Movie Review - Babygirl

Director: Halina Reijn
Genre: Thriller/ Drama
Runtime: 114 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Antonio Banderas, Sophie Wilde, Esther McGregor, Vaughan Reilly 
 
Description: A high powered CEO (Nicole Kidman) puts her career and family in the line when she begins a torrid affair with her much-younger intern (Harris Dickinson).
 
Review: Romy Mathis has made it. She is the CEO of a company specializing in AI and robotics, and her marriage to stage director Jacob has lasted for years. But one day, during an anxious moment, she meets twenty-something Samuel. Who she lates sees back at her company as an intern. Samuel takes a brutal, confrontational and transgressive attitude toward Romy; to the point that she is completely thrown off guard. Samuel continues to challenge her and eventually Romy gives in. She risks paying a high price for a slip-up that grows into much more than that.  

This is the second English-language film by once actress ut now established Dutch filmmaker Halina Reijn (previously directed “Bodies Bodies Bodies”). “Babygirl” is an erotic thriller, like many that were made in the nineties. Yet fresh and surprising, because we now see through the eyes of the woman, who is not always allowed to act morally pure. The film does not believe in good and bad, but lustfully digs in the gray area in between.  

Kidman shines as the complex Romy and the film manages to break taboos as well as explore current themes around consent and gender roles.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Review - The Iron Claw

Director: Sean Durkin
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 132 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Zac Efron, Jeremy Allan White, Harris Dickinson, Holt McCallany, Maura Tierney, Lily James, Stanley Simons
 
Description: The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 33: A FILM WITH A STRONG FAMILY THEME

Review: A lot of true stories have been greatly exaggerated. A lot was made up just for dramatic effect. But sometimes reality goes so far that is has to be restrained. Like in “The Iron Claw” in which the Von Erich family has four sons, whem in reality there were six. The fate of the unsung two is deeply sad, but simply too much for a film already overflowing with family grief.

Kevin, the oldest of the four sons, dedicated his life to a show-wrestling career following in his father’s footsteps. The latter is now their coach and also the owner of the local wrestling arena. But daddy dearest does not mince words when it comes to pronouncing which of his sons is his preference, and Kevin is not on top. Their father keeps applying pressure, and that has its consequences.

Those who grew up in the 1980s/ 1990s, know the WWF, the World Wrestling Federation. For some reason it was addictive to watch a bunch of butch men in tight suits go at each other in bizarre ways, especially when you learned it was all staged.

Holt McCallany is outstanding in the role of the domineering father. The man deals no blows or violent threats, yet it is extremely plausible that non one would dare stand up to him. The lead role belongs to Zac Efron, who transformed himself into a muscular pro wrestler. Yet that is not the most impressive about his portrayal. Efron delivers perhaps the best acting performance of his career to date. Kevin von Ehrig is an airhead with a full heart. He is probably the only brother that really wants to be a professional wrestler like his dad, but Kevin he is constantly overruled by him. Dad is favoring all his other sons over Kevin.

This is such a devastating film, because the Von Erich family had to deal with one tragedy after another. But boys aren’t supposed to cry, according to dad. So when Efron’s character does shed a tear, it hits extra hard.

“The Iron Claw” is an impressive, hard-hitting film. Even if you’re not into wrestling, you may be touched.

Rating: 4,5/ 5