Dwayne Johnson Shares Christopher Nolan’s Response to Benny Safdie’s Unique Directing in “The Smashing Machine”
During a recent awards ceremony, Dwayne Johnson recognized Benny Safdie with a Hamilton Behind the Camera Award for his directorial work on “The Smashing Machine.” In his speech, Johnson recounted Christopher Nolan’s initial reaction to the biographical sports drama, highlighting the film’s unconventional directing style. Nolan, the acclaimed director of “Oppenheimer,” praised Safdie’s decision to keep the camera outside the ring, providing an audience perspective during fight scenes. Johnson quoted Nolan’s reaction: “I mean this in the most respectful and complimentary way, but I feel like I shouldn’t be watching this. I feel like I’m violating their space… I really want to give you credit and flowers for that.”
Nolan had earlier expressed his admiration for Safdie’s film in an October interview on the “Director’s Cut” podcast, describing it as “heartbreaking” and praising Johnson’s portrayal of MMA fighter Mark Kerr as “an incredible performance.” He asserted, “I don’t think you’ll see a better performance this year or most other years.” At the Behind the Camera Awards, Johnson reinforced that Nolan’s strong response underscored the film’s innovative style.
Safdie was one of 13 honorees at the 14th annual Behind the Camera Awards, hosted by Variety at Avalon Hollywood & Bardot in Los Angeles. Recognized alongside him were notable talents such as “Roofman” production designer Inbal Weinberg, “Sinners” property master Douglas Ware, and several others across various roles in film production. Sasheer Zamata hosted the event, ensuring a night filled with appreciation for the work of below-the-line artists.
Introductions for each honoree were delivered by their collaborators, with Channing Tatum presenting the award to Weinberg. Tatum reflected on her impressive recreation of a nostalgic Toys R Us store from the early 2000s, sharing that even tough-looking friends of his were brought to tears at the sight. “You got to watch them walk into their childhood dreams and fantasies,” he noted.
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Guillermo del Toro also provided a humorous and heartfelt introduction for Mike Hill, a hair and makeup artist recognized for his work on “Frankenstein.” Del Toro reminisced about their first meeting at a horror convention and praised Hill’s artistry, which has led to ongoing collaborations, including del Toro’s upcoming adaptation of “Frankenstein.”
Many honorees expressed gratitude for their crews and the integral roles of below-the-line workers in bringing films to life. After an introduction from “F1” director Joseph Kosinski, sound artists Al Nelson, Gary Rizzo, and Juan Peralta acknowledged their team at Skywalker Sound and composer Hans Zimmer for their commitment to quality.
Ware highlighted his prop master team, who have been together for several years, thanking them for their consistency and support across multiple projects. Similarly, cinematographer Matthew Libatique emphasized the collaborative nature of cinematography: “Cinematography is such a collaborative endeavor, and this honor really belongs to everyone who helped me on ‘Is This Thing On?’”
Other honorees, such as Nicholas Britell and Colleen Atwood, shared their unique experiences while working on their latest projects. Britell illustrated how he played his developing score on location in Italy for “Jay Kelly,” describing the experience as miraculous. Atwood spoke fondly of the opportunity to dress actors Teyana Taylor and Leonardo DiCaprio in “One Battle After Another,” stating it was her favorite project to date.
In a similar vein, Hikari and Stephen Blahut expressed the significance of collaboration in storytelling, emphasizing themes of loneliness and connection in their film “Rental Family.” Pamela Martin, an editor for “Deliver Me From Nowhere,” echoed this sentiment, hoping audiences would resonate with its message of togetherness.
As the night concluded, Safdie shared a poignant reminder about the collective effort involved in filmmaking, stating, “A piece of the movie exists with everybody.” The evening underscored the importance of collaboration, revealing that the art of cinema is built on the contributions of countless individuals working together to create shared experiences.
