The Iron Claw (2023)
7.5 /10
279 Reviews
Rate This Movie:
The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made 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.
Videos & Photos
cast
... Kevin Von Erich
... Kerry Von Erich
... David Von Erich
... Mike Von Erich
... Fritz Von Erich
User reviews
FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.firstshowing.net/2023/review-sean-durkins-the-iron-claw-turns-passion-into-obsession/
"The Iron Claw offers a compelling exploration of how strong passion can mutate into an unhealthy obsession and its impact on a legendary family, highly elevated by powerful, committed performances.
Despite some questionable inaccuracies and omissions that punctuate the narrative, Sean Durkin is able to encourage reflection on the delicate balance between success and tragedy in pursuing a family legacy.
Well-executed wrestling sequences bring some entertainment value to the big screen, but the profoundly sad story at the core of this film makes it an overall tough watch."
Rating: B
Reviews of
The Iron Claw
FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.firstshowing.net/2023/review-sean-durkins-the-iron-claw-turns-passion-into-obsession/
"The Iron Claw offers a compelling exploration of how strong passion can mutate into an unhealthy obsession and its impact on a legendary family, highly elevated by powerful, committed performances.
Despite some questionable inaccuracies and omissions that punctuate the narrative, Sean Durkin is able to encourage reflection on the delicate balance between success and tragedy in pursuing a family legacy.
Well-executed wrestling sequences bring some entertainment value to the big screen, but the profoundly sad story at the core of this film makes it an overall tough watch."
Rating: B
'The Iron Claw' is quite the depressing watch!
A lot of the story you can see coming from a decent ways away, even for someone like me who previously knew nothing about this family, but that only adds to the tinge of sadness that is present in the film from pretty much the get-go. The film does a grand job at making sure that events onscreen move along at a good pace, especially as some parts could've (but don't) felt repetitive if told differently.
There's an excellent showing from Zac Efron in this, such a great performance from that man. I also appreciated Holt McCallany, as well as the likes of Jeremy Allen White and Harris Dickinson. The Von Erich family are portrayed well, though it is a shame that I read that they left out brother Chris - I do get the reasoning as to why, but I feel like they should've found a way to at least acknowledge his existence.
All things considered, though, this 2023 release is tremendous. Highly recommended.
Oh well, looks like I might be in the minority here - but what is all the fuss about? A domineering patriarch (Holt McCallany) is determined that all four of his sons will succeed in a wrestling ring where he didn't. His sons "Kevin" (Zac Efron) and "David" (Harrison Dicksinson) are destined to work for a shot at the world title, "Kerry" (Jeremy Allen White) for Olympic glory and finally "Mike" (Stanley Simons) - the more creative, musically minded, one brings up the rear. President Jimmy Carter and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan puts paid to the Olympic ambitions and so now the three siblings can work together to climb the rankings in Texas and maybe earn a shot at the world title. Meantime, plastic Zac falls in love with Pam (Lily James) and it's at their wedding that Kevin discovers his dad's favourite (David) might not be doing so well. Tragedy ensues, indeed an whole slew of tragedies follow the Von Erich family as their dogged pursuit of glory causes the family to reel from one disaster to another - without anyone seeming to learn from it! Now as family dramas go, it's a sad story - no doubt about that. As a piece of cinema, it merely marries a fairly mediocre script with living proof that the spirit of method acting is alive and well. Certainly these men have put their bodies through the mill, and the fight scenes do impress - but none of the rest of it looks or feels real. Their characters are under-cooked, the dynamic between the boys and the parents, their mother (Maura Tierney) especially, is scarcely addressed and by the time we reach the historically accurate conclusion, I found myself completely devoid of sympathy or empathy for a family that had no grasp of what was important. There's a touching line at the end about brotherhood, but it was all just too little too late in a story of obsession and ambition that just didn't engage me at all.
Cast & Crew of
The Iron Claw
Cast
... Kevin Von Erich
... Kerry Von Erich
... David Von Erich
... Mike Von Erich
... Fritz Von Erich
... Doris Von Erich
... Pam Adkisson
... Bill Mercer
... Ric Flair
... Harley Race
... Ring Announcer
... Bruiser Brody
... Lance Von Erich
... Michael Hayes
... Gino Hernandez
... Doctor
... The Sheik Ed Farhat
... Sportatorium Referee #1
... Olympic Coach
... Sound Man
... Ross Adkisson
... Marshall Adkisson
... Young Kevin
... Young David
... The Fabulous Freebirds
... The Fabulous Freebirds
... Sportatorium Referee #2
... Teller
... Sportatorium Referee #3
... Tania
... Jack Jr.
