Foxcatcher

Foxcatcher is a 2014 American biographical sports thriller film, produced and directed by Bennett Miller. Written by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman, the film stars Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, and Mark Ruffalo. Its plot is loosely based on multimillionaire Du Pont family heir and wrestling enthusiast John du Pont's 1986 recruitment of Olympic gold medalist brothers Mark and Dave Schultz, to help coach American wrestlers, and du Pont's murder of Dave in 1996.

Foxcatcher premiered on May 19, 2014 at the Cannes Film Festival, where Miller won Best Director. Upon its theatrical release on November 14, 2014, it received critical acclaim for the three lead actors' performances, Miller's direction, and the visual style and tone. Foxcatcher was nominated for five awards at the 87th Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Carell, Best Supporting Actor for Ruffalo and Best Director for Miller. The film also received three Golden Globe nominations, including Best Motion Picture – Drama.

Plot

In 1987 Olympic wrestling champion Mark Schultz speaks at an elementary school in place of his older brother Dave. Both won gold medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics, but Mark feels overshadowed by Dave. Mark is contacted by philanthropist and wrestling enthusiast John E. du Pont, an heir to the du Pont family fortune, who arranges to fly Mark to his estate in Pennsylvania where du Pont has built a private wrestling training facility. Du Pont invites Mark to join his wrestling team, Foxcatcher, to be paid to train for the World Championship. Mark accepts the offer, with du Pont urging him to enlist Dave as well. Dave declines, to avoid uprooting his wife and two children, so Mark moves to Pennsylvania alone.