Month: December 2023

Wrestling family on the road to tragedy

The wrestling Von Erich brothers are (from left): David (Harris Dickinson), Kevin (Zac Efron), Mike (Stanley Simons) and Kerry (Jeremy Allen White). (Photo by Eric Chakeen)

By Richard Ades

When wrestler Kevin Von Erich (Zac Efron) tells his future wife how much he cares about his younger brothers, she says he must have “oldest son syndrome.” She’s right, it turns out, as every time one of his sibs succumbs to what Kevin calls the family curse, the pain and concern are etched all over his face.

Curses are imaginary, of course, but it’s hard not to believe in them after watching The Iron Claw. The tale eventually racks up so much tragedy that writer/director Sean Durkin might be accused of melodramatic overkill if he hadn’t based his script on the Von Erichs, a real-life family of wrestlers that won notoriety in the 1980s.

A black-and-white prologue explains the Texas-based dynasty’s origins. Fritz Adkisson (Holt McCallany), who competes under the stage name Von Erich, believes he can make his fortune in the ring if only he commits himself to the task. He’s so convinced of his future success that he surprises wife Doris (Maura Tierney) with a Cadillac that she knows they can’t afford.

Kerry (Jeremy Allen White, left) and David (Harris Dickinson) share a triumphant moment in the ring. (Photo by Brian Roedel)

The film then fast-forwards a couple of decades to find Fritz equally committed to turning his now-grown sons into successful wrestlers. At first, that means only Kevin and second-oldest David (Harris Dickinson), but eventually Fritz wheedles younger brothers Kerry (Jeremy Allen White) and would-be musician Mike (Stanley Simons) into joining the family business.

How? Apparently Fritz relies on parental authority and none-too-subtle appeals to sibling rivalry. In an early scene, he goes so far as to rank his sons in order of preference, telling them their rankings are subject to change depending on their actions. In other words, he’s not exactly in the running for Father of the Year.

Just as future wife Pam (Lily James) predicted, Kevin ends up feeling protective toward his younger brothers when he thinks his dad is treating them like pawns. For the most part, though, he says nothing, either on their behalf or his own, even after Fritz begins granting the others opportunities that had been promised to him.

Pam (Lily James) and her husband, Kevin (Zac Efron) (Photo by Brian Roedel)

In fact, no one says anything, allowing Fritz to push his offspring into situations that prove increasingly dangerous for them and the family as a whole. The result is a slow-motion disaster that would be painful to watch if it weren’t so beautifully acted.

Leading the cast, a bulked-up Efron aces the part of the self-effacing, self-doubting Kevin, while McCallany makes Fritz an understated portrait of modern Machiavellianism. Equally effective are Dickinson, White and Simons as the younger brothers, Tierney as the emotionally distant mother and James as the warm-hearted Pam.

The moral of the story seems to be that wrestling may be a make-believe sport, but the dangers it presents can be all too real—especially when you’re pushed into it by someone guided solely by his own self-interest.

Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)

The Iron Claw (rated R) opens Dec. 22 in theaters nationwide.

The Irish town where music is a way of life

By Richard Ades

It’s a pity I couldn’t have seen The Job of Songs before taking a trip to Ireland a few years back.

My partner and I were eager to hear authentic Irish music in authentic Irish pubs, but we had little idea where to look. We didn’t know that close to the popular tourist destination known as the Cliffs of Moher is a village steeped in Irish musical traditions.

The tune-filled documentary—directed, edited and co-written by Lila Schmitz—introduces us to Doolin, located in County Clare on the west coast of Ireland. A musician who performs under the stage name Luka Bloom says he moved to the town decades ago after discovering that its entire population was into music just as much as he was.

Apparently, Doolin’s musical fame has spread across the pond and beyond. Local radio deejay Eoln O’Neil is shown spinning Irish tunes on a show that attracts listeners from around the world.

The town is also popular with tourists, who have begun dropping by for a quick fix of music on their way to or from the Cliffs of Moher. It’s a trend that some locals look down on, one complaining that the visitors ought to stick around long enough to meet some actual Irish people.

Speaking of which, the film introduces to several Doolin residents of all ages who devote their lives to playing music. The oldest is Ted McCormic, who has only one leg but doesn’t let either his disability or his 80-plus years stop him from sharing his still-strong voice at local jams.  

Other featured musicians include Anne Rynne, who begin playing and writing songs in her 60s after receiving a guitar from her brother, Bloom.

Radio host O’Neil points out the inescapable fact that beautiful but mournful airs make up much of the traditional Irish repertoire. “It’s in our DNA,” he says.

Unfortunately, the sad tunes are more than simply a musical taste, as depression, alcoholism and even suicide are described as widespread problems in the area.

Red-haired Katy Theasby talks about her own struggles with depression and overindulgence, but she says music was her salvation. After obtaining a new tin whistle, she says, she found that for the first time she was able to play without drinking.

Whether for their mental health, personal fulfillment or other reasons, all of the Doolin musicians clearly feel that playing is as necessary as breathing. According to one, listening to music is also important for non-musicians, explaining that the “job of songs” is to allow these folks to feel even though they don’t have songs of their own.

In much the same way, the job of Schmitz’s documentary is to allow viewers to “visit” the musical mecca known as Doolin even though they’ve never actually been there.

Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)

The Job of Songs (no MPAA rating) is available from various digital platforms. For information, visit thejobofsongs.com.