The Bennett Miller-directed sports movie, 'Foxcatcher,' based on the horrific tragic true story of Olympic Wrestling Champion Mark Schultz, was one of many highly anticipated films that was shown at the Cannes Film Festival this week, and it did not disappoint.

Channing Tatum
Tatum & Ruffalo star as olympic Wrestling Champion brothers Mark Schultz and Dave Schultz

This tragic tale was bound to have attracted many intriguing film buffs as Channing Tatum, Steve Carell and Mark Ruffalo headed the cast, and the production is already generating Oscar buzz.

The big-screen adaptation follows the story of US wrestling Coach John du Pont and his relationship with Olympic Wrestling Champion brothers Mark Schultz (Tatum) and Dave Schultz (Ruffalo). du Pont is a schizophrenic millionaire who became obsessed with sponsoring wrestling hopefuls, in order for them to become Olympians.

Watch a clip from 'Foxcatcher' here

Mark, who grew up in poverty, was often in his older brother's (Dave) shadow, but sought a way to stand on his own when du Pont invited Mark to live on his estate and train for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. However, it is quickly obvious that this isn't a wise career move, and Mark found his training and himself spiralling out of control.

The tragedy of the true story comes about six months before the Olympics, in a bizarre and still unexplained incident, du Pont infamously shot and killed Dave, who was already an Olympic gold medallist.

After premiering on Monday 19th May, what did the critics think to this gritty drama?

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian praised the film, as he wrote, "Above everything else, it is a piercing insight into toxic mentor-ism, into competitive men and their terrible emotional need to find a father-figure to hate and to disappoint."

Foxcatcher
Steve Carell completely transforms into the schizophrenic million wrestling obsessive, John du Pont

"Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo and Channing Tatum give superb performances in Bennett Miller's powerfully disturbing true-crime saga," added Justin Chang of Variety.

With the flick being released into theatres this coming November, around the time the award contenders begin to surface, it is safe to say 'Fox Catcher' has a very solid chance of competing for an Academy-Award at next year's ceremony.

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