Christopher Nolan Rises in Support of Dwayne Johnson's Oscar Bid

In a recent surprise move, renowned filmmaker Christopher Nolan has shown his support for Dwayne Johnson's Oscar bid. Johnson has been lauded for his emotionally raw performance in the film "The Smashing Machine". Appearing on the “The Director’s Cut" podcast, Nolan described Johnson's performance as "heartbreaking" and "incredible," further claiming that no better performance will be seen this year.

Nolan maintains a professional bond with the film's director, Benny Safdie, established during their previous collaboration on the Oscar-winning “Oppenheimer". In the podcast, Nolan jocularly acknowledged Safdie's proactive recruitment of cast members during the "Oppenheimer" shoot, remarking that it had clearly proven fruitful. He sincerely lauded "The Smashing Machine" as a unique and impressive work of cinema, destined to gain further appreciation over time.

Johnson portrays Mark Kerr, a twice-crowned UFC heavyweight champion, in "The Smashing Machine", with co-star Emily Blunt playing his wife, Dawn Staples. The film explores the tumultuous dynamics of their relationship against the backdrop of Kerr's professional ups and downs in MMA and his battles with substance abuse.

Despite Safdie receiving the best director accolade at the Venice Film Festival, the film had an underwhelming start at the box office. However, Johnson's heartfelt statement after the lacklustre opening stressed his satisfaction at diving into the complex role and how the film had profoundly changed his life.