Foxcatcher Review

Foxcatcher.

Foxcatcher isn’t a film begging to be loved, its not a film putting everything out there and hoping for awards. It’s assured in it’s confidence of the story it’s telling.

Bennett Miller directs with a style that feels unique. The shots stay still and linger the cuts are quite clear this creates this slow atmosphere and there is little use of music and sound this presentation style creates a senses of unease throughout the film. The lack of dialogue contributes as well because these characters are characters who don’t discuss their emotions so more is said in the silences than the dialogue. The Shots are impeccably well designed and like paintings symbolize so much of the story. One shot for example sees Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) talking with his brother Dave (Mark Ruffalo) in a room that would appear like any over, there is a display of pictures behind them. The one picture that stands out however is that of John Du Point (Steve Carell) the character whose desire for control hangs throughout the entire film. Here Miller shows us how even when Du Point isn’t being discussed directly he hangs in the background and is the source of the problems these characters are facing. In a lesser film it would have been easy to have an on the nose discussion cutting back and forth between the two in which they discuss Du Point but here the film is so subtle is engages yes rather than assuming our stupidity and telling us everyone.

Mark Schultz is the films main focus when it opens we see a brief snapshot of his day and this snapshot gives us a sense of his life. We see him going to speak at a school but the shots of the children in the audience show us how Mark is not the best at communication, we see him queuing at a fast food place among a crowd of old men. At the end of the day we see him come home sit on his Sofa and pick up his portable games console, this small snapshot of him at home is one of the most telling moments of the film, ultimately is shows a man unusually large sitting down on his sofa staring at this little plastic box, its clear that Mark Schultz is a man who doesn’t really fit with the world around him. Soon Mark is called to meet with John Du Point, like Mark, Du Point is an unusual looking Man he’s short and chubby with this large lumpy nose soon Du Point sells Mark his dream of Americas future through wrestling. When looking at the cast list for Foxcatcher Carell’s name would stand out and visually he is nearly unrecognizable as Du Point. Immediately you may wonder why a comedy actor like Carell would be doing a mid level drama like this. In fact when watching the film its quite easier to see why he’s in the film, the role is interestingly similar to that of Michael Scott. Like Scott Du Point is a figure who feels ignored and is desperate for attention and love yet where Scott can be just about likeable and sweet, Du Point is nasty, disgusting and careless. The redemptive figure in the story is that of Dave Shultz the comparison between Dave and Mark is clear. When Mark is tightly strung and shy of speech Dave is charismatic and caring and is a father figure to many around him. The story for Foxcatcher comes from seeing the progression of these characters through various wrestling tournaments.

Whilst personally I love Foxcatcher, I find is gripping, smart and wonderfully subtle. This films cold edge is likely to be divisive with others. I don’t think thought the film cares about being liked its wonderfully bold and confident and proud of what it is. It knows that it is telling an important story with fascinating characters which acts as moral guidance on obsession and the power of the American dream.

4.5/5 Stars 

Big Hero 6 Review.

Children’s animations can often be very hard films to make. They are a balancing act between a good well told story, an energetic pace, amazingly animated visuals, great jokes, interesting characters, and if you do all of this you also need to make it work for both children and adults. Whilst Disney Animation have been doing well recently with the likes of “Wreck It Ralph” & “Frozen” neither of those films are anyway near the quality of their latest motion picture “Big Hero 6” .The film is actually a result of the Disney Marvel partnership as the film is very loosely based of a Marvel Comics property with the same name.

The film opens with beautiful wide shots of the colourful and detailed. “San Fransokyo” (A cross between San Francisco and Tokyo). It is in this bustling metropolis hidden in the backstreets we find our main protagonist “Hiro” taking part in an illegal “Bot Battle”. Hiro has designed his own robot which is impressive and demolishes the competition. Whilst Hiro can hold his own in the robot battle ring though once he is out the streets he is cornered by thugs. Soon his brother comes to his rescue him. From this opening five minutes we get a very neat idea of who Hiro is, he’s bright but doesn’t know what to do with himself and keeps getting into trouble. Throughout the rest of the film Hiro proves himself as a fascinating complex character still learning who he is. (Most of the film is dealing with how Hiro manages how to grieve and his struggle with preventing himself from taking ideas about revenge too far). Hiro’s brother (Tadashi) takes him along to his own university lab and introduces Hiro to his friends who later form a key part of the story. It's here Hiro finds inspiration soon he is fighting for a place at this elite academy by showing off his new robot invention. On the day of the presentation however tragedy strikes his new technology is taken from him and  he also suffers a much more personal loss.

It's after this point Big Hero 6 really picks up. It becomes a story about grief and the way that we cope with it. Hiro’s arc of loss and the desire for revenge is mirrored by the arc of the villain as well. Initially Hiro shuts himself away but soon Baymax enters his life. Baymax is a large white inflatable robot whose only function is to care. As such Baymax is committed to aiding Hiro soon Hiro unites with his brother's friends and slowly comes to terms with his loss.

I previously mentioned the Marvel connection. Interestingly enough it also has another connection in the form of the third act. Like with many Marvel films the final act finds our heroes in a large battles where people are flying around in fast snappy sequences with lots of intercutting between characters. In other films this may be troubling as it means a loss of character or stake yet in this film it really works we get a true sense of who these characters are and because it is a film about grief  you really do believe these characters might come into some danger and you like them enough that you hope and care about their individual survival.

Big Hero 6 is one of the best animated films I have seen in a while a heartfelt tale of loss and friendship presented in amazing snappy visuals with characters who really feel like interesting fun people.

Five Stars 

Big Hero 6 is released in the UK on January the 30th