“I finally had a place to put all that stuff.”
Dwayne Johnson is still processing the rapturous reception of “The Smashing Machine” at the Venice Film Festival, where he was moved to tears. Now, he sits in a chair across from me, his trademark smile intact but his eyes carrying something fathomless. It’s the weight of a performance that has critics buzzing about Oscar potential, something he could’ve never imagined he would see in his career.
For years, Dwayne “The rock” Johnson has stood as a symbol of global box office power: a towering figure of charisma, commercial appeal and crowd-pleasing entertainment. But in Benny Safdie’s searing new drama, Johnson trades in his superhero swagger for emotional fragility, physical vulnerability and unflinching truth.
Portraying real-life MMA legend Mark Kerr, Johnson undergoes the moast radical transformation of his career. Set in the late 1990s, the film chronicles Kerr’s rise through the brutal early days of mixed martial arts, his battles with addiction and the war within himself that nearly cost him everything.
premiering to thunderous ovations at Venice, “The Smashing Machine” has stunned critics and redefined what’s possible for one of the world’s most recognizable stars. Johnson, once typecast as the indestructible action hero, now steps fully into the realm of awards-worthy dramatic acting, and dose so with “radical empathy.”
“There’s the cliff,there’s the ocean of waves. It truly seems like you can’t swim them,” he says, on taking the creative risk of dramatic acting.
The standing ovation represented validation. Not just for the performance, but for Johnson’s willingness to expose himself artistically in ways his action career never demanded nor requested. still, the physical metamorphosis pales next to johnson’s emotional excavation of Kerr, a UFC champion who battled addiction and personal demons behind his public victories. The film presents addiction and recovery with unflinching honesty, a stark departure from johnson’s typically inspirational brand.
On this season premiere episode of Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, Johnson gets candid about his journey into the role, the emotional toll
You had a guy in Mark Kerr – this beast of a human being. A walking contradiction: the most lethal on the planet, but also the sweetest, tender, and kind. From Benny’s outlook, he felt like the good thing about our movie is, if we do it right, he works his ass off for everything – and he loses.Not only does he loose… sorry to spoil it a bit – but he loses everything. And ODs twice. He’s lucky to be alive.
That speaks to Benny’s DNA. He loses everything, but at the end, it’s okay.At the end, it wins.
Let’s talk about that transformation. You’ve always been in incredible shape, but how different was preparing to become Mark Kerr?
This transformation was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. There was a physical transformation, prosthetics, vocal transformation – he has a very specific way of talking.
When I first got together with Benny, we watched tapes of Mark, and Benny saeid, ‘I want to film this and never cut away from you.’ I knew what that meant. He said, ‘I don’t want to cut away. I want to shoot this cinéma vérité, with a prowling camera. You have a great stunt double, but I don’t want to use him.’
So I said, ‘Okay. If Mark gets punched, I’m getting punched.’
Then he says, ‘DJ, I don’t know if anyone’s told you this… but you need to gain weight.’ I went, ‘Okay.’ I felt that too.Give me 24 hours. I came back, and we looked at Mark again – and realized, his body is a unicorn. I had to put on 30 pounds. Benny said he wanted me to look a bit “puffy,” and I agreed.
But it’s not just gaining weight. It’s putting on a quality of muscle that has fast-twitch capacity. he’s a wrestler. It’s not about bodybuilding. I’ve never done so much trap and neck work in my life. Old-school wrestlers with no necks? That’s what I had to do. And I held that weight for three and a half months. then, two weeks later, I had to roll into ‘Moana.’ So it was Mark Kerr and Maui. Big dudes.Emily Blunt delivers an remarkable performance. What’s it like working with her?
Emily i
“Awards Circuit” Podcast Features Chase Infiniti of “One Battle After Another”
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The “Awards Circuit” podcast, hosted by clayton Davis, Jazz tangcay, Emily Longeretta, Jenelle Riley, and Michael Schneider, recently featured an interview with Chase Infiniti, the rising star of Paul Thomas Anderson’s critically acclaimed film, “One Battle After Another.” The podcast provides in-depth conversations about the latest in film and television, focusing on awards season and industry news.
About the “Awards Circuit” Podcast
“Awards Circuit,” produced by Michael Schneider, is a leading podcast for film and television enthusiasts. https://www.variety.com/podcast/awards-circuit/ Hosted by a team of Variety‘s entertainment journalists,the podcast offers:
* Interviews: Discussions with prominent actors,directors,and creatives in the industry.
* Awards Race Analysis: Predictions and debates surrounding major awards shows.
* Industry Insights: Coverage of breaking news and trends in film and television.
Listeners can subscribe to “Awards Circuit” on major podcast platforms including apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
Chase Infiniti and “One Battle After Another”
Chase Infiniti’s performance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” has garnered significant attention. Paul Thomas Anderson is a highly respected filmmaker known for directing acclaimed movies such as Boogie Nights, There Will Be Blood, and Licorice Pizza. Details of Infiniti’s role and the film’s plot are currently available through Variety and other entertainment news sources. https://variety.com/
The interview on “Awards Circuit” likely delves into Infiniti’s experience working with Anderson, the challenges of the role, and their perspective on the film’s reception.
Key Takeaways
* The “Awards Circuit” podcast is a valuable resource for staying informed about the film and television industry.
* Chase Infiniti is a breakout star thanks to their role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another.”
* The podcast features insightful interviews and analysis from Variety‘s team of entertainment journalists.
This episode of “Awards Circuit” promises to be a compelling listen for fans of both the podcast and the work of chase Infiniti and Paul Thomas Anderson. As awards season approaches, “Awards Circuit” will continue to provide complete coverage and analysis of the contenders.