Foxcatcher (2014)

A superb film whose surprises and shocks are best discovered without prior knowledge; an American tragedy of warped control and obsession with searing performances from Tatum and Carell plus exquisite craft in all departments.

The critic describes the film as a brooding, particularly American horror story of seduction, rejection, betrayal and murder in the world of Olympic wrestling, calling it a despairing and intentionally disturbing work that holds up a dark mirror to the American dream. He singles out the extraordinary, transformative performances of Steve Carell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo.

The film is a superb, satiric antithesis of a Hollywood underdog sports movie. It offers a bleak and brilliant portrait of class division and toxic relationships, with career-best performances from Steve Carell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo.

The critic calls the film an eerie horror story about class, wealth and damaged American masculinity, beautifully acted and impeccably mounted with a focus on atmosphere and character. She singles out the superb lead performances, especially Steve Carell’s physical transformation and the brothers’ scenes.

The critic hails the film as a great, brooding true-crime saga and model of bleak, bruising storytelling, anchored by exceptional performances from Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo and a transformed Steve Carell. He singles out the film’s sustained intensity, consummate control and authentic re-creation of the wrestling world as a metaphor for emotional undercurrents.

Miller crafts an eerie study of capitalism, delusion and obsession through shifting bonds among the wrestlers and du Pont. The film excels in its performances, especially Tatum's vulnerable portrayal of Mark Schultz and the haunting exploration of twisted patriotism.

The critic finds muscular machismo and misplaced American pride in this intense drama with strong lead performances that match the director's solid direction. A true crime story with a twist that ends on a note of reflection about national pride.

Bennett Miller’s impressively sustained film is a wonderfully taut and thoughtfully unnerving drama likely to attract awards attention thanks to three very different lead performances that dovetail perfectly. The director lets the story and complex characters develop gradually toward a shocking climax.

The critic views Foxcatcher as a moral fable and same-sex Gothic tale about class and wealth's destructive power, praising its detailed accumulation of unease and Carell's nuanced monstrous performance while noting some academic solemnity.

The critic calls it another dramatic triumph for Bennett Miller, though his toughest and least glamorous outing. It is a sad and horrible story, expertly and compellingly told, with strong praise for the cast's performances under Miller's direction.

The film is a fascinating curio rather than a genuine heavy-hitter: intense and thoughtful but too dour and muted to catch fire despite flawless performances. Channing Tatum gives a career-best turn but the story lacks real life and energy.

The film is a ponderous true-crime story that bloats a sick joke into something striving for significance, with Carell's eerie transformation as du Pont standing out amid the monotony. Ruffalo's Dave provides the sole engaging normalcy in an otherwise one-track dramatic exercise.

The critic finds the film beautifully made with gravity and fidelity, praising Steve Carell's extraordinary performance as du Pont. However, it ultimately becomes dull, too long and slow, lacking resonance for many viewers.

The critic finds the film brilliantly acted and extremely well crafted in a wintry, slow-burning way but with an emptiness at its core. Du Pont remains too enigmatic a figure for the filmmakers to fully unpick, leaving the film frustrating despite its craftsmanship.

The critic praises the film's exploration of the corruptive power of money and the standout performances, particularly Mark Ruffalo as Dave Schultz and the convincing fraternal bond with Channing Tatum's Mark. It highlights the strong direction, production design, sound design, and subtle screenplay leading to a horrifying conclusion.

Bennett Miller’s Foxcatcher is an incredibly sad and poignant portrait of two men desperate for greatness they’ll never achieve, destroyed by their failings. Led by astounding performances from Channing Tatum, Steve Carell, and Mark Ruffalo, it is a solemn victory that is incredibly powerful.

The critic praises Bennett Miller for delivering another strong drama about power, wealth and loneliness leading to tragedy. Carell's unsettling performance as the lonely, unlikable John du Pont is singled out, offset by strong work from Tatum and Ruffalo.

The critic commends Bennett Miller's character study of outsiders and the gripping, superbly acted observational thriller that examines power, family, and the American Dream through the toxic triangle of the Schultz brothers and John du Pont. It singles out the excellent performances by Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo, and especially Steve Carell for making the film compelling and thought-provoking.

Bennett Miller’s true story shows a struggle for identity by two tortured souls living in the shadows of more accomplished figures, ending in tragedy. Strong performances, especially from Carell and Tatum, make it one of the season’s more essential viewings despite some pacing faults.

The critic praises the magnificent performances, especially Carell's hypnotic villainy, and Miller's building of atmospheric tension through silence and long takes, seeing it as more Faustian than standard sports drama.

The critic highlights the chilling true story and career-redefining performances by Carell and Tatum, commending Miller's restrained direction and psychological depth while noting a slightly abrupt ending.