'Foxcatcher' finds my sweet spot: 2014 top 10 is filling out

Foxcatcher is my kind of movie.

It has some complex themes, an incredibly flawed lead character and heaps of existential dread. It's not exactly the feel-good movie of the year.

That said, it's one of the year's very best films, firmly entrenched in my top four (that I've seen so far) along side the likes of Boyhood, Birdman and the most underrated movie of the year, the Scarlett Johansson sci-fi mind-bender Under the Skin.

I was probably predisposed to like this film because of its stellar cast and my appreciation for the film's director, Bennett Miller, who in my estimation has yet to make a bad film.

Like his previous true-story based films Capote and Moneyball, Foxcatcher concerns a man obsessed, in this case John du Pont (played brilliantly by Steve Carell), the eccentric member of one of the wealthiest, elite families in the United States. For reasons that aren't entirely explained (and I like that) du Pont has a preoccupation with Olympic wrestling. He desires to mentor and coach a pair of star brothers (played exceptionally by Mark Ruffalo and Channing Tatum).

Steve Carrell and Channing Tatum in Foxcatcher

He seeks to both buy their affection and their total dedication -- and that's where things go terribly wrong. This is not a fast paced thriller though, there are moments that will shock and scare you, but it's not a movie interested in cheap thrills. Miller's ambition, I think, is to do a multi-layered character study with takes on sibling rivalry, greed, and a subtle critique on the American way of life.

Despite the film's quiet almost methodical tone, I think he achieves that. Foxcatcher is a movie that gets better as it goes along and it also leaves you fascinated to learn more about its subjects.

I am a sucker from true crime stories, and yet I knew and still know very little about the du Pont story. This film left me wanting to devour anything I can find on it, and yet even if the movie takes liberties, that doesn't detract from its power.

There's a lot to unpack here with this film. It sneaks up on you and is certainly about more than just wrestling. What makes the film truly great though is its trio of lead performances -- at least two of which I can't imagine won't be recognized come Oscar time. I doubt this movie will be a hit in the traditional sense of the word -- it's far too downbeat. But it will stand the test of time thanks to the work of Tatum, Carrell and Ruffalo.

Channing Tatum was someone who was dangerously close to Shia LaBoeuf territory. Instead he has carved out an interesting niche for himself, alternating star turns in glossy junk like Magic Mike with self parody in the 21 Jump Street films and now indie films like this. This is easily his most successful dramatic performance, even it does rely on his physicality more than anything else. Unlike some of his other hunky heartthrob peers, Tatum is unafraid to look and play dumb on screen, which helps him be immensely vulnerable -- just what his role here requires. It's a transformational moment for him.

Speaking of transformations, let's talk about Steve Carrell. Much will be made about his showy role, how unrecognizable he is, how adept he is at drama. But none of that surprises me. Sure his big screen roles have largely been in mainstream comedies, but his work on The Office consistently showed incredible range. His Michael Scott is one of my all-time favorite TV characters because in a single episode he could make you laugh hysterically, shake your head in disgust and break your heart. As du Pont, he is both quietly menacing and profoundly pathetic. My favorite shot of the film is of him just sitting alone staring into the ether. He plays a man totally lost in his own mind, desperately clinging to a fantasy image of himself. It is an engrossing and creepy performance.

And last but not least there's Mark Ruffalo. Can someone give this guy an Academy Award already? He's easily one of our most underrated actors, and I guess he goes unheralded because he's such a natural. I have never seen him give a showy or histrionic performance. He's always just very smart and endearing. He has a warmth in this movie that's disarming but he also plays the film's voice of reason. He has the movie's best scene, a cringeworthy sequence where a documentarian working for du Pont tries to force Ruffalo's character to call the eccentric heir his mentor. It's a study in acting of the highest order.

There are still quite a few buzzworthy movies I still need to see: Whiplash, Selma, Inherent Vice and A Most Violent Year, just to name a few. But I can say without equivocation that Foxcatcher shouldn't be missed. It sticks with you, long after the credits have rolled.