I wouldn't say that this film was a disappointment, mainly because I had no preexisting ideals about it, but I also wouldn't say it blew me away in the way that it has for others. In a year that feels somewhat dedicated to biopics, Foxcatcher gets lost in a sea of better scripts. Clever prosthetics and an interesting character cannot transform an average film into an award winner. And whilst there was the potential for this film to exceed expectations, the focus seemed to be concentrated primarily on depicting struggle without explanation.
The plot is centred around relationships first and foremost. And of the relationships within the film, the most interesting one is between John du Pont and his mother. It's clear that they have a strained relationship but as the film develops we see the impact this has had on John which gives some insight into his bizarre character. Striving for affection and approval, he begins to search for acceptance outside of his Mother's approved activities which leads him to the world of wrestling and to Dave and Mark Schultz. The Olympic gold medalist brothers are invited to train and coach as part of du Pont's Team Foxcatcher whilst living on his grounds. In the beginning Mark is excited and happy to be with du Pont and respects him and his desire for 'All American' success. But as time passes and this desire for success exceeds his desire to comfort and support Mark, Schultz begins to resent him. And once Dave finally agrees to join the Foxcatcher team, Mark begins struggling with much bigger problems than rejection.
Based on real people, I had assumed there would have been a deeper exploration into the thought processes of each character. I felt that the film missed an opportunity to explore the lives of truly interesting and disturbed people. For example, John du Pont was notoriously paranoid and erratic yet the film only brushed upon the surface of his personality, basically suggesting that his actions nearer the end of the film were solely down to the treatment he had received from his mother during his childhood. Whereas, it was much more likely that John had bigger mental issues than Foxcatcher depicted. Equally as disappointing was the lack of attention on Mark's mental deterioration. The film could have explored the effects of olympic training on the mind or even explored his drug use on a more detailed level.
Foxcatcher could have given itself a better chance had it been released later in the year instead of around award season with several other, well written biopics. The trailer had me thinking the film was more than a surface investigation of the life of two wrestlers and their eccentric, rich friend but sadly this was all that it was. It was interesting but not interesting enough.
Premièring at the 2014 Toronto Film Festival Still Alice, starring Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin and Kristen Stewart amongst others, explores the heartbreaking effects of Alzheimers and the effects it can have on everyday life. Based on the book of the same name by Lisa Genova, the film attempts to show the somewhat frightening effects that the disease can have and how isolated it can make you feel. The story was compelling and sensitively handled with moments of realisation about a disease we still know so little about. Having said that, the film makes a few wrong turns and edges into slightly manipulative grounds during particular scenes.
Obviously the question on everyone's lips was: is the acting Oscar worthy? Honestly, whilst Moore was spectacular in the role and provided an otherwise ordinary character with extraordinary depth, I'm unsure that an Oscar was well deserved. She's an actress who has simply got better with age and it's because of this that I believe her best work is yet to come. Whilst the internet may care more about Leonardo Dicaprio's lack of Oscar wins, it's surprising that many forget Julianne Moore when both have been on our screens prolifically since the 1990's. Personally, I would have liked to see her first Oscar come from a film than was slightly less manipulative of its audience.
Drama's are supposed to be heart wrenching and thought provoking, and is a genre above all others when it comes to evoking emotional responses from audiences. However, when dealing with a subject as sensitive as Alzheimers, film makers choices are even more important. Scenes over produced with the inclusion of soppy love songs or melodramatic music can sometimes cheapen the film's overall aesthetic. When combined with the already dramatic action on screen, adding music that sounds like it was written by a hoard of depressed teenagers can sort of ruin an otherwise poignant moment. I find this to be as cheap and annoying as a poorly used voice over to show emotional growth - which was also included in Still Alice.
Other than the win for Best Actress, Still Alice is unlikely to garner many more accolades. Whilst it was an interesting film, it was nothing special in a year of fantastic film contenders. With several films focusing on real people, I'll be interested to see if this film will break through or not. I was however, wonderfully surprised by the supporting characters. Many have noted Kristen Stewart's surprising efforts. She was her usual brooding self but doesn't allow Moore to outshine her in their shared scenes. She was suited to her role and I didn't find myself wishing she wasn't in the film - so she must have done something right!
The films plot deals with a realistic approach to Alzheimers. It shows how the disease is ultimately a decay of memory. And how, from this, individuals find themselves confused and disorientated. I enjoyed the use of Alice's occupation. As a professor of language, and a valued one at that, the film offers a glimpse of how the disease can completely shatter someone's ability to form a cohesive thought. I've had a family member die from Dementia related illness, which is similar but separate to Alzheimers. Both deal with the slow decline of mental ability. Because of this, the film resonated with me more than I think it would have had I not experienced the disease in my family.
Ultimately, I think the film is an interesting piece of work to study in relation to mental illness and its depiction on screen. Other than that, the film is tense to watch and not typically 'enjoyable'.