... Jerry
... Training Partner (uncredited)
... Fritz's Friend (uncredited)
... 1950s Referee (uncredited)
... Photographer (uncredited)
... Cowboy (uncredited)
... Photographer (uncredited)
... Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
... Wrestling Fan (uncredited)
Crew
... Producer
... Casting
... Stunt Coordinator
... First Assistant Director
... Set Decoration
... Director
... Producer
... Writer
... Stunts
... Music Editor
... Casting Associate
... Editor
... VFX Editor
... Director of Photography
... Original Music Composer
... Location Casting
... ADR Mixer
... In Memory Of
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Sound Supervisor
... Executive Producer
... Producer
... Thanks
... Stunt Double
... First Assistant "A" Camera
... Key Hair Stylist
... Dailies Manager
... Stunts
... Sound Designer
... Costumer
... Dialect Coach
... Assistant Art Director
... Greensman
... Main Title Designer
... Production Design
... Assistant Location Manager
... I/O Manager
... Steadicam Operator
... Producer
... Key Makeup Artist
... ADR Voice Casting
... Still Photographer
... Utility Sound
... Electrician
... Props
... Dailies Technician
... Driver
... Set Dresser
... Executive Producer
... Stunt Double
... Music Supervisor
... Costume Design
... On Set Dresser
... Production Sound Mixer
... Stunt Driver
... Sound Designer
... Makeup Department Head
... Assistant Sound Editor
... Visual Effects Producer
... Extras Casting
... Executive Producer
... Production Manager
... ADR Supervisor
... Dolly Grip
... Executive In Charge Of Production
... Foley Mixer
... Additional Editor
... Russian Arm Operator
... Thanks
... Stunts
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... First Assistant "B" Camera
... Utility Stunts
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Stunts
... Second Assistant Director
... Dialogue Editor
... ADR Voice Casting
... Video Assist Operator
... VFX Editor
... Stunts
... Art Department Coordinator
... Utility Stunts
... Executive Producer
... Drone Pilot
... Stunts
... Construction Coordinator
... Key Rigging Grip
... Assistant Costume Designer
... Post Production Accountant
... Assistant Set Decoration
... Property Master
... Compositing Lead
... VFX Artist
... Producer
... Matte Painter
... Production Supervisor
... Ager/Dyer
... In Memory Of
... In Memory Of
... In Memory Of
... Lighting Programmer
... 3D Coordinator
... Executive Producer
... Truck Costumer
... Extras Casting Coordinator
... Hair Department Head
... Loader
... Dailies Operator
... Makeup Artist
... Boom Operator
... Stunts
... Best Boy Electric
... Lighting Technician
... Stunt Double
... VFX Artist
... Assistant Property Master
... Script Supervisor
... Grip
... Thanks
... Thanks
... Special Effects Technician
... VFX Artist
... Colorist
... VFX Artist
... Assistant Production Coordinator
... Art Direction
... VFX Editor
... Set Medic
... Second Second Assistant Director
... Picture Car Coordinator
... Steadicam Operator
... Compositing Supervisor
... Production Coordinator
... Set Costumer
... ADR Mixer
... Hairstylist
... CG Artist
... Second Assistant Camera
... Location Assistant
... Stunt Double
... Stunts
... Color Assistant
... Stunt Double
... Unit Publicist
... Location Manager
... Matchmove Supervisor
... Data Wrangler
... Drone Operator
... Grip
... Makeup Artist
... Makeup Artist
... Lighting Technician
... Second Assistant "B" Camera
... Grip
... Stunt Double
... VFX Editor
... Sound Re-Recording Assistant
... Hairstylist
... Set Decorating Coordinator
... Set Dresser
... Props
... Foley Recordist
... 3D Supervisor
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... VFX Production Coordinator
... Visual Effects Compositor
... Visual Effects Compositor
... Generalist
... Visual Effects Producer
... VFX Editor
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunt Double
... Stunts
... Costumer
... Assistant Location Manager
... Assistant Location Manager
... Location Assistant
... Transportation Captain
... Transportation Co-Captain
... Production Coordinator
... Thanks
... Thanks
... Thanks
... Thanks
... In Memory Of
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