Once again, walking into this film I knew absolutely nothing about it other than the cast.  I had assumed that since Carell was in it that it was going to be another blockbuster comedy, but as you likely know, that is not what this movie is at all.

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The film begins with Mark Shultz - played by Channing Tatum - giving a lukewarm pep talk to a group of kids at an elementary school.  He is paid a very small amount of money for this and then is seen getting takeaway burgers at a fast-food restaurant.  It becomes evident very early in the film that Mark Shultz, who is an Olympic gold-medalist, isn't exactly reaping financial rewards from his achievements in sport.  

Things start to turn around for Mark when he is contacted by John du Pont, an extremely wealthy wrestling enthusiast who invites Mark to fly to his estate in Pennsylvania.  Upon arrival, John du Pont (played by Steve Carell) offers Mark a job to help with his private wrestling team named "Foxcatcher."  This offer is extended to Mark's brother, Dave as well.  It becomes evident very early on that Mr. Dupont actually wanted Dave as a trainer more than Mark and this creates animosity because Mark feels overshadowed by Dave already anyway.  

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They build a successful team and the performance of their camp is actually looking good.  However, it becomes evident that John desperately wants the Foxcatcher team to view him as a teacher and mentor, despite the fact that his money is the only real contribution to the team.  In a tournament where Mr du Pont is actually competing, Mark witnesses a bunch of money being handed to du Pont's competitors in order to ensure his victories.  John also introduces Mark to cocaine, which he starts to use on a regular basis.  They have an odd friendship, and it is almost as though John du Pont owns Mark rather than is actually friends with him.  

Mark's brother Dave eventually joins Foxcatcher team as well, and this is where things start to get tense.  This is because Dave (played by the excellent Mark Ruffalo) isn't enamored with John du Pont's wealth, nor does he pretend to believe that John is a mentor, actually telling John at times to kind of "get out of the way" so he can properly train the Foxcatcher team.  Obviously this doesn't sit well with Mr du Pont.

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So the main  reason I liked this film is the fact that when you think of a cast that will be nominated for awards in a drama category, Steve Carell and Channing Tatum aren't exactly the names that come to mind.  I think that might be a big part of the reason why they were chosen.  Seeing Carell do any work that isn't silly comedies (which I love, don't get me wrong) was actually very surprising because as it turns out, he is excellent at serious drama scenes also.  I look forward to seeing Steve in serious roles in the future because he proved with this film that he is not a "one trick pony."  

I also really enjoyed the fact that this movie is based on a real story - and that always makes for good cinema in my mind.  The only downside of this film in my opinion is that it is a bit boring.  However, the culmination of events at the end (which i will not spoil) are so surprising that I can't believe that I had never heard about them seeing as how i was alive when they actually occurred.  

This trailer actually does a wonderful job of enticing you to watch the full movie.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8361stZ8n0w

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# 8 / 10 
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