Are awards really everything? Well, the answer to this question is no. But it hurts when the Academy ‘forgets’ to acknowledge an incredible movie, artist, or some other important element of filmmaking. We all know how people lost their minds when Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig got snubbed at this year’s Oscars nominations. But what really baffled many people was the fact that A24’s The Iron Claw failed to receive a single Oscar nomination. And yet, the Academy had the guts to show the latest Rolex advertisement that featured a clip from the critically acclaimed Zac Efron starrer during the ceremony. Was that some sort of acknowledgement from the Academy? Or was it an insult?
The Iron Claw tells the hard-hitting and tragic story of the Von Erich family, revolving around four of the six brothers – Kevin (Zac Efron), Kerry (Jeremy Allen White), Mike (Stanley Simons), and David (Harris Dickinson). Plus, it has Holt McCallany, who plays their abusive father, Fritz Von Erich. He never hesitated in pushing his sons to the extreme, a sign of his relentless efforts to strengthen the dominance of the Von Erich family in professional wrestling.
This Sean Durkin directional is an emotional rollercoaster ride. You guys can watch this masterpiece to test your emotional strength. It will make you cry. Just when we think the family’s lives cannot get any more horrible, another story tags itself in the squared circle to dropkick our hearts. On top of this, we get a raw and career-best performance from the leading man of Disney’s High School Musical.
Why was The Iron Claw not nominated at the 2024 Oscars? Well, there is only one explanation. The Oscars are known to recognise only those films that come out before December. It means that The Iron Claw was not even on the Academy’s list in the first place. The film’s world premiere took place in November and it got a theatrical release in December. As a result, it failed to get traction. What made things worse for the film was A24’s decision to use all its funds to promote Past Lives and The Zone of Interest, both of which received Best Picture nominations. It would have been a different story for The Iron Claw if it had come out in September or October last year.
The Iron Claw does not need any award to showcase its excellence. As for its leading man, Zac Efron, we do believe he will earn his Oscar someday. Stay tuned for more updates.