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Foxcatcher

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Foxcatcher
Three men standing shoulder to shoulder. In the background, a painted eagle.
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBennett Miller
Written byE. Max Frye
Dan Futterman
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyGreig Fraser
Edited byStuart Levy
Conor O'Neill
Jay Cassidy
Music byRob Simonsen
West Dylan Thordson
Production
companies
Annapurna Pictures
Likely Story
Distributed bySony Pictures Classics
Release dates
  • May 19, 2014 (2014-05-19) (Cannes)
  • November 14, 2014 (2014-11-14)
Running time
134 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$8.7 million[2]

Foxcatcher is a 2014 American biographical true crime drama film produced and directed by Bennett Miller. Written by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman, the film stars Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo, and Vanessa Redgrave. It is based on the true events surrounding John du Pont's efforts in hiring the Schultz brothers to help train US wrestling Olympians.

Foxcatcher entered the Palme d'Or in the main competition section at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, where Miller won the Best Director Award. The film had three Golden Globe Award nominations, including Best Picture.[3] The film was nominated for five Oscars at the 2015 Academy Awards, including a Best Actor nomination for Carell, Best Supporting Actor for Ruffalo and Best Director for Miller.[4] It is the first film be nominated for Best Director but not Best Picture since 2009, when the Academy extended its maximum number of Best Picture nominees to 10 films.[citation needed]

Plot

Olympic wrestling champion Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) speaks at an elementary school in place of his brother, Dave Schultz (Mark Ruffalo), who is also an Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler. Despite his achievements, Mark lives in relative squalor and is overshadowed by his older brother. He is contacted by philanthropist and wrestling enthusiast John E. du Pont (Steve Carell), an heir to the E.I. du Pont family fortune, who arranges to fly Mark to his sprawling 800-acre estate,"Foxcatcher Farm", located in the western Philadelphia, PA suburb of Newtown Square in Delaware County on which du Pont had built a lavish private wrestling training facility. He invites Schultz to join his private wrestling team, entitled Team Foxcatcher, where he will coach, train for the World championship and be paid handsomely. Mark accepts du Pont's offer, with du Pont urging him to enlist his brother Dave as well. Dave declines for the sake of his wife and two kids, who are settled where they live, so Mark moves to du Pont's estate alone.

Mark stays in a homey guest house ("the chalet") and is greeted there later in the night by du Pont, wanting to ensure his guest is comfortable. Through training with his new teammates and du Pont's financial support, Mark excels with Foxcatcher, winning Gold at the 1987 World Wrestling Championships. Du Pont gives him much praise and they develop a kind of friendship. Du Pont introduces Mark to cocaine, which he starts to use regularly. During this period, du Pont confides in Mark, whom he now calls a true friend, and tells him how his mother, Jean du Pont (Vanessa Redgrave) paid a boy to act as his friend. Jean du Pont tells her son that she believes that the sport of wrestling is a "low sport" and doesn't like seeing him be low. One day, Mark and his teammates in Foxcatcher take a morning off from training to watch MMA on TV. Angered by this (as well as Mark insisting that his brother will not join Team Foxcatcher), du Pont verbally and physically rebuffs him, saying that he'll enlist Dave by any means necessary.

Dave decides to move with his family to Pennsylvania so he can join Foxcatcher. His self-esteem damaged by du Pont, Mark decides to work and train alone, pushing du Pont and even Dave away. As Team Foxcatcher prepares to enter the preliminaries for the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, du Pont's mother is escorted into du Pont's gym to watch him coach his team. He awkwardly demonstrates basic maneuvers for her and the other wrestlers. Jean leaves in disgust after seeing du Pont give his back to his student. A documentary funded by du Pont about his exploits with Team Foxcatcher is made, during which Dave is asked to praise him as coach and mentor.

At the preliminaries, Mark performs poorly, losing his first match. Deeply angered by his failure, Mark violently destroys his room and goes on an eating binge. His brother Dave manages to break into his room and is alarmed at his brother's condition. They work feverishly so he can make his weight check. Mark competes well enough to win his match and make the Olympic team. Dave notices that du Pont is absent, learning that he left for Pennsylvania after being told his mother had died. Mark tells Dave that he cannot stay with Team Foxcatcher once the Olympics are over. Mark loses his matches in Seoul.

Mark leaves du Pont's estate, but Dave negotiates a deal with du Pont to continue to support him financially so he can pursue competition. Dave continues to live at du Pont's estate and train with Foxcatcher. Du Pont is bewildered by his devotion to his family and independence from his control.

