A story that's tragic at the outset, told by professionals at their craft literally reaching for new heights, makes for exhilarating filmmaking of the highest quality beyond a shadow of a doubt. As some might note, the pace seems slow, but in retrospect the simmer brings forth fully formed human drama. Carell, Tatum and Ruffalo very nearly seem to race to give the best performance and you as judge will be as perplexed as I as to who in fact might have won.

There are some movies out there that could be considered slower-paced than most, and then there are those films where they move at such a snail's pace that the likes of caffeinated drinks and a purposeful mentality is needed before embarking on such a cinematic adventure. "Foxcatcher" is the latter. "Foxcatcher" is a peculiar beast; not only is the legendary comedy star Steve Carrell playing quite possibly his first dark figure, but the film itself is a chilling tale that creeps at a lumbering pace. It isn't quite so slow however that progression occurs within an hour into the movie -- it just so happens that Bennett Miller reveals story progression crumb by crumb. By the time the film begins finalizing the final act, the narrative takes only 3 significant turns, revealing that the plot, in its entirety, is very slim in density. So why a whopping 2 hour and 10 minute running time for such a gaunt plot? Miller crafts the film to have the tone -- cold, haunting, and dreariness -- as its focal point. By the final minutes of the film, Miller successfully engulfs the audiences in a sludge of dread, betrayal, and confusion that's hard to shake off way after the film has come to a close. "Foxcatcher" may not be the most fast-paced movie nor is it the most immersive, but just like "Requiem for a Dream", its subtle tone slithers around -- up the leg, to the neck. It's not quite the greatest movie that has ever hit cinema theaters, but its different approach to convey a dark, dreary, and cold world differ it from many other films.