Best Picture Power Rankings and The Rock’s Oscar Bid in ‘The Smashing Machine,’ with Benny Safdie!

The Big Picture

The Ringer

Tv & Film

4.3 • 5.2K Ratings

🗓️ 3 October 2025

⏱️ 100 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Sean and Amanda get in the ring with Van Lathan to go multiple rounds on Benny Safdie’s new film, ‘The Smashing Machine,’ starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt. They work through their mixed feelings by recognizing the phenomenal performance from the Rock, which makes it worth the price of admission alone, and their disappointment and frustration toward Emily Blunt’s incredibly one-note character (1:49). Then, Sean and Amanda create their new Best Picture power rankings following the fall film festival season (36:18). Finally, director Benny Safdie joins Sean to discuss his new film and explore his deeply intimate experience making the movie, why the Rock was perfect for the part of Mark Kerr, and the challenges of shooting a combat sports film (54:13). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: Benny Safdie and Van Lathan Producer: Jack Sanders Unlock an extra $250 at linkedin.com/thebigpicture Chad Powers - New Episodes on Tuesdays on Hulu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm Sean Fennacy.
0:10.7	I'm Amanda Dobbins.
0:11.7	And this is the big picture of conversation show about smashing machines.
0:14.8	It's October and the fall movie season is here.
0:17.2	Later in this episode, I have a conversation with Benny Safdi, the writer and director of the smashing machine. When's the last time you saw Benny, Amanda? Just before he won the Silver Lion in Venice, he was, uh, he was weeping, but like with joy. And then he was at the after party, which was honestly the best party of Venice. So thank you, A-24. Benny did not weep in our conversation, but we did talk about his career as a director, working with Dwayne the Rock Johnson on this film, and how it's an extension of the TV work he's been doing in the last couple of years. I hope you will stick around for our conversation. But first, Van Lathen is here. I can't wait, guys. Midnight boys, higher learning, the rewatchables, tailgate. Triggering people everywhere.
0:54.6	Can't wait to trigger you guys.
0:56.1	Yeah, it's going to say.
0:56.9	Smashing machine, but also what's on your docket?
1:00.3	We can talk about whatever.
1:01.7	I've been making a lot of movie news recently.
1:03.4	Yeah.
1:04.1	We're going to get into that movie news very, very shortly.
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	...

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