Eight years later in late January, 1996, du Pont sits in his room watching the documentary made on Team Foxcatcher, which ends with Mark giving a glowing compliment to du Pont at a ceremony depicted earlier. Du Pont drives to Dave's home and kills him, driving off as Dave's wife (Sienna Miller) calls the police. The police find and arrest du Pont. Mark later competes in an MMA match, the crowd's cheers ringing in his head.

Dave was posthumously inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame and was survived by his wife and two children. Mark stopped wrestling professionally after the 1988 Olympic games and began teaching classes in Oregon. Du Pont died in prison on December 9, 2010.

Cast

Production

Bennett Miller began developing the project in 2007. Megan Ellison financed the film through her Annapurna Pictures, also producing alongside Miller, Jon Kilik, and Anthony Bregman.[5] Sony Pictures Classics became the distributor, taking over from Sony's Columbia Pictures, which had co-financed the film. Miller said "it's always been my hope and expectation that they (SPC) would distribute the film."[6]

From left: Producers Jon Kilik and Megan Ellison, Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum, director Bennett Miller, and Steve Carell at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival

Shooting began in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area on October 15, 2012, near Sewickley, Pennsylvania, including Sewickley Heights and Edgeworth.[7]

The actual 1922 Du Pont mansion in Pennsylvania's Newtown Square—known as Liseter Hall but named by John as Foxcatcher Farm—had been sold to developers and was torn down in January 2013.[8] Accordingly, filmmakers used Morven Park, a historic estate in Leesburg, Virginia, with a similar facade as the stand-in for exterior filming.[9] An 1899 Sewickley Heights, Pennsylvania mansion, Wilpen Hall, served as Foxcatcher's stand-in for the interior filming location for du Pont's Philadelphia estate.[10] Filming also took place in the Pennsylvania communities of Rector (Ligonier Township), McKeesport, White Oak, and Connoquenessing.[11][12][13] The production sought permission to shoot in West Mifflin Middle School in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania.[14] In December 2012, shooting took place in Washington, Pennsylvania, Trinity High School, the Petersen Events Center in Oakland and the California University of Pennsylvania Convocation Center.[15][16][17][18] Filming was scheduled to last through January 2013.[7]

Channing Tatum stated that the role was "the hardest acting challenge I've had to date".[19]

The scene where the Foxcatcher team watches mixed martial arts on television in 1988 uses footage from Gary Goodridge's win over Paul Herrera at UFC 8, from February 1996. At UFC 9 that March, Mark Schultz made his MMA debut, defeating Goodridge. In the film, he is depicted facing a fictional opponent.

Release

A release date for Foxcatcher was originally set for December 20, 2013. The date was postponed to allow for more time to complete the film, according to Sony Pictures Classics.[20] The film debuted at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival in May 2014, in competition for the Palme d'Or, the festival's highest prize,[21] where director Bennett Miller won the Award for Best Director.[22] The film made its way through the late-2014 festival circuit, appearing at the Telluride, Toronto, New York, Vancouver and London film festivals.[23] Foxcatcher received a limited release on November 14, 2014.[24] The film will slowly open across U.S. theaters through January 2015.[25]

Reception

Box office

Foxcatcher was given a limited release in North America and grossed $270,877 in its opening weekend from 6 theaters with an average of $45,146 per theater and ranking #24 at the box office. The widest release for the film domestically was 315 theaters and as of January 11, 2015, grossed $8,740,000.[2]

Critical response

Foxcatcher received acclaim from critics, with many praising the performances of Carell, Tatum, and Ruffalo.[26][27] Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a rating of 86%, based on 158 reviews, with an average rating of 7.8/10. The site's critical consensus states, "A chilling true crime drama, Foxcatcher offers Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo and Channing Tatum a chance to shine - and all three rise to the challenge".[28] On Metacritic the film has a score of 82 out of 100, based on reviews from 44 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[29]

Justin Chang of Variety praised the film, writing: "Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo and Channing Tatum give superb performances in Bennett Miller's powerfully disturbing true-crime saga."[26] Eric Kohn of Indiewire also reacted positively to the film, with most of his praise going towards Carell and Tatum's performances.[27] Donald Clarke of The Irish Times praised Miller's direction, saying that "he [Miller] hits his stride with a stunning portrayal of psychopathy and moral decadence in the unlikely environment of Olympic wrestling."[30] Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter praised Carell's performance, calling it "career changing".[31]

Budd Wilkins of Slant Magazine gave the film a negative review and said that the film "offers us next to nothing of utility or complexity about du Pont's pathology."[32]

Mark Schultz initially supported the film, but later became angry and criticized Bennett Miller after critics noted 'homosexual undertones' to the story.[33][34] He said that while the "scenes are mostly straight out of my book [...] the relationships and personalities are complete fiction."[35][36]

