The Iron Claw

"A perfect movie for this moment."

"Conventional but affecting."

"Zac Efron’s finest hour."

"Smooth, spooky, often moving."

"With scalpel-like precision, the film exposes the agonies of fathers, sons, and brothers."

"(A) beautifully performed but hurried biopic."

"Skips some facts, but tells emotional truths."

"Efron’s effort here goes well beyond his physical transformation."

"Durkin injects a sense of emotional reality into The Iron Claw that ensures it packs a wallop."

"It's that respect for the men, for their art, and their pain, that means The Iron Claw lands so perfectly."

"There is a newfound tenderness (to Durkin's filmmaking) that makes this crushing drama all the more affecting."

"(Efron) turns in some of the most affecting work of his career."

"An inaccurate and shallow hypermasculine romp."

"The cast is solid down the line, from main stars to supporting players."

"Pummels its way to victory with heavyweight performances."

"Shallow and bland."

"Underpowered drama dulls impact of real-life wrestling tragedy."

"Watching... can feel like getting slammed with a metal folding chair over and over again."

"Great performances and reverence for the sport aren’t enough to save a film at odds with itself."

"A lot of energy and passion clearly went into it... but it ultimately ends up feeling empty."

"As exuberant as it is mournful."

"Harrowing."

"So grim a wallow that it could credibly be called something like Extremely Sad, Shockingly Miserable and Cruel."

"Durkin’s script is so shallow that every character is reduced to a simple sketch."