MOVIE REVIEW: THE IRON CLAW

 

The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who make history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Through tragedy and triumph, under the shadow of their domineering father and coach, the brothers seek larger-than-life immortality on the biggest stage in sports.

Director: Sean Durkin

Cast: Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney, Holt McCallany, Lily James

Release Date: December 22, 2023

Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport

Rated R for language, suicide, some sexuality and drug use.

Runtime: 2h 12m

The Iron Claw, the tragic true-life tale of the Von Erich family, is the kind of sports movie that doesn't require you to be a fan of the sport to be moved and affected by its painful story.  Sean Durkin directs the film with a nuanced hand giving it a sweaty, gritty feel which gives the story an air of authenticity.  He makes you feel every bit of flesh hitting the mat during the wrestling sequences but adds an overreach sense of dread and sadness throughout the entire film.  Thematically, it covers well worn concepts about masculinity and overbearing fathers trying to live vicariously through their sons but does so with a surprisingly level of effectiveness thanks to its cast.  Holt McCallany is the kind of actor that can bring a certain level of intimidation, intensity without overt physicality which works incredibly well here as the family patriarch.  There's an emotional frigidity to his character that's reflected in his treatment of his sons as mere vessels to correct his list of grievances and shortcomings.  The character is cold, emotionally distant, and aloof even as tragedy continues to befall his children due in large part to his constant pushing and playing them against each other.  Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson and Stanley Simons all deliver authentic, engaging performances, each reflecting the sons burning desire to please their father at any cost.  Efron though carries the emotional weight of the film as he makes you feel the pain of his perceived failures and shortcomings early on in the story before he’s burdened by loss of his siblings along with the realization of the root cause.  It’s an excellent showcase for Efron as he emotes all the internalized pain and trauma with a level of nuance and depth that I honestly didn't think he was capable of.  His psychical transformation almost becomes an afterthought due to his committed performance which elevates the entire film and makes it easier to overlook a few pacing issues and underwritten female characters.

 

A-

Cindy Prascik's Review of Wrath of Man

My dear reader(s), this week it was back to the cinema (yay!) for one thing that always gets me there: Jason Statham. On the docket: Wrath of Man.

Mystery surrounds an armored vehicle guard in Los Angeles.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.

Honestly being the best policy and all that, I shall go on record as saying Wrath of Man is just the sort of testosterone-fueled bloodbath I want to see when I go to the pictures. I'm a woman of simple tastes, and watching Jason Statham beat the crap out of people is one of my favorite things.

Wrath of Man is directed and co-written by Guy Ritchie, and - while it is not incapable of surprising - its general nature is reasonably predictable if you like Guy Ritchie. (I like Guy Ritchie.) The non-linear plot seems muddled at times, some of the dialogue is cringey, and the whole is a bit humorless, but Wrath of Man is still exciting and entertaining.

Statham is in top form, a strong, mostly silent type who carries the film easily. It's always a pleasure to see Holt McCallany in anything, and the rest of the supporting cast is fine for what's asked of them. (If we're being honest, I probably would think Josh Hartnett and Scott Eastwood were the same person if one of them hadn't made out with Reeve Carney for the TV cameras some years back.) The film is well paced, it doesn't outstay its welcome, and a menacing score by Christopher Benstead perfectly accentuates its dark tone. It's not a game-changer, but Wrath of Man is more than enough reason to get on out to the movies.

Wrath of Man clocks in at 118 minutes and is rated R for "strong violence throughout, pervasive language, and some sexual references."

A strong lead, maximum carnage, and a twisty plot make Wrath of Man a thrilling yarn. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Wrath of Man gets seven.

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: WRATH OF MAN

 

Mysterious and wild-eyed, a new security guard for a cash truck surprises his co-workers when he unleashes precision skills during a heist. The crew is left wondering who he is and where he came from. Soon, the marksman's ultimate motive becomes clear as he takes dramatic and irrevocable steps to settle a score.

Director: Guy Ritchie

Cast: Jason Statham, Holt McCallany, Jeffrey Donovan, Josh Hartnett, Laz Alonso, Chris Reilly, Raúl Castillo, DeObia Oparei, Eddie Marsan, Scott Eastwood

Release Date: May 7, 2021

Genre: Action, Thriller

Rated R for strong violence throughout, pervasive language, and some sexual references

Runtime: 1 h 58 min

Review:

Wrath of Man, Guy Ritchie and Jason Statham forth film together is a bit of a mixed bag of a crime drama.  Ritchie style is less flashy and more focused here but it only partially works since there seem to be a strange disconnect between him and the actors.  The style is slick but each of the actors delivers their lines in the stiffest and most wooden manner possible.  This works for Statham since it’s pretty similar to his usual delivery but it doesn’t quiet work for the rest of the cast.  To his credit, Statham performance is appropriately steely and determined throughout even though he disappears off screen for a big chunk of the film after it’s opening act as the story adopts a Rashomon style of storytelling.  While a solid choice for the story’s plot but none of the other characters are quiet as interesting or engaging as Statham’s H since the other characters are fairly one dimensional.  The story itself is nearly as clever as it thinks it is as all the reveals are fairly predictable from the start.  The impressive part of the film that it overcomes it’s shortcomings by being continually watchable and engaging, so much so that you can ignore some of its massive plot holes and paper thin characters. 

B-