Synopsis
When Olympic Gold Medal winning wrestler Mark Schultz is invited by wealthy heir John du Pont to move on to the du Pont estate and help form a team to train for the 1988 Seoul Olympics at his new state-of-the-art training facility, Schultz jumps at the opportunity, hoping to focus on his training and finally step out of the shadow of his revered brother, Dave. Driven by hidden needs, du Pont sees backing Schultz’s bid for Gold and the chance to “coach” a world-class wrestling team as an opportunity to gain the elusive respect of his peers and, more importantly, his disapproving mother. Flattered by the attention and entranced by du Pont’s majestic world, Mark comes to see his benefactor as a father figure and grows increasingly dependent on him for approval. Though initially supportive, du Pont’s mercurial personality turns and he begins to lure Mark into an unhealthy lifestyle that threatens to undermine his training. Soon du Pont’s erratic behavior and cruel psychological game-play begin to erode the athlete’s already shaky self-esteem. Meanwhile du Pont becomes fixated on Dave, who exudes the confidence both he and Mark lack, knowing that these are things even his money cannot buy. Fueled by du Pont’s increasing paranoia and alienation from the brothers, the trio is propelled towards a tragedy no one could have foreseen.
Metrics
Movie Details
Production Budget: | $24,000,000 |
United Kingdom Releases: | January 9th, 2015 (Wide) |
Video Release: | March 3rd, 2015 by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment |
MPAA Rating: | R for some drug use and a scene of violence. (Rating bulletin 2326, 6/11/2014) |
Running Time: | 134 minutes |
Keywords: | Olympics, Wrestling, 1980s, Mental Illness, Epilogue, Biographical Drama, Biography, Dysfunctional Family, Adult Child Dealing with the Death of a Parent, Death of a Spouse or Fiancée / Fiancé, Mixed Martial Arts |
Source: | Based on Real Life Events |
Genre: | Drama |
Production Method: | Live Action |
Creative Type: | Dramatization |
Production/Financing Companies: | Annapurna Pictures |
Production Countries: | United States |
Languages: | English |