Oscars Countdown 2015 - Foxcatcher

Ensign Lestat's Oscars Countdown, 21/01/2015

Foxcatcher

Nominations - Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actor (Steve Carell), Best Supporting Actor (Mark Ruffalo), Best Makeup and Hairstyling

'Foxcatcher' is the true story of wrestlers Mark (Channing Tatum) and Dave Schultz (Mark Ruffalo) and their dark and complicated relationship with millionaire wrestling enthusiast John du Pont (Steve Carell).

The film takes place over the course of a few years, focusing on Mark's struggles with his confidence before the World Championships. These struggles are what bring him into the company of du Pont, who too struggles with his own confidence issues. The film moves at a languid pace, relying on its characters to move the story forward.

I don't know what to make of this film. I don't hate it, but I most definitely don't like it. It attempted to showcase as many significant moments during this period, but lacked in any really emotion. Most importantly, motivations of the characters and their actions were absent. Why is Mark so concerned about his performance? Is it the usual nerves of a big events? What gives Dave so much confidence? Is it that he has a happy stable family life, hence the sport is a passion but not his whole life? What about du Pont? We don't really understand the true reasoning behind his obsession with the Schultzes. 

As someone with little knowledge of wrestling, and no knowledge of these people, I was left in the dark throughout the film. 

The film's accomplishments rest on its performances. The amount of work the actors put in to make the wrestling scenes convincing are a testamant to their convictions, and the director's influence. Channing Tatum probably deserved some recognition for his performance. His acting was nuanced and subtle. Ruffalo has received a nomination for his turn, but the tables could have been turned - Carell could have received a supporting nomination, while Tatum got it for lead. But, the studio must have realised that Carell's serious turn, that too under a ton of make-up was a more probable win than anything Tatum can garner.

I like Ruffalo, but he didn't really acquit himself that well in this film. He looks the part, but he appears to be just... Mark Ruffalo. Carell was more convincing, but seemed burdened by the prosthesis for the most part. He's in a tough category, though, and there's no sure shot winner for lead actor at the moment.

Bennett Miller directed another nominated film about sports, 'Moneyball', a few years ago. I don't know much about Baseball, but I got caught up in the flow when I watched that film. I loved the politicking that went on in choosing a winning team, and yeah, I gave a damn when Chris Pratt's Scott hit the winning home-run at the end of the film.

For a film about sports, Foxcatcher seems far removed from that passion as well. It was reminiscent of 2010's 'The Fighter', another film about a professional sport coming in between two loving brothers. But The Fighter got us involved, made us root for and against characters. There was a passion for the work that went on behind the scenes before a big game. We could feel the sweat, blood and tears. We yearned for these characters to triumph. We loved them as much as we hated them.

I think Miller's got a free pass here. Far superior technique is showcased in fellow nominee Alejandro González Iñárritu's film 'Birdman'. And clearly the better film-maker is Ava DuVernay, who hasn't even been nominated. Her work on 'Selma' is phenomenal, and it is an egregious oversight on the part of the Academy voters to exclude her. Technically sound with the ability to bring out the best in her actors, we're looking at someone who should be the next big thing. 'Foxcatcher' doesn't come close to the competition. 

The Academy doesn't favour sports films, so I doubt this film is likely to bag the big prizes for direction and writing. And, I don't think it deserves those wins either. Foxcatcher is a sad tale, but the film is an overall disappointing one. We are never let into the story by the writing and the direction, we're kept at arm's length. It's a by-the-numbers retelling of a tragedy, but it never tells us a story (heck, I still don't know why they're called Team Foxcatcher). The characters endure many experiences, but we do not know what makes them do the things they do, or act the way they do. This film could have broken our hearts, but it never even tries.