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Bennett Miller of U.S. Wins Best Director at Cannes

Bennett Miller scooped up the best director award at the Cannes Film Festival Saturday for "Foxcatcher", a film based on the real-life murder of an Olympic wrestler by multi-millionaire John du Pont.

The 47-year-old's third feature film had critics raving and viewers were left particularly stunned by Steve Carell, whose performance as the deranged, sinister du Pont marked a complete turnaround from his previous funny man roles.

The film also stars Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo as Mark and Dave Schultz, two wrestling-champion brothers.

Miller has only made three feature films, but already he is a regular at international award ceremonies.

He directed his childhood friend Philip Seymour Hoffman to Oscar glory with "Capote", his 2005 biopic of author and playwright Truman Capote.

Hoffman also won a BAFTA and Golden Globe for his performance.

Then came "Moneyball", a 2011 biographical baseball drama which also got several award nominations.

Miller took eight years to prepare "Foxcatcher", researching the story by meeting those who knew the two brothers.

Source: Agence France Presse


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