Top ten lists

Accolades

Award Recipients Result Ref(s)
87th Academy Awards
Best Director Bennett Miller Pending [37]
Best Actor Steve Carell Pending
Best Supporting Actor Mark Ruffalo Pending
Best Original Screenplay E. Max Frye & Dan Futterman Pending
Best Makeup and Hairstyling Bill Corso and Dennis Liddiard Pending
4th AACTA International Awards Best Actor Steve Carell Pending [38]
Best Supporting Actor Mark Ruffalo Pending
2014 Art Directors Guild Awards Excellence in Production Design for a Contemporary Film Jess Gonchor Pending [39]
2014 Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or Bennett Miller Nominated [40]
Best Director Bennett Miller Won [41][42]
British Academy Film Awards Best Actor in a Supporting Role Mark Ruffalo Pending [43]
Best Actor in a Supporting Role Steve Carell Pending
Casting Society of America Big Budget Drama Jeanne McCarthy, Rori Bergman, Donna M. Belajac Pending [44]
Central Ohio Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actor Mark Ruffalo Runner-up (tie) [45][46]
Best Ensemble Runner-up (tie)
International Cinephile Society Awards Best Actor Channing Tatum Won [47]
18th Hollywood Film Awards Hollywood Ensemble Award Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum, Vanessa Redgrave, Sienna Miller Won [48]
24th Gotham Independent Film Awards Gotham Jury Award Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum, Vanessa Redgrave, Sienna Miller Won [49]
30th Independent Spirit Awards Special Distinction Award Bennett Miller, Anthony Bregman, Megan Ellison, Jon Kilik, E. Max Frye, Dan Futterman, Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum Won [50]
Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards Best Special Make-Up Effects in Feature Length Motion Picture Bill Corso and Dennis Liddiard Pending [51]
Producers Guild of America Awards Best Theatrical Motion Picture Megan Ellison, Jon Kilik, Bennett Miller Pending [52]
San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award Best Supporting Actor Mark Ruffalo Nominated [53]
30th Santa Barbara International Film Festival Outstanding Performance of the Year Award Steve Carell Won [54]
19th Satellite Awards Best Actor – Motion Picture Steve Carell Pending [55]
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Mark Ruffalo Pending
21st Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Steve Carell Pending [56]
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role Mark Ruffalo Pending
72nd Golden Globe Awards Best Motion Picture – Drama Nominated [57]
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama Steve Carell Nominated
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Mark Ruffalo Nominated
Writers Guild of America Awards Best Original Screenplay E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman Pending [58]

