The Iron Claw is a wrestling biopic focusing on the Von Eric family, starring Zack Efron as Kevin Von Eric. Patriarch Fritz (played by Holt McCallany) is a wrestling promoter bitter that he never won the NWA heavyweight championship or made it professionally as an athlete, so he pushes all of his four children into wrestling, whether they want to or not. Kevin is the dutiful son--Efron plays him with a quiet dignity belying his muscular frame. Despite their wholesome nature and the faith of their mother Doris (Maura Tierny) tragedy strikes the Von Erics, so much so that Kevin begins to believe that the family name is cursed. The second half of the movie is quite the tearjerker, and even a hardened soul such as the Critic found it hard to keep his eyes dry. Despite some inaccuracies (younger brother Chris is entirely omitted from the film), The Iron Claw has a theme and sticks to it. Parents shouldn't burden their children with their dreams, and so the Critic will not force his boys into being internet bloggers, nor will they be unbearable cynics. See this one if you're a fan of wrestling or sports biopics.
Neighbors is a 2014 gross-out comedy starring Zack Efron and Seth Rogan that I missed somehow, despite appearing in theaters during my prime movie-going years. Despite more than a few funny gags (airbags utilized as launching pads had me rolling), Neighbors is undermined by its unlikely premise, as well as Rogan's unceasing babbling. No fucking frat house is moving into a suburban neighborhood without the entire neighborhood revolting! Efron is pretty good here as the frat boy who takes it too far. Worth a viewing on Netflix if you're in the mood for a dumb comedy.
LA Confidential is a film noir crime drama released way back in 1997 when the Critic was but a wee little lad. It features a male lead trifecta of Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, and Guy Pearce, with Kim Basinger serving as the femme fatale. All four are at their best in this sweeping saga that depicts a principled young officer's struggle to weed out corruption in the 1950's Los Angles police department. Fairly violent with a few shocking scenes, this is a movie that'll have you on the edge of your seat. See, I can do the big box one-liners like the rest of them! Just forget about Kevin Spacey's abuse allegations or Crowe's penchant for throwing telephones at waiters.
The Critic was privileged enough to see glam rockers Foxy Shazam at the Brady Center in Cincinnati on New Year's Eve, and let me tell you, it was one hell of a show. Despite being a casual fan, I was won over by their excellent musicianship, impeccable stagecraft, and sheer entertainment factor. These guys seem like something out of a goddamn movie; they're just too good to be real. Definitely go see them if the opportunity presents itself. The best show the Critic's ever witnessed.
