Key Takeaways
- Benny Safdie's 'The Smashing Machine' features a critically acclaimed performance by Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.
- The film explores MMA fighter Mark Kerr's struggles with frailty and physical presence, creating an unorthodox, 'fly on the wall' feeling.
- Emily Blunt's performance in 'The Smashing Machine' was largely critiqued as underdeveloped and one-note.
- Dwayne Johnson demonstrates unexpected dramatic range, 'melting' his persona into the character of Mark Kerr.
- Benny Safdie received the Silver Lion for Best Directing at the Venice International Film Festival for 'The Smashing Machine'.
- Safdie employed specific filming techniques to achieve realism and convey an 'ecstatic truth' in combat scenes.
- The episode includes a revised Best Picture power ranking for the fall film festival season, with 'One Battle' at number one.
Deep Dive
- Guest Van Lathan expressed surprise that Benny Safdie's 'The Smashing Machine' subverted typical biopic tropes.
- The film features compelling moments, including a gun scene and a notable cactus scene that resonated with speakers.
- Fight scenes were visually appealing and artistic, but their narrative impact was questioned by the hosts.
- One speaker related to Mark Kerr's character as a large man with perceived expectations who sought a simple life.
- Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's performance in 'The Smashing Machine' contrasts with his commercially successful but critically panned previous roles.
- He demonstrated unexpected dramatic range by 'melting' his established persona into the character of Mark Kerr.
- The hosts and guest noted Johnson's career trajectory from a 'nepo baby' wrestler to a popular anti-hero.
- This role suggests Johnson's need for more grounded characters in films like 'The Smashing Machine' to maintain audience connection.
- Emily Blunt's performance in 'The Smashing Machine' was criticized as disappointing and one-note.
- Her character was described as underdeveloped and a detriment to scenes, often serving as an unmotivated emotional tool.
- Despite acknowledging Blunt's role in getting the film made and her friendship with Johnson, her character's execution was deemed poor with unresolved narrative threads.
- One smart, invented scene where she is outside the protagonist's perception was noted as an exception.
- Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins updated their Best Picture power rankings following the fall film festival season.
- Films discussed included 'Jay Kelly,' 'Wicked for Good,' 'Sinners,' 'No Other Choice,' 'A House of Dynamite,' and 'The Testament of Anne Lee.'
- 'One Battle' was established as the number one contender, with 'Hamnet' at number two after winning the Toronto People's Choice Award.
- 'J. Kelly' premiered positively at the New York Film Festival and was placed at number five on the revised ranking.
- Netflix's potential Oscar slate includes 'J. Kelly,' 'House of Dynamite,' 'Train Dreams,' and 'Frankenstein.'
- 'Frankenstein' (2023) was noted as a recent addition, securing a Cannes award and a strong second-place finish at Toronto.
- The film 'Frankenstein' was ultimately placed at number nine on the Best Picture power rankings.
- 'No Other Choice,' a satirical, violent comedy and France's international feature entry, is also being considered for the list.
- Director Benny Safdie was congratulated for winning the Silver Lion for Best Directing at the Venice International Film Festival for 'The Smashing Machine'.
- Safdie expressed disbelief and excitement over the unexpected and surreal achievement.
- The director discussed his long-standing interest in boxing and early MMA, citing a 2002 USC fight and VHS tapes as formative influences for the film.
- Director Benny Safdie detailed the unique challenges of filming combat sports like MMA, contrasting it with boxing's choreographability.
- He focused on camera placement to create immediacy, akin to a time-travel experience, for the combat sports era.
- Techniques used to maintain believability included utilizing ropes and photographers to obscure camera angles and staging punches without direct contact.
- Safdie explained condensing long fights into shorter, intense segments, filming them chronologically, and adding effects like blood cuts for realism.
- Benny Safdie drew parallels between 'The Smashing Machine' and his previous film 'The Curse' in tonality and pacing.
- His evolving directorial style involves extended takes and giving performers space to interpret scenes.
- Safdie collaborated with musicians Nala and John Medeski, whose improvisational approach informed the film's score and emotional resonance.
- Despite a larger budget and stars in 'The Smashing Machine,' Safdie felt creative freedom for unconventional choices, similar to his work on 'Oppenheimer'.
- Benny Safdie addressed the balance between factual accuracy and thematic truth in portraying MMA and Mark Kerr's life.
- He emphasized respecting the sport and depicting its intensity realistically.
- Safdie highlighted the use of 'ecstatic truth' to convey emotional realities not strictly adhering to documented events.
- The creative process involved trust between Safdie and Dwayne Johnson, with Johnson internalizing direction for emotionally real performances.
- The director discussed a powerful scene involving emotional crying, highlighting its 'truth shot' potential.
- This scene underscored the intimate collaboration between Benny Safdie and the actor.
- Safdie also shared an anecdote about a specific scene involving a cactus, where Johnson's nuanced reaction conveyed a deeper emotional subtext.
- The conversation touched on Safdie's balancing act between directing and acting roles in films like 'Oppenheimer' and 'Licorice Pizza'.