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Jan Wahl Movie Reviews: 'Foxcatcher' And 'The Homesman'

You can hear KCBS Entertainment Editor Jan Wahl's movie reviews on KCBS All News 740AM and 106.9FM Fridays at 8:53am & 4:53pm.

KCBS Entertainment Editor Jan Wahl reviews "Foxcatcher," based on the tumultuous life of wealthy eccentric John du Pont (Steve Carrell) and his wrestling training facility. Also reviewed is Tommy Lee Jones' frontier western "The Homesman", starring Hillary Swank and Meryl Streep.

Jan Wahl Movie Reviews: 'Foxcatcher' And 'The Homesman'

FOXCATCHER (R) 134 min

Movies based on reality have a gravitas and provide a heightened fascination, whether it's about scientists ("The Theory of Everything," '"The Imitation Game") or artists, writers and even sports icons. Foxcatcher tells the story of John Du Pont, the eccentric multi-millionaire obsessed with wrestling. It took Steve Carrell three hours to do his makeup every morning but it was worth it since this is one weird character. Director Bennet Miller gave us "Capote" and "Moneyball" but this time he keeps us too far from Du Pont's backstory. It's also especially disappointing that Vanessa Redgrave gets little more than a cameo as his disapproving mother. A rather dull Channing Tatum and soulful Mark Ruffalo fall under the madness. Sometimes money and power are not worth it. A good movie; not a great one.

Foxcatcher | Official Trailer HD (2014) by Sony Pictures Classics on YouTube

 

THE HOMESMAN (PG-13) 122 min

From "Annie Get Your Gun" to "Cat Ballou" to "Calamity Jane" and "The Quick and the Dead," women in Westerns add color and excitement. Add the unusual rawboned vitality of Hilary Swank as an independent frontierswoman with costar Tommy Lee Jones —who also co-wrote the screenplay and directed—and you've got "The Homesman." Swank's character lives uncommonly alone in the New Nebraska Territory of 1850 whereloneliness, lack of medicine and brutal conditions drive three of her female neighbors into madness. She drives these three severely sick women for help with the help of a sketchy claim jumper, played by Jones. While Swank burrows deep inside her character, we never are allowed to find out who she is or why she makes such baffling choices. It's a watchable, unusual slice of the west—but not a very good one.

The Homesman Official US Trailer (2014) - Tommy Lee Jones, Hilary Swank HD by FilmIsNow Movie Trailers on YouTube

 

SEE NOW: BIRDMAN, ST. VINCENT, THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING, THE JUDGE

DVD/DOWNLOAD: TO BE TAKAI, MISS FISHER'S MURDER MYSTERIES, BELLE, THE RAILWAY MAN

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