STARRING: Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Stanley Simmons, Maura Tierney, Holt McCallany and Lily James. Written and directed by Sean Durkin. Music by Richard Reed Parry. Budget $15.9 million, running time 132 minutes.
Ironclaw is a sporting biopic which follows the fortunes and miss-fortunes of the Von Erich wrestling family during the 1970s and 80s. The film follows four brothers and their tyrannical father as they fight to climb to the top of the wresting world and the profound effect it has on all their lives. Lead by Zac Efron as Kevin, the oldest surviving brother and his three siblings, Harris Dickinson as his David, Jeremy Allen White as Kerry, and finally youngest brother, Mike (Stanley Simmons). Looming over them all, king of all he surveys and whose word is law is Fritz (Holt McCallany) who rules the family with an iron claw.
Early on in the film, Fritz casually tells his sons at the family dinner table, and with no shred of irony or malice, of their standing in his affections and reminds them that the order can change depending on how well they do in the squared circle.
His wife, Dorris (Maura Tierney) never questions or defends her sons telling Kevin, when he seeks help in freeing his youngest brother from his father's dominating control he is told to talk to his brothers because, "That's what they're there for."
When Kevin fumbles his chance to pick up the championship belt, he finds himself sidelined and has to watch as each of his younger siblings are given a shot at the big time with deeply tragic results. Only the love of his girlfriend and later wife, Pam Adkinsson (Lily James) saves him from the sheer weight of emotional wreckage that threatens to utterly engulf and destroy him too.
This is a moving, and profoundly sad film, charting the seeming cursed lives of the Von Erich family. Zac Efron gives a powerful and focused performance and is aided by the extraordinary Holt McCallany as the dreadful patriarch, Fritz. Everyone turns in a strong and emotional performance and the script and direction by Sean Durkin help to deliver a moving and tragic tale that still manages to leave us with hope for the future. It's a good looking film too and the attention to period detail is well handled. All in all this is a satisfying, and dramatic movie that you'll find yourself thinking about days later. Well worth two hours and 10 minutes of your life.
8/10
Early on in the film, Fritz casually tells his sons at the family dinner table, and with no shred of irony or malice, of their standing in his affections and reminds them that the order can change depending on how well they do in the squared circle.
His wife, Dorris (Maura Tierney) never questions or defends her sons telling Kevin, when he seeks help in freeing his youngest brother from his father's dominating control he is told to talk to his brothers because, "That's what they're there for."
When Kevin fumbles his chance to pick up the championship belt, he finds himself sidelined and has to watch as each of his younger siblings are given a shot at the big time with deeply tragic results. Only the love of his girlfriend and later wife, Pam Adkinsson (Lily James) saves him from the sheer weight of emotional wreckage that threatens to utterly engulf and destroy him too.
This is a moving, and profoundly sad film, charting the seeming cursed lives of the Von Erich family. Zac Efron gives a powerful and focused performance and is aided by the extraordinary Holt McCallany as the dreadful patriarch, Fritz. Everyone turns in a strong and emotional performance and the script and direction by Sean Durkin help to deliver a moving and tragic tale that still manages to leave us with hope for the future. It's a good looking film too and the attention to period detail is well handled. All in all this is a satisfying, and dramatic movie that you'll find yourself thinking about days later. Well worth two hours and 10 minutes of your life.
8/10
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