'Foxcatcher' has strong competition at the major awards shows.
Foxcatcher, the new psychological drama by Bennett Miller, hits cinemas in the UK today (January 9, 2014) on the back of critical acclaim stateside and talk of awards glory. Acting from an eerie and disturbing script from E. Max Frye, Foxcatcher features three stunning performances from Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum and, notably, Steve Carell.
Steve Carell [L] and Channing Tatum [R] in Foxcatcher
The comedy actor plays John du Pont, the eccentric multi-millionaire who moved a U.S wrestling team to its vast estate in order to train for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Desperate to earn the respect for his disproving mother, du Pont's hunger for success descends into a self-destructive spiral with fatal consequences.
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"Foxcatcher is brilliantly acted and extremely well crafted in a wintry, slow burning way but has an emptiness at its core," said Geoffrey Macnab of The Independent.
"A movie that appears to be about wrestling but in fact is a disturbing, testosterone-rich tour of the inadequacies of an American billionaire and his athletic protégé," said Kate Muir of The Times.
"Another dramatic triumph for Bennett Miller, though it is his toughest and least glamorous outing yet. A sad and horrible story, expertly and compellingly told," wrote Dan Jolin of Empire.
Channing Tatum [L] and Mark Ruffalo [R], who could be set for an Oscar nomination
"It is tautly directed, deftly written, thoroughly gripping and offers psychological heft as well as sublime performances all round," said Deborah Ross of The Spectator.
Though Foxcatcher is another notably achievement for Miller - and particularly for Ruffalo, Tatum and Carell - the movie is likely to miss out on the major prizes at the Oscars. Had Richard Linklater not unleashed Boyhood last year, the race for Best Picture would have been wide open with Foxcatcher probably battling The Imitation Game, The Theory of Everything and Birdman. Instead, the category of Best Picture is already tied up and the acting categories are hugely competitive after a swathe of excellent performances in average to very good movies.
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Carell is behind Michael Keaton, Eddie Redmayne and Benedict Cumberbatch in the pecking order for best actor (though perhaps only Keaton's performance was better), while Ruffalo is probably the second favourite for best supporting actor though will find it almost impossible to beat JK Simmons for Whiplash.
Foxcatcher is out in the UK today (January 9, 2014).
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