All articles tagged with #benny safdie
Dwayne Johnson says not getting an Oscar nomination for The Smashing Machine left him disappointed but sparked a renewed push to deliver his best work, noting the snub mattered and lit a fire in him to return to the grind; despite the Oscar miss, he and Emily Blunt received Golden Globes nominations and he’s already eyeing future projects with Benny Safdie, including Lizard Music.
Dwayne Johnson and Benny Safdie are collaborating on a new film adaptation of Daniel Pinkwater's novel 'Lizard Music,' with Johnson set to star and Safdie directing, produced by Amazon MGM and others, centered on a boy's adventure involving a secret broadcast of music-playing lizards.
United Artists and Amazon MGM Studios are developing 'Lizard Music,' a film starring Dwayne Johnson and directed by Benny Safdie, based on Daniel Pinkwater's novel, involving a whimsical story about a boy discovering a secret world of lizards playing music and embarking on a magical adventure.
Dwayne Johnson delivers the performance of his career in Benny Safdie's 'The Smashing Machine,' a nuanced and compelling portrait of MMA pioneer Mark Kerr, focusing on his struggles with addiction, self-acceptance, and perseverance, set against the backdrop of the early days of mixed martial arts.
Emily Blunt discusses her role in 'The Smashing Machine' and its connection to her work on 'Oppenheimer,' highlighting a serendipitous encounter that brought the project together and her deep involvement in the performance.
Dwayne Johnson is set to star as the Chicken Man in the upcoming fantasy film 'Lizard Music,' based on Daniel Pinkwater's 1976 novel, with director Benny Safdie adapting and directing the project, which explores mysterious lizard musicians on TV and a young boy’s fantastical journey.
Benny Safdie and Dwayne Johnson are set to reteam on the film 'Lizard Music,' an adaptation of Daniel Pinkwater's novel, with Safdie directing Johnson in the role of Chicken Man. The project follows their acclaimed work at Venice, where Safdie won the Silver Lion and Johnson received praise for his performance. The story centers on a boy discovering a secret world of music and adventure, exploring themes of magic and friendship. The package will be shopped soon, with production led by Safdie, Johnson, and others.
Benny Safdie won the Silver Lion for Best Director at Venice but did not thank his brother and frequent co-director Josh Safdie during his acceptance speech, as the brothers are now pursuing separate creative paths after announcing their split in 2024.
Benny Safdie won the Best Director award at the 82nd Venice Film Festival for his film 'The Smashing Machine', which is part of a highly praised competition lineup that includes films like 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' and others vying for the Golden Lion. The festival also awarded other honors across various categories, highlighting a successful event with notable films and performances.
Jim Jarmusch's 'Father Mother Sister Brother' won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, with Benny Safdie receiving Best Director for 'The Smashing Machine'; the festival featured various awards across sections, honoring films, performances, and contributions to cinema.
Critics have mixed reviews for Benny Safdie's MMA drama 'The Smashing Machine,' with praise for Dwayne Johnson's transformative performance as fighter Mark Kerr, though some find the film's narrative and character development lacking depth. The film explores Kerr's struggles with fame, addiction, and personal relationships, offering a raw and intimate portrayal that diverges from traditional sports movies.
Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt discussed their roles in Benny Safdie's film 'The Smashing Machine' at Venice, where Johnson aimed to challenge his acting range and the film explores the intense world of 1990s MMA, focusing on fighter Mark Kerr and his relationship with his girlfriend Dawn Staples.
"The Curse," a series with a 94% critic score and 35% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, has garnered a cult following despite being the least-watched Showtime series this season. The show, which stars Emma Stone and comedian Nathan Fielder, explores themes of gentrification, racial and class guilt, religion, and marriage. Stone, who also worked as an executive producer, was eager to work with Fielder before even knowing the details of the project. The series has been described as genre-bending, surreal, and avant-garde, with a finale that leaves viewers with more questions than answers.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson will team up with A24 and writer/director Benny Safdie for a biopic about mixed martial artist Mark Kerr titled The Smashing Machine. Johnson's production company, Seven Bucks Production, had previously announced the film in 2019, but Safdie's involvement was recently revealed. Johnson will not only produce but also star as Kerr in the movie, which is based on the 2002 HBO documentary of the same name. The documentary explored Kerr's career as a heavyweight fighter and his struggles with addiction. This project marks a departure from Johnson's upcoming film Red Notice 2 for Netflix.
Dwayne Johnson is set to star in "The Smashing Machine," a drama directed by Benny Safdie and produced by A24. The film tells the story of MMA and UFC champion Mark Kerr, focusing on his struggles with addiction, winning, love, and friendship in the year 2000. Johnson's production company, Seven Bucks Productions, will produce alongside Safdie's Out for the Count banner, with A24 joining as producer and financier. This marks Johnson's most dramatic role to date, and Safdie's solo directorial debut.