Aaron's Thoughts
In almost every pivotal frame of The Iron Claw director Sean Durkin makes the deliberate choice to give the audience a wide frame followed by a slow zoom towards where he wants your attention. In each instance your eyes immediately go where he wants them. But it’s that slow progression towards that spot that really gives you a second to sit with the whole frame, live in it, and breathe in where it is headed. You may not realize it at first, but the same is true for the film as a whole. At the outset we see the whole frame and have a pretty clear idea where we are headed. But it’s that slow descent to that specific place that makes the film so special. Not only do we get rooted in a deep understanding of the whole frame, but we live in it and understand the world we are operating in before we really zoom in. By the time we reach the destination, it’s so raw and real that you feel it in the depths of your soul. One of the most authentic, tragic, heartbreaking films of 2023. It’s not a question of if you will cry but how many times.
Career best performances from everyone involved. Beyond baffled that Zac Efron isn’t getting more awards chatter for this. One that will weigh on your heart and soul for a long time
