"They're the type of figure who has tended to populate the filmmaker's movies: many of them neurotic, and more concerned with finding a means to their own ends than placating the people around them. With his brother, Josh, Benny has built a career on his fascination with these occasionally surly characters, often men on the downswing. For his first solo directing effort, The Smashing Machine, Safdie focuses on a somewhat unexpected figure: a sports champion, albeit one who is learning what it's like to fail."
"Kerr-an absolute wall of a man, and thus a role befitting of Johnson-becamerenowned for his unassailable winning streak throughout the late '90s and early aughts. The film's basic plot resembles that of many traditional sports biopics. It follows the height of Kerr's career, as well as his eventual battle with a painkiller addiction and his rocky relationship with his girlfriend, Dawn (played by Emily Blunt)."
An Upper West Side milieu and grumpy Manhattanites characterize a filmmaker's interest in neurotic, self-centered characters. For his first solo directing effort, Safdie centers on mixed-martial artist Mark Kerr, portrayed by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, tracing Kerr's peak dominance and subsequent struggles. The plot follows Kerr's career height, his painkiller addiction, and a rocky relationship with girlfriend Dawn (Emily Blunt). The emotional core questions how an unrelatable, world-class winner changes when faltering, framing Kerr's descent as a means to learn about oneself and the world. The film represents an unusual, introspective take within a higher-budget, star-driven production.
Read at The Atlantic
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