True stories don’t get stranger than that of wealthy heir John du Pont and his fateful dalliance into Olympic wrestling, which has been told full of sinister creepiness and bags of pathos by Moneyball director Bennett Miller.

Wealthy heir du Pont (Steve Carell) has already tried to make his mark and impress his cold mother (Vanessa Redgrave) in various fields before inviting resentful younger sibling Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) to lead a team at his swish training complex (called Foxcatcher).

In doing so, du Pont assumes the position of Mark’s coach and mentor.

While Mark goes astray, du Pont schemes to attract alpha male and older sibling Dave (a sensitive, rounded performance from Mark Ruffalo) - whom he sees as both a saviour and a threat - to the team.

Creepy and insecure, du Pont basks in their glory - producing self-aggrandising documentaries – while becoming increasingly twisted.

It takes some powerful storytelling and performances to bring the startling facts to life.

Testament to this accomplishment is the awards recognition the film has already received pre-release – a Cannes best director gong for Miller and further hat-trick of Golden Globe nominations.

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Carell has made his name in comedies but there is nothing funny about his transformation into du Pont, a man who has never had a friend other than the one his mother paid for.

Carell conveys a universe of unsettling self-deceit through a half-closed stare over his giant prosthetic nose and a shifting jaw.

He’ll be in the mix come awards time, no doubt.

Director Miller allows silences to hang and close-ups where you can practically see the cogs whirring as du Pont’s brain reaches to marry reality to his indulged fantasy.

Once you have seen  Miller’s remarkable film and Carell’s game-changing performance, you will be scratching your head as to why you hadn’t heard this true story already.

  • FOUR out of five stars

Foxcatcher, cert. 15. Out Friday, January 9. Running time 134 minutes.