The Smashing Machine (Benny Safdie) • Page 7

It got him oscar nominated for best supporting actor that year!

 

He wasn’t acting

 

I thought this was good. Liked the way it was filmed. Felt like a documentary/reality show following Mark’s journey

 

Just sat down to see this at my Alamo and I am the only one in the theater which is actually a first for me. Never been the sole person at a showing before. Anyways, excited to see this even with the kinda mixed reviews!

 

The Smashing Machine with Benny Safdie and Christopher Nolan (Ep. 570)

 

really thought this thing stunk

 

This was okay. I didn’t know the story of Kerr (or Coleman) at all even though I had a period where I was really into the UFC, I guess I just never read up on the early fighters. I have never been high on The Rock as an actor and this did not help his case for me at all. Emily Blunt was pretty solid though.

 

I've listened to that DGA episode and it's true what Nolan actually said about DJ's performance!!

 

Love Nolan but ehhhhhhhh

 

It’s absolutely fine

 

It was a good performance, but I fully expect it to get ignored during the awards season

 

Its great for the Rock and good in general. Thought Blunt was mostly bad though. I dont know who I was mistaking him for but Ryan Bader was good too.

 

I could see him realistically getting a Golden Globe nomination for best actor in the drama category and that's it but with this Christopher Nolan seal of approval and the whole awards campaigning in general.. who knows he might get nominated for best actor in other awards like SAG etc.

 

bader was the best performance in the movie

also really liked usyk in it lol

 

Usyks in this?!

 

yeah

 

Upon further research I thought this was Ethan Suplee, who I learned I haven't consciously seen in anything but I am aware he was in My Name is Earl.

 

I’m mixed on this one. Johnson’s performance was actually pretty good (though he’s a bad crier). It kind of feels like a meta exploration of his career. The few times we see him express genuine happiness is when he’s being praised by fans or after he’s lost it all and can move on from chasing that high of winning.

The relationship with Dawn felt a little aimless. On the one hand, it does show of explosive things can get for someone who is so addicted to the idea of containing emotions to succeed. On the other hand I just never really understood the motivations of Dawn herself or what she ever really got out of the relationship. All we really ever see is Mark kind of treating her like a distraction. So it’s understandable why she is upset with their relationship, but we never really get a sense of why she would want to be there in the first place. It really drags down the film overall.