References

  1. ^ "FOXCATCHER (15)". British Board of Film Classification. October 10, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Foxcatcher (2014)". Box Office Mojo. IMDB. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  3. ^ "Golden Globe: 'Birdman,' 'Boyhood' and 'Imitation Game' Top Nominations". Variety. December 11, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  4. ^ Stephanie Merry (January 15, 2015). "2015 Oscar nominations: Complete list; 'Selma' snubbed; 'Birdman' and 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' lead with nine". The Washington Post.
  5. ^ Sneider, Jeff (September 30, 2011). "Megan Ellison to finance 'Foxcatcher'". Variety. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  6. ^ Feinberg, Scott (August 15, 2013). "'Foxcatcher' Jumps to Sony Pictures Classics; Release Date Set". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  7. ^ a b Serafini, Kristina (October 17, 2012). "Film crews back in Sewickley area". Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on December 17, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Bannan, Pete (January 24, 2013). "Historic DuPont mansion goes under the wreckers ball". Mainline Media News. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  9. ^ Owens, Crystal (October 15, 2012). "UPDATE: Movie magic at Morven Park?". Loudoun Times-Mirror. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  10. ^ "Another Big-Budget Movie Begins Filming Locally". CBS Pittsburgh. October 15, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  11. ^ Brehun, Deborah A. (October 31, 2012). "Rector selected as locale for 'Foxcatcher' movie". Tribune-Review. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  12. ^ "McKeesport aflutter over Channing Tatum". WTAE. October 31, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  13. ^ Sinichak, Jessica (November 15, 2012). "Nearby: Channing Tatum Filming 'Foxcatcher' in Butler County". Patch Media. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  14. ^ Niederberger, Mary (August 23, 2012). "West Mifflin school may host movie crew again". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  15. ^ "Filming to close Washington street". Observer–Reporter. December 7, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  16. ^ Jones, Rachel (January 25, 2013). "You Give Me Fever: Channing Tatum". WHIRL Magazine. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  17. ^ "Pittsburgh extras needed for 'Foxcatcher' movie". WTAE. December 11, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  18. ^ "Convocation Center to be Closed for Filming". California University of Pennsylvania. November 28, 2012. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  19. ^ Sneider, Jeff (October 10, 2012). "Hall joins Carell in 'Foxcatcher'". Variety. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  20. ^ "Sony Pictures Classics Moves Foxcatcher Back to 2014". comingsoon.net. CraveOnline. September 26, 2013. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  21. ^ Chang, Justin (April 17, 2014). "Cannes Unveils 2014 Official Selection Lineup". Variety. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  22. ^ "Awards 2014 : Competition". Cannes. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  23. ^ Pond, Steve (September 8, 2014). "'Foxcatcher' Triumphs at Yet Another Film Festival". TheWrap. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  24. ^ Rich, Katey (October 10, 2014). "Foxcatcher's Director Explains Why It's Actually a Funny Story". Vanity Fair. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  25. ^ "Foxcatcher". Sony Pictures Classics. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  26. ^ a b Chang, Justin (May 19, 2014). "Cannes Film Review: 'Foxcatcher'". Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  27. ^ a b Kohn, Eric (May 19, 2014). "Cannes Review: Channing Tatum Anchors Bennett Miller's Icy 'Foxcatcher,' But the Revelation is Steve Carell". Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  28. ^ http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/foxcatcher/
  29. ^ http://www.metacritic.com/movie/foxcatcher
  30. ^ Clarke, Donald (May 19, 2014). "Review: Foxcatcher". Retrieved June 11, 2014. (subscription required)
  31. ^ McCarthy, Todd (May 19, 2014). "'Foxcatcher': Cannes Review". Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  32. ^ Wilkins, Budd (May 19, 2014). "Cannes Film Festival 2014: Foxcatcher Review". Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  33. ^ Ben Child (January 2, 2015). "Mark Schultz attacks 'gay relationship' in wrestling biopic Foxcatcher". The Guardian.
  34. ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20150109232826/http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/foxcatcher-review-carell-makes-a-passive-aggressive-nero-of-john-du-pont-1.2059069
  35. ^ https://twitter.com/MarkSchultzy/status/549710019684347905
  36. ^ 'Foxcatcher' Movie Slammed As 'Complete Fiction' By The Olympic Wrestler Who Inspired It
  37. ^ Jagernauth, Kevin (January 15, 2015). "2015 Oscar Nominations Led By 'Birdman' & 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' With 9 Nominations Each". The Playlist. Indiewire. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  38. ^ Hawker, Philippa; Boyle, Finlay (January 7, 2014). "AACTA international nominations 2015: The Babadook a surprise inclusion". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  39. ^ "'Birdman', 'Foxcatcher' Among Art Directors Guild Nominees". Deadline.com. January 5, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  40. ^ "'The Search' And New Jean-Luc Godard Lead Cannes 2014 Line-Up". Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  41. ^ "Cannes: 'Winter Sleep' Wins the Palme d'Or". Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  42. ^ "'Winter Sleep' Wins Palme d'Or at 2014 Cannes Film Festival; Full List of Winners". Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  43. ^ "BAFTA Nominations: 'Grand Budapest Hotel' Leads With 11 – Full List". Deadline.com. January 8, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  44. ^ "Casting Society Unveils Artios Film Nominees". Deadline.com. January 6, 2015. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  45. ^ "'Birdman' strong with Central Ohio film critics nominations". January 5, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  46. ^ http://www.cofca.org/awards.php
  47. ^ "2014 winners of the Cannes ICS Awards". Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  48. ^ http://www.hollywoodawards.com/winners/
  49. ^ http://gotham.ifp.org/award-nominees-special-jury.html
  50. ^ "Here Are Your 2015 Independent Spirit Award Nominees". IFC. November 25, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  51. ^ "'GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY,' 'INTO THE WOODS' LEAD MAKE-UP ARTISTS AND HAIR STYLISTS GUILD NOMINATIONS". Hollywood Reporter. Hollywood Reporter. January 8, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  52. ^ "'American Sniper,' 'Birdman' & 'Boyhood' Among PGA Awards Nominees". Deadline.com. January 5, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  53. ^ "2014 SAN FRANCISCO FILM CRITICS AWARDS:Full List of Nominees". San Francisco Film Critics Circle. 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  54. ^ http://sbiff.org/carell2015/
  55. ^ http://www.pressacademy.com/award_cat/current-nominees/
  56. ^ Oldenburg, Ann (December 10, 2014). "Viola Davis, 'Theory' snag SAG nominations". USA Today. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  57. ^ Hipes, Patrick (December 11, 2014). "Golden Globes Nominations: 'Birdman', 'Imitation Game' & 'Boyhood' Lead Film, More Surprises On TV Side". Deadline.com. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  58. ^ "Writers Guild Awards Nominations: 'Whiplash', 'Gone Girl', 'Guardians' On Diverse List". Deadline.com. January 7, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
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