"Foxcatcher" is a fictional account of one of the most bizarre crimes in United States history.

"Foxcatcher" is nominated for five Oscars, including actor for Steve Carell in a transformative performance as John E. du Pont, supporting actor for Mark Ruffalo as wrestling coach David Shultz, director for Bennett Miller; original screenplay for E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman and makeup and hairstyling.Du Pont, multimillion dollar heir to the E.I. du Pont chemical company fortune, lived on a Main Line Philadelphia estate, which was part of a compound lorded over by his mother, who raised thoroughbred race horses.The film is based on 1984 Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion U.S. wrestler Mark Schultz's autobiographical memoir, "Foxcatcher: The True Story of My Brother's Murder, John du Pont's Madness, and the Quest for Olympic Gold."Among du Pont's hobbies was gun-collecting, but not just any guns, but rather military weapons, including tanks. He set up a shooting range where, apparently, members of the local police department could practice their aim.Du Pont was seemingly even more passionate about the wrestling facility he established at Foxcatcher Farm, aka Team Foxcatcher, hence the film's title, where he financed the training of wrestlers for the U.S. Olympic team to compete in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.Among the wrestlers who stayed at Foxcatcher was Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum). However, du Pont was only satisfied once his brother David Schultz (Mark Ruffalo), a champion wrestler and expert wrestling coach, agreed to reside at the farm and mentor the wrestlers.The presence of Mark Schultz and his brother David and du Pont on Foxcatcher Farm set up a weird dynamic, a competitive triangle of ambitions, jealousies and intrigues that led to du Pont being convicted and sent to prison for killing David Schultz with a pistol. Du pont died in prison in 2010.You can see why "Foxcatcher" is nominated for a makeup and hairstyling Oscar. But it's not only that funnyman Steve Carell is unrecognizable under a prosthetic nose as John E. du Pont. Carell, with jaunty upturned face a la FDR, is in full patrician, haughtier-than-thou mode. Carell is truly remarkable in the role.Mark Ruffalo is excellent as David Schultz. Ruffalo's eager, puppy-dog, engaging acting presence is toned down for the role, but he's still extremely likable as the character.Channing Tatum creates a brooding presence that seems almost robotic, even more so given his superhuman physique.Excellent in supporting roles are Sienna Miller as David Schultz's wife, Nancy Schultz, and Vanessa Redgrave as John E. du Pont's mother.Bennett Miller ("Moneyball," 2011; "Capote," 2005) directs "Foxcatcher" in a dispassionate, almost documentary style. The color palette is that of chilly scenes of winter: the blues and browns of the not completely snow-covered rolling Pennsylvania farm land.There's little character self-examination in the screenplay by E. Max Frye ("Something Wild," 1986) and Dan Futterman ("The Birdcage," 1996).In this way, "Foxcatcher" is somewhat unsatisfying in that it doesn't seem to present an understandable motive for du Pont's heinous crime.The film's scenes hint at an overbearing mother just short of that of Norman Bates' mom in "Psycho."There are implications of a homoerotic attraction between du Pont and Mark Schultz.And there's the use of cocaine and alcohol abuse by du Pont."Foxcatcher" never seems to connect the dots. There's little in the way of psychological exposition.Perhaps the crime of John E. du Pont is like that of the fox, only to be glimpsed, not only in "Foxcatcher," but in real life."Foxcatcher," MPAA rated R (Restricted. Children Under 17 Require Accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian.) for some drug use and a scene of violence; Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport; Run Time: 2 hrs., 9 mins.; Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics.Credit Readers Anonymous: "Foxcatcher" was filmed in and around Pittsburgh.Box Office, Feb. 6: It took "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water," opening with a very animated $56 million, to knock off "American Sniper," dropping to No. 2 after three weeks straight at No. 1, with a still robust $24.1 million, $282.2 million, seven weeks; keeping the Channing Tatum science fiction thriller, "Jupiter Ascending," opening at No. 3, with only $19 million, and Jeff Bridges' fantasy film, "Seventh Son," opening at No. 4, with a dismal $7.1 million.Meanwhile, on the awards front, Alejandro Gonzélez Iñérritu won the Directors Guild Award as Best Director for Feature Film for "Birdman."5. "Paddington," $5.3 million, $57.2 million, four weeks; 6. "Project Almanac," $5.3 million, $15.7 million, two weeks; 7. "The Imitation Game," $4.8 million, $74.7 million, 11 weeks; 8. "The Wedding Ringer," $4.8 million, $55.1 million, four weeks; 9. "Black or White," $4.5 million, $13.1 million, two weeks; 10. "The Boy Next Door," $4.1 million, $30.8 million, three weeksUnreel, Feb. 13:"Fifty Shades Of Grey," R: Just in time for the Valentine's Day weekend is the movie based on the first installment in the steamy romantic trilogy. Dakota Johnson stars as Anastasia Steele and Jamie Dornan stars as Christian Grey in the romantic drama."Kingsman: The Secret Service," R: Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Michael Caine and Samuel L. Jackson star in the action adventure about a veteran secret service agent and his young protégée."The Last Five Years," PG-13: Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan star as a struggling actress and a novelist who recount their love in the drama-comedy based on the musical.Read Paul Willistein's movie reviews at the Lehigh Valley Press website, thelehighvalley-press.com; the Times News website, tnonline.com; and hear them on "Lehigh Valley Art Salon," 6-6:30 p.m. Mondays, WDIY 88.1 FM, and wdiy.org, where they're archived. Email Paul Willistein:

pwillistein@tnonline.com. You can follow Paul Willistein on Twitter and friend Paul Willistein on Facebook.Three Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes