pont is willing to pay him and moves into the training facility to start preparing for the next chapter in his Olympic glory.
The thing is, du Pont is a complete mental case. He has some serious mommy issues. He has some serious power struggle issues. And he also has an issue with Mark Schultz’s older brother David (Mark Ruffalo).
You see, David is the better wrestler and du Pont knows it. Du Pont needs David on the team also. So basically, you have a wrestling love triangle, minus the love.
Hmm, let me see if I can tighten this up for you. John du Pont loves Mark Schultz. Mark Schultz loves John du Pont’s money, David Schultz loves his brother Mark Schultz. John du Pont needs David Schultz so he can keep Mark Schultz on Team Foxcatcher. David Schultz helps John du Pont keep Mark Schultz. Mark Schultz eventually leaves Team Foxcatcher.
And some serious bologna hits the fan.
Now, I know what I just wrote may sound like a crazy love triangle involving two brothers and an old, rich, weirdo, but it is not like that at all. All this is strictly for the love of the sport… and money… and brotherhood… and power.
It is truly a very disturbing film.
Does it deserve Oscar buzz? Maybe… but it won’t get it from me. Sure, it’s a very good film with some incredible acting from Carell, Tatum, and Ruffalo, but the story was a tad bit dull for me.
I remember this story being much more interesting back in 1988 when I was watching it on the news.
That doesn’t mean I didn’t like it, it’s just that I’ve seen too many award worthy films better than this one. (E.g. “Interstellar,” “Birdman,” “Boyhood,” “Locke,” “The Theory of Everything,” and of course “TMNT”)
But this film was well made. It was perfectly cast, and the actors and director did their homework.
I liked that the wrestling moves were legit. Being a pretty good high school wrestler back in the day, I was impressed with the execution of the technical moves. I got to see some arm-drags and gut-wrenches. I saw a half-nelson or two, and I got to see a little bit of leg wrestling. Plus, I got to see my favorite move in high school, the guillotine.
I also liked that all the wrestlers had cauliflower ear, because that problem was prevalent all over wrestling gyms across America. (and it’s gross and fun to look at.)
I liked how real the director made the “weigh-ins”. The wrestlers would have to get naked just to make their weight class. On a personal note, I can remember stripping down to nothing at all just so I could make weight at 103 lbs. Yes, that was always a lot of fun, standing around 30 or 35 men completely nude in a gym locker room just so I could eventually wrestle another man. Good times, good memories.
Hmm, what else was good? Oh, I love that the background score was pretty much hi-jacked from the movies “The Beach” and “The Shawshank Redemption.” I loved those two movies. It was nice to think about those two films while I was watching this one.
Ok, what was bad? Nothing… Alright, there were a couple of things.
Not one wrestler wore headgear. Nope, that wouldn’t fly in any wrestling gym. You HAVE TO wear headgear. (How else are you going to get cauliflower ear?)
And one more thing I noticed was that the front lawn of the du Pont estate was clearly cut by a 2011 52 inch Wright Stander lawn mower. How do I know this? Because I am a professional landscaper and I know my lawn mower tracks! This film takes place in 1988 and that mower wasn’t even invented until the 2000’s! (Did I just sound like Marisa Tomei in “My Cousin Vinny” right then?)
Oh, one more thing too. Whoever did the prosthetic nose for Steve Carell deserves an Oscar for that, because it looks like they surgically removed my snout and slapped it right on him… Kudos to whoever you are.
So, does this film deserve Oscar consideration?
Personally, no, I do not think so.
Will it get Oscar consideration?
Yes, because most Acedemy voters are lemmings that do not do their homework. (I think they just go with what people tell them.)
I do my homework.
But hey, what do I know? I only the second best movie reviewer in the world.
Matty W. Kelley, reporting.
mattywkelley.com
Fun Fact: Channing Tatum was chosen as People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2012.
Fun Matty Fact: Matty W. Kelley was chosen as Matty Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Dead OR Alive” in 2014.
That makes me sexier than Channing Tatum.