Christopher Nolan has given his lavish praise to Dwayne Johnson's performance as Mark Kerr in the new film The Smashing Machine.
Despite the disappointing box office performance, the wrestler-turned-actor's dramatic turn in the A24 sports biopic has received a lot of praise from critics, calling it the best work of his career. It remains to be seen whether this would lead to an Oscar nomination, but it already indicates a turning point for Johnson, who is usually known for his action roles.
What Does Christopher Nolan Think of Dwayne Johnson's Performance in The Smashing Machine?
Speaking with The Smashing Machine director Benny Safdie in The Director’s Cut podcast (via Deadline), Nolan gave his praise to Johnson's performance as Mark Kerr in the sports biopic, which he described as "heartbreaking."
"I think it’s an incredible performance. I don’t think you’ll see a better performance this year or most other years," he said.
Nolan and Safdie went on to discuss how The Smashing Machine was conceived during the filming of Oppenheimer, in which Safdie also co-stars.
"I heard a rumor that when you were supposed to be learning your lines on my set, you were actually canvassing people to be in your movie. I wasn’t aware of that at the time, but it seems to have worked out great for you," Nolan joked.
The Oppenheimer filmmaker also praised Safdie's direction of The Smashing Machine and showed his appreciation for the "remarkable" work that he did on the project.
"Congratulations on the movie. It’s a really remarkable and radical piece of work that will be understood more and more over time. I’m very proud to know you," he said.
So far, Johnson has not reacted to Nolan's recent remarks about his performance. Still, there is no doubt that it is high praise coming from one of the best filmmakers today, considering that there were also other beloved performances this year.
What is The Smashing Machine About?
The Smashing Machine tells the story of legendary mixed martial arts and UFC fighter Mark Kerr. Benny Safdie wrote and directed the film.
Aside from Johnson, the cast also includes Emily Blunt, Ryan Rader, Bas Rutten, Oleksandr Usyk, and Lyndsey Gavin. The project hails from A24, marking Johnson's first collaboration with the indie powerhouse.
The film currently has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 71%, with the consensus noting that it is "a gritty biopic that sidesteps cliché even at the expense of narrative satisfaction while still landing the dramatic body blows that count."
Keep it locked on Epicstream, your go-to site for film, TV, and celebrity coverage!