New Poster For Oscar Hopeful FOXCATCHER Debuts

Steve Carell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo are featured in the new theatrical poster from Sony Pictures Classics’ Oscar-y film FOXCATCHER.

Based on true events, director Bennett Miller’s FOXCATCHER tells the dark and fascinating story of the unlikely and ultimately tragic relationship between eccentric multi-millionaire John du Pont and two champion wrestlers, Mark and Dave Schultz.

Having seen the film at the press screening this week, I can say Carell gives a chilling performance of du Pont and is the highlight of the film. Expect to hear his name, a lot, over upcoming awards season. Bennett Miller won Best Director at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival in May and the film has screened at the Telluride, Toronto, New York, and London film festivals.

When Olympic Gold Medal winning wrestler Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) is invited by wealthy heir John du Pont (Steve Carell) to move on to the du Pont estate and help form a team to train for the 1988 Seoul Olympics at his new state-of-the-art training facility, Schultz jumps at the opportunity, hoping to focus on his training and finally step out of the shadow of his revered brother, Dave (Mark Ruffalo). Driven by hidden needs, du Pont sees backing Schultz’s bid for Gold and the chance to “coach” a world-class wrestling team as an opportunity to gain the elusive respect of his peers and, more importantly, his disapproving mother (Vanessa Redgrave).

Flattered by the attention and entranced by du Pont’s majestic world, Mark comes to see his benefactor as a father figure and grows increasingly dependent on him for approval. Though initially supportive, du Pont’s mercurial personality turns and he begins to lure Mark into an unhealthy lifestyle that threatens to undermine his training. Soon du Pont’s erratic behavior and cruel psychological game-play begin to erode the athlete’s already shaky self-esteem. Meanwhile du Pont becomes fixated on Dave, who exudes the confidence both he and Mark lack, knowing that these are things even his money cannot buy. Fueled by du Pont’s increasing paranoia and alienation from the brothers, the trio is propelled towards a tragedy no one could have foreseen.

FOXCATCHER is a rich and moving story of brotherly love, misguided loyalty and the corruption and emotional bankruptcy that can accompany great power and wealth. As with Academy Award nominee Bennett Miller’s previous feature films, CAPOTE and MONEYBALL, he explores large themes in society through his complex character portraits of real people.

FOXCATCHER opens in theaters November 14.

Photos by Scott Garfield, Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics