Podcast appearances and mentions of Mark Kerr

This Quick Hitter dives into The Smashing Machine the new MMA biopic starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as legendary fighter Mark Kerr. It's gritty, emotional, and more than just a fight movie it's a hard look at what happens when being a machine starts breaking the man inside.

Ebuka & Jibbz, the most electrifying duo in entertainment, are back to dissect what is universally accepted as Dwayne Johnson's acting magnum opus in Benny Safdie's "The Smashing Machine". They discuss The Rock's Hollywood story so far (18:17) and other WWE converts, his amazing performance as Mark Kerr (27:27), before briefly touching on the Safdie split (49:45) and Oscar predictions for 'The Smashing Machine' (1:13:11)You can support us here & subscribe to our Newsletter for film & tv updatesHosts: Ebuka & Jibbz

From headlocks to heartbreak, Dwayne Johnson, aka "The Rock", aka DJ, trades in the ring for raw emotion in “The Smashing Machine,” A24's bruising new drama about real-life legendary MMA fighter Mark Kerr. On this episode, we step into the cage to see if The Rock's most vulnerable performance yet packs a real punch or just taps out early. We also share some plugs you don't want to miss so be sure to stay until the end! It's episode 538 and the gloves are on, the bell has rung, and the cage is ready. Let's go!  Enjoy the show and please leave your thoughts in the comments! TIME INDEX 11:08 - Review: THE SMASHING MACHINE 40:02- Spoilers: THE SMASHING MACHINE 56:51- Butt, Plugs!: IF I HAD LEGS, I'D KICK YOU; BOOTS (Netflix series); GOOD BOY; TRON: ARES Listen to more MBP movie reviews and special episodes for FREE! on Apple Podcasts, iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.  Or, you can watch videos of our shows on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/moviebearspodcast, our website: www.moviebearspodcast.com,  or Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/moviebearspodcast.  Please leave a comment or review, we'd love to read it on the next episode!

In this episode, we take flight with Lost Season 3, Episode 12: “Par Avion” — where Claire gets proactive, Desmond plays guardian angel, and the mystery of Jack deepens in the Others' camp. We dissect the emotional punch of Claire's flashback, the eerie fate of her mother, and the shocking family connections revealed. Plus, is that a flock of birds… or just another cruel twist of island fate?Then, like a hatch exploding in the jungle, we pivot into a full-blown October content melee. We break down the fall's most intriguing releases and stories:Task – The minimalist thriller that turns everyday productivity into a weapon.The Smashing Machine – A bruising look at Mark Kerr's life and the brutal soul of MMA.Roofman – The legendary fast-food outlaw returns with a story too absurd (and too real) to ignore.Good Fortune – Aziz Ansari's return to the director's chair: will it charm or collapse?Tron: Ares – A new grid, a new frontier… but can it lightcycle past legacy fatigue?If I Had Legs I'd Kick You – Experimental horror or dark comedy gem? We debate.The Black Phone 2 – The Grabber rings again—should we pick up?It Was Just an Accident – A psychological spiral disguised as a slow-burn drama.Is This Thing On? – A meta-mystery that might be the sleeper hit of spooky season.Strap in — this one's got smoke monsters and Oscar bait. Let's get into it. Make sure you subscribe to the #talkintvpodcast and be sure to keep coming back every week for more content.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson steps into one of his most serious roles yet in The Smashing Machine, portraying real-life MMA fighter Mark Kerr. The movie's box office numbers may have flopped — but is it actually a hidden gem? In this episode, we break down what we enjoyed, how accurate it was compared to the real Mark Kerr documentary, what didn't work, and whether wrestling or MMA fans should go see it, wait for home release, or skip it entirely.Chapters:0:00 – Intro2:20 – What We Enjoyed17:30 – What Didn't Work40:15 – Recommendation: See It, Stream It, or Skip It?50:40 – Promo/PlugsDid The Smashing Machine deserve to bomb, or did The Rock deliver one of his most underrated performances? Let us know in the comments below!If you want more movie or tv reviews by Raymond you can visit his channel: https://www.youtube.com/rpadvideoMore Wrestling Movie Reviews:• Fighting with My Family – https://youtube.com/live/g4nrAU5NdVg• The Iron Claw – https://www.youtube.com/live/YvQaYs0rnPk?si=2gu7wUJX4pV2EiHJ• Queen of the Ring – https://www.youtube.com/live/Vuw6auegMcU?si=G5A3x1VhzB1D7C1p#TheSmashingMachine #TheRock #MovieReview #MarkKerr #WrestlingPodcast #MMA #DwayneJohnson

„Smashing Machine” to więcej niż biopik Marka Kerra czy opowieść o narodzinach mieszanych sztuk walki. Reżyser Benny Safdie rozprawia o kondycji współczesnej męskości, pytając o jej czułe i kruche wymiary. Czy mężczyzna o reputacji twardziela takiego, jak Mark Kerr, może pokazać słabość? Zwątpić w siebie? Autorka: Adriana Prodeus Artykuł przeczytasz pod linkiem: https://www.vogue.pl/a/smashing-machine-benny-safdie-recenzja-filmu

Mike talks to Robert Englund who is best known for playing Freddy Kruger in A Nightmare on Elm Street. He reveals his secret to getting into character, what music he listened to while sitting in 4 hour of makeup prep and how his athletic background prepared him for the role. Mike also talks to two directors from the franchise: A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge director Jack Sholder and Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare director Rachel Talalay about the behind the scenes of each film! In the Movie Review, Mike talks about The Smashing Machine starring Dwayne Johnson. He plays MMA fighter Mark Kerr as he reaches the peak of his career but faces personal hardships along the way with addiction. Mike talks about why the movie failed, why he hopes it doesn’t stop the Rock from taking risks and what shot it has at Oscar nominations. In the Trailer Park, Mike talks about Disney’s Zootopia 2. Detectives Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are back and find themselves on the twisting trail of a mysterious reptile who turns the mammal metropolis of Zootopia upside down. Mike shares how Zootopia 1 changed him and how the message of the sequel might be something we all need right now. New Episodes Every Monday! Watch on YouTube: @MikeDeestro Follow Mike on TikTok: @mikedeestro Follow Mike on Instagram: @mikedeestro Follow Mike on X: @mikedeestro Follow Mike on Letterboxd: @mikedeestro Email: MovieMikeD@gmail.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Un afamado luchar de artes marciales mixtas enfrenta las más duras batallas fuera del ring: sus relaciones personales, sus adicciones y la fama. Benny Safdie dirige su primer largometraje en solitario tras una carrera junto a su hermano Josh, y con "La Máquina" ("The Smashing Machine") obtuvo el León de Plata a mejor dirección en Venecia. Dwayne Johnson, también conocido como "La Roca", realizó un gran cambio físico para interpretar al luchador Mark Kerr, en una actuación que fue ovacionada y que podría entregarle su primera nominación a los premios Oscar. Ya disponible en salas de cine.

Enson Inoue was a professional MMA fighter who fought Mark Kerr (subject of the new movie The Smashing Machine, starring The Rock). Enson details how the sport of MMA operated in that era, organized crime's involvement, some behind the scenes stories, and his fight with the legendary Mark Kerr. Hosted by 6 Pack Lapadat

UFC, or the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the mixed martial arts league, started out small like any new sporting endeavor. However one of the great fighters of that early period was Mark Kerr, played by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The need, the craving, is to win no matter what and Kerr took that seriously. The new movie “The Smashing Machine” shows what happened to Mark Kerr because of that. Also, the UFC was very disorganized and a lot of the fighters suffered because of it. Mark did too and he had his girlfriend, Dawn Staples (played by Emily Blunt), there alongside him as he suffered through emotional torment and drug use. Is this a feel-good story in the end and there's a happy ending for Mark and Dawn? Is it worth going to the theater to find out? Watch this episode to find out. “The Smashing Machine” also stars Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten, Kenny Rice, Jerin Valel, Andre Tricoteux, James McSweeney and Jonathan Corbblah. Support the showFeel free to reach out to me via:@MoviesMerica on Twitter @moviesmerica on InstagramMovies Merica on Facebook

As the daily TV news leads warn us, violence is an ongoing part of our contemporary life, which makes the various examples of it perfect fodder for the movies. On this week's show, Dan Webster, Mary Pat Treuthart, and Nathan Weinbender discuss two movies that incorporate violence, or references to it, at their very core. The first is the aptly titled “The Smashing Machine,” in which Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson plays the real-life MMA fighter Mark Kerr. The other is “Anemone,” a film starring Daniel Day-Lewis as a man tortured by memories of war.

"The Smashing Machine" is a biographical sports drama film written, directed, produced, and edited by Benny Safdie. It stars Dwayne Johnson as former amateur wrestler and MMA fighter Mark Kerr, alongside Emily Blunt as Kerr's girlfriend Dawn Staples, with Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten, and Oleksandr Usyk in supporting roles. The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Silver Lion and received positive reviews for the performances, notably Johnson's committed and transformational work and Safdie's re-creation of the world of MMA and the UFC during its early days. Filmmaker Safdie was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about his experience working on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from A24. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we're discussing Benny Safdie's solo debut, The Smashing Machine, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. The film focuses on the personal story of legendary mixed martial arts & UFC fighter Mark Kerr. We also cover major industry and box office news

Join Nick Lamagna on The A Game Podcast with an ENCORE episode with one of the stars of the new movie out now The SMASHING MACHINE ... Bas Rutten!    Bas is an athlete, entrepreneur, author, inventor, natural entertainer and world renowned badass butt kicker!  He learned to fight through adversity mentally and realized he had a gift for fighting physically as well as he retaliated against the bullying he experienced growing up with asthma and eczema. He was on track to be a culinary chef studying French cuisine and luckily for us changed the recipe and found fighting.  He was a 3x King of Pancrase champion as well as UFC Veteran who won the heavyweight title and has since been inducted into the Pancreas Hall of fame, Mixed martial arts hall of fame and the UFC hall of fame. His sense of humor and natural ability to entertain landed him some roles In the acting world, hosting Inside MMA for 9 years, as well as shows like Kevin Can Wait and the hit movie Here Comes The Boom! He is the inventor of the body action system and The 02 Trainer which has proven published medical benefits including increased lung and exercise capacity and now spends time as the chairman and commentator for the fast growing Karate Combat! He was behind the realism you see fighting in Grand Theft Auto, he's been featured on The Joe Rogan Experience Podcast and he can even knit you a sweater!  He has a new movie coming out soon called The Smashing Machine starring Dwayne The Rock Johnson and Emily Blunt based on the life of Mark Kerr.  You will want to hear his amazing story of going from "The Leper," to "El Guapo!"  Topics for this episode include: ✅ How To Create Better Habits That Actually Stick ✅ First Time Meeting The Rock and Emily Blunt Filming The Smashing Machine ✅ The Importance Of Being Positive When Things Go Wrong ✅ Bas Rutten Shares A Supernatural Experience  ✅ Karate Combat And Why You Should Be Excited About It ✅ Improve your cardio and lung capacity with the 02 Trainer + More See the show notes to connect with all things Bas Rutten!   Connect with Bas: basrutten.com Bas Rutten on Instagram Bas Rutten on LinkedIn Bas Rutten on Facebook Bas Rutten on Youtube Bas Rutten on TikTok Bas Rutten on Twitter   Connect with 02 Trainer: o2trainer.com o2trainer on Instagram 02 Trainer on Facebook 02 Trainer on TikTok O2trainer On Youtube the02trainer on Twitter   Connect with Karate Combat: www.karate.com Karate Combat on Facebook Karate Combat on Instagram Karate Combat on Twitter Karate Combat on Youtube Karate Combat on TikTok   --- Connect with Nick Lamagna www.nicknicknick.com Text Nick (516)540-5733 Connect on ALL Social Media and Podcast Platforms Here FREE Checklist on how to bring more value to your buyers

This week on Valley 101, host Bill Goodykoontz talks to one of the few people who can say Dwayne Johnson has played them in a biopic, extreme fighter Mark Kerr. We explore what it's like to have a superstar depict your life, the hardships of having your worst qualities displayed on the silver screen and what Kerr's time as a roadie for bands like The Rolling Stones and Bon Jovi was like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textA fighter who can break you in the ring but apologizes with his eyes—this is the paradox that hooked us. We went in expecting swagger, exits through flames, and the usual invincible sheen. What we found instead was Dwayne Johnson letting go of “The Rock” and stepping into Mark Kerr with bruised grace, while Emily Blunt turns every shared scene into a live wire. The fights snap, sure, but the quiet beats are louder: the held breath before a bad decision, the shame that keeps secrets alive, and the kind of friendship that refuses to fracture just to give the plot a twist.We dig into the gendered crossfire at the story's heart: how many men are taught to love by building careers, and how many women ask for presence over provision. The movie lingers in that gap, and we sit in the discomfort with it. Anger simmers but doesn't detonate where you expect; the violence turns inward, and that choice feels painfully real. Mark Coleman's portrayal becomes the rare on-screen constant—no jealous heel turn, no betrayal—just loyalty with boundaries, the kind of anchor that gives recovery a chance. That sincerity helps the film dodge cliché and keeps the emotional stakes honest.Then there's the ending—anticlimactic, maybe even jarring. We wrestle with it. Is that a flaw, or the truest note a biopic can hit? Redemption rarely sticks its landings on cue, and postscript text can bruise a perfect arc. Still, what stays with us is the craft: documentary textures, long takes that force the question to bloom, and two leads who create a pressure cooker without a punch thrown. Call it a sports biopic if you want, but we felt a relationship drama with gloves on.If you're drawn to performance-driven stories, complicated love, and a sports film that cares more about the person than the trophy, queue this one up. And if you've seen it, we want your take—does that final note work for you, or does it undercut the climb? Follow, share, and leave a review to keep the conversation going. Support the show

WWE superstar Dwayne Johnson plays MMA fighter Mark Kerr in Benny Safdie's The Smashing Machine. "The Rock" spoke with Terry Gross about the role, his many injuries, and his wrestling personas.For the first seven years of her life, Cristela Alonzo lived in an abandoned diner in a south Texas border town. She spoke with Terry Gross about the culture shock of having money after growing up so poor and the recent ICE raids in L.A. Her new Netflix stand-up special is called Upper Classy.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Welcome back to Movie Boi! This podcast will feature discussions on movies, new and old alike, as well as some broader movie topics and conversations.In this episode:00:00 - A discussion on The Smashing Machine, the MMA biopic about fighting legend Mark Kerr. Mark is portrayed by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and features great supporting roles by Emily Blunt and Ryan Bader. I also do a deep dive on The Rock's filmography. 18:40 - Revisiting the 2011 film Warrior starring Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, and Nick Nolte. If you want to share your thoughts on the movie or send in a mailbag question, contact MovieBoyJack@gmail.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson teams up with Benny Safdie and A24 to tell the true story of MMA pioneer Mark Kerr. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HH_6GFXkClsSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/reelspoilers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt check out ‘The Smashing Machine', the latest from Benny Safdie and Dwayne Johnson about the life of famed MMA fighter Mark Kerr. Is this The Rock's best performance? Tune in to find out!00:00-15:45: Intro/The Smashing Machine15:46-22:26: Wrap-UpTheme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

To follow up our episode with The Smashing Machine, Mark Kerr - we're diving into the archive to replay our deeper dive into the story of Milo of Croton. -- --  Step into the arena with Milo of Croton, the ancient Greek strongman whose feats of strength turned him into a living legend. In this episode, Ben and Pat explore how Milo went from an Olympic champion to a battlefield hero, carrying entire armies on his back—literally. From wrestling lions to tearing trees apart with his bare hands, Milo's life was a nonstop display of raw power and unmatched swagger. Join us as we uncover the epic tale of history's ultimate flex and the man who redefined what it meant to be strong.

Earth's Mightiest Critics tag team Dwayne Johnson's bid for Acting Oscar gold with a roundtable review of The Smashing Machine!Benny Safdie's biopic of UFC fighter Mark Kerr's rise and fall is definitely an A24 film: heavy on the drama, light on the sports movie cliches. Audiences, it seems, aren't too interested in "The Rock's" career outside the IP ring--but are they missing out?Join us for a spoilerific critics' cage-match! We also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Support Kicking the Seat on Patreon, subscribe to us on YouTube, and follow us at:XLetterboxdInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Smashing Machine (2025) trailer.Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.Make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.And save your celluloid soul with Dave Canfield's Substack, "Creature Feature Preacher".

The guys get together to discuss topics such as Dwayne ‘The Rock' Johnso's transformation into Mark Kerr for ‘The Smashing Machine' film, Mexico soccer star Omar Bravo arrested on suspicion of sexual abuse allegations and Ex-NFL QB Mark Sanchez faces felony in fight that authorities say was over parking and much more on this episode that you do not want to miss and make sure to tune in!

The Smashing Machine - Shownotes body { font-family: sans-serif; margin: 20px; line-height: 1.6; } h1, h2, h3 { color: #333; } ul { list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 20px; } This week, we review The Smashing Machine. We also discuss Horror Movie Havoc in Concessions of a Cinephile, and more! The Bloody Awesome Movie Podcast delivers a spoiler-free review of a film, usually a new release with some exceptions, every week. Then Matt Hudson (@wiwt_uk) from What I Watched Tonight and Jonathan Berk (@berkreviews) from disappointment media will introduce a variety of movies or pop-culture-related topics in a series of segments. Review of The Smashing Machine Director, writer, and cast provided by Letterboxd.com IMDb.com Synopsis: The story of legendary mixed martial arts and UFC fighter Mark Kerr. RATINGS: 73% RT critic 78% RT audience 66 Metascore 7.0 IMDb user score 3.4 Letterboxd Where to watch? Concessions of a Cinephile In this segment, we switch to movie-motivated conversations of a large variety that could include headlines, trailers, top five lists, best of, competitions, etc… Topic: Horror Movie Havoc Bracket results so far Media Consumption Movies, TV, Video Games, Music, Podcasts (not ours), etc, that we use to pass the time Matt's consumption V/H/S Halloween Annabelle Annabelle: Creation FC 26 Jon's consumption V/H/S Halloween Backcountry Long Weekend Peacemaker S2: Twisted Metal S2:Ep1

The Smashing Machine is a 2025 biographical drama film directed by Benny Safdie, starring Dwayne Johnson as legendary mixed martial arts fighter Mark Kerr. The film chronicles Kerr's career in the late 1990s, focusing on his quest to become the greatest fighter in the world while also battling his dependence on opioids and a volatile relationship with his girlfriend, Dawn (Emily Blunt). The movie is noted for its raw, observational style, using different film formats to reflect Kerr's emotional state and exploring themes of addiction and self-awareness. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This week's Out Now with Aaron and Abe is taking it to the mat. Aaron and Abe are joined by critic Luke Y. Thompson to discuss The Smashing Machine, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. Hear what this group has to say about the Benny Safdie-directed biopic about former MMA/UFC champion Mark Kerr. Plus, there's plenty of time for other movie chatter, thoughts on new previews, games, and listener comments. Tune in for Out Now Quickies™ (10:55), Trailer Talk for Marty Supreme (35:38), the main review (42:48), Games (1:26:32), and Out Now Feedback (1:35:26). So now, if you've got an hour or so to kill…

Good Boy Directed by Ben Leonberg Starring Indy the Dog A man moves into a new home that has supernatural forces lurking in the shadows. As dark entities start to threaten him, his brave dog comes to the rescue. The Smashing Machine Directed by Bennie Safdie Starring Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt MMA fighter Mark Kerr reaches the peak of his career but faces personal hardships along the way. Anemone Directed by Ronan Day Lewis Starring Daniel Day Lewis Hidden secrets and long-buried resentments come to light when two estranged brothers reunite at a primitive cabin deep in the woods of Northern England. Classic Rocky Horror Picture Show Directed by Jim Sharman Starring Susan Sarandon, Tim Curry, Barry Bostwick In this cult classic, sweethearts Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon), stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry), a transvestite scientist. As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including a rocking biker (Meat Loaf) and a creepy butler (Richard O'Brien). Through elaborate dances and rock songs, Frank-N-Furter unveils his latest creation: a muscular man named "Rocky."

The Safdie Brothers' solo projects are upon us. Josh's tale of a ping pong obsessed fellow will hit screens in December but first we have Benny's biopic of mixed-martial arts and UFC champion Mark Kerr as portrayed by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. We've got a review of THE SMASHING MACHINE on this episode along with discussion of the upcoming film that has Jack Black and Paul Rudd starring as a pair of friends trying to single handedly remake the b-horror movie ANACONDA.   Recommendations from our hosts - Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil   Footcandle Film Society 

In the savage early days of MMA, before the bright lights and billion-dollar paydays, there was one man who fought like a force of nature. Mark Kerr wasn't just a wrestler — he was a six-foot-one, 250-pound experiment in human willpower. A world champion who walked into underground Brazilian cage fights, broke his hand mid-match, and kept fighting with his head. They called him The Smashing Machine. In today's episode Ben and Mark. Ben and Mark go blow-by-blow through the glory, the pain, and the redemption of one of combat sports' most feared and fascinating pioneers.

Send us a textJoin our Discord to sit in our seats at Pistons' home game!!!!! ----https://discord.gg/GQGwZNp3CTTwitter: @propistonsInstagram: @pistonsprowrestlingfansEmail: PistonsProWrestlingFans@gmail.comMerchandise:www.prowrestlingtees.com/PWTPF897551Support the Show: https://paypal.me/pwtpf Intro music (DX + John Mason) and voiceover plugging our twitter/X handle and PWTees store DX + John Mason Support the showTwitter: @ProPistonsInstagram: PistonsProWrestlingFansPrimary Sponsor: www.ticket-barter.com

The Smashing Machine is a 2025 American biographical sports drama film written, directed, co-produced, and edited by Benny Safdie. Based on the 2002 documentary The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr, it stars Dwayne Johnson as former amateur wrestler and MMA fighter Mark Kerr, alongside Emily Blunt as Kerr's girlfriend Dawn Staples, with Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten and Oleksandr Usyk in supporting roles.The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on September 1, 2025, where it won the Silver Lion. It was released in the United States by A24 on October 3, 2025. The film received generally positive reviews from critics.Disclaimer: The following may contain offensive language, adult humor, and/or content that some viewers may find offensive – The views and opinions expressed by any one speaker does not explicitly or necessarily reflect or represent those of Mark Radulich or W2M Network.Mark Radulich and his wacky podcast on all the things:https://linktr.ee/markkind76alsohttps://www.teepublic.com/user/radulich-in-broadcasting-networkFB Messenger: Mark Radulich LCSWTiktok: @markradulichtwitter: @MarkRadulichInstagram: markkind76RIBN Album Playlist: https://suno.com/playlist/91d704c9-d1ea-45a0-9ffe-5069497bad59 

RUNDOWN   Are Seattle sports are even fun anymore? Six hours “chewing my fingernails and losing hair.” Mitch and Scott argue about what “fun” in fandom really means, roast Matt Brash for his walk-filled chaos, and marvel at the weirdness of Seattle beating Tarik Skubal yet again. Mitch welcomes Brady Farkas (Refuse to Lose Podcast) and Joe Doyle (Over-Slot / Future Stars Series) for a fiery Mariners No-Table as Seattle heads to Detroit tied 1–1. They rave over Jorge Polanco's two-homer night off Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal and the team's resilience, then dissect Dan Wilson's bullpen management in Game 1, Bryce Miller's usage, and the decision to start George Kirby. The group debates Matt Brash's shaky late-inning trust, Julio Rodriguez's base-running and clutch turnaround, and whether the Tigers or Mariners now hold the upper hand as the ALDS resumes. Mitch welcomes Brady Henderson (ESPN Seahawks Insider) and Jacson Bevens (Cigar Thoughts) for a heated Seahawks No-Table after Seattle's gut-wrenching 38–35 loss to Tampa Bay. The trio debates how Mike Macdonald's defense—ranked among the NFL's best through two weeks—got completely schemed apart by Baker Mayfield. Mitch rips the lack of pressure from Byron Murphy and Leonard Williams, the blown coverage across the secondary, and the failure to get a stop with the game on the line. All agree: Sam Darnold looked spectacular, throwing four touchdowns and confirming his franchise-QB credentials even in defeat. CBS analyst Rick Neuheisel joins Mitch after an emotional weekend that saw his son Jerry Neuheisel call plays for UCLA in the upset win over Penn State. Rick describes watching from the CBS studio as his phone exploded with messages, reliving the moment as both a broadcaster and a dad. He shares the behind-the-scenes timeline of Jerry being handed play-calling duties, his pride in how the Bruins responded, and the joy of seeing his family's work pay off. From there, the conversation turns to the broader college-football landscape — Penn State and Texas now facing uphill climbs to the playoff, Notre Dame's renewed path, the Huskies' comeback win in Maryland, Florida's bounce-back under Billy Napier, and previewing the week ahead with Oregon–Indiana on CBS.   GUESTS   Brady Farkas | Host, Refuse to Lose Podcast (Mariners on SI) Joe Doyle | MLB Draft & Mariners Analyst, Over-Slot Substack Brady Henderson | Seahawks Insider, ESPN Jacson Bevens | Writer, Cigar Thoughts Rick Neuheisel | CBS College Football Analyst, Former Head Coach & Rose Bowl Champion   TABLE OF CONTENTS   0:00 | From Fingernails to Fun Forest: Mitch and Hotshot Debate Whether Sports Are Still Fun After Six Brutal Hours of Seahawks and Mariners Angst 12:15 | BEAT THE BOYS - Register at MitchUnfiltered.com 15:46 | Mariners Split, Seahawks Stumble: Mitch Calls It “Inexcusable,” Hotshot Still Finds Hope in Detroit 32:01 | GUEST: Mariners No-Table; Polanco Powers Mariners Even, Wilson's Moves Debated as Series Shifts to Detroit 55:21 | GUEST: Seahawks No-Table; Seahawks Defense Collapses in 38–35 Shootout: MacDonald Takes the Blame, Darnold Shines in Defeat 1:20:50 | GUEST: Rick Neuheisel; A Proud Papa Moment — Rick Neuheisel on His Son's Play-Calling Debut and a Wild Weekend in College Football 1:51:20 | Other Stuff Segment: Michael Bennett defends Russell Wilson and says Richard Sherman's criticism is personal animosity, debate over whether Russ deserves the Hall of Fame, Mark Sanchez stabbed in Indianapolis parking dispute involving pepper spray, 49ers backup QB Mac Jones discovers a dead body outside his hotel before Thursday Night Football, Texas Rangers part ways with Bruce Bochy and promote Skip Schumaker, Jay Cutler released early from DUI jail after trying to pay off a fender-bender with $2,000, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's reported split includes a “no-cocaine bonus clause,” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson gets early Oscar buzz for The Smashing Machine as MMA fighter Mark Kerr, Lionel Richie claims Michael Jackson was literally nicknamed “Smelly,” Mitch realizes the real-life fighter from The Smashing Machine went to Syracuse the same time he did. RIPs: Lawrence Moten, Syracuse basketball's all-time leading scorer (53), Arthur Jones, former Ravens defensive tackle and Syracuse standout (39), Jane Goodall, world-renowned primatologist and conservationist (91). Headlines: Holiday Inn Express testing scent-based alarm clocks (mildew, fast food, and beer farts), AI vandal confesses to crimes via chatbot “Rat GPT,” Seattle's sex-trivia nights draw crowds and educate, UK Health Service sparks debate over cousin marriages and their “benefits,” Hotshot's favorite — “Uncle Dad Christmas shopping simplified.”

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the weekend of October 3, 2025. It's the Rock like you've never seen him before!  Seriously. You almost don't recognize him in "The Smashing Machine," where he tells part of the true story of MMA fighter Mark Kerr.   As for streaming, there is a movie from director Shane Black, "Play Dirty", starring Mark Wahlberg and Lakeith Stanfield, on Amazon Prime Video. And for the family, you can check out the cute and entertaining "The Sisters Grimm" on Apple TV+. Based on the kids' book series and animated in a throwback style, it's a good scary-lite show for younger kids. The brains behind Fan Effect are connoisseurs of categories surpassing nerdy, with a goal to publish a weekly "What to Watch on the Weekend" minisode taken from KSL-TV's Friday segment, and two deep-dives a month on shows, creative works, artists, local events, and other fandom topics.  Based in the beautiful beehive state, Fan Effect celebrates Utah's unique fan culture as it has been declared The Nerdiest State in America by TIME, and is hosted by KSL Movie Show's Andy Farnsworth and KSL Podcasts' KellieAnn Halvorsen.  Listen regularly on your favorite platform, at kslnewsradio.com, or on the KSLNewsRadio App. Join the conversation on Facebook @FanEffectShow, or Instagram @FanEffectShow. Fan Effect is sponsored by Megaplex Theatres, Utah's premier movie entertainment company.

Send us a textFrank the Tank returns to talk about the Festival of Beers and catching up with everything he has been doing!!1Top Shelf: We do Blind Rankings of Scifi/Fantasy shows, Breakfast food and moreBeer had: Straight outta Dania by 3 Sons BrewingPop Culture: Peacemaker Season 2, Chad Powers, The Smashing Machine, and we talk about upcoming Horror season!!Beers had: Pearburana by Garagiste Meadery and Smoked Porter (2021) by Alaskan BrewingPub Talk: Best foods for drinking, hangovers and sober!Beer had: Fat Elvis by Martin House Brewing Co Theme Song by Lost Like Lions Festival of Beers tickets: Festival of Beers  TicketsSupport the show

This week on Million Dollaz Worth of Game, Gillie & Wallo sit down with one of the biggest names on the planet Dwyane “The Rock” Johnson. From dominating the wrestling ring to becoming a Hollywood icon, “DJ” pulled up to chop it up and promote his brand-new film “The Smashing Machine” produced by A24. The Rock gets real about stepping into the shoes of MMA legend Mark Kerr, the parallels between their careers, and why mental health is one of the most important battles we all face.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Emily Blunt star in the new sports biopic The Smashing Machine. Johnson plays Mark Kerr, a UFC champion who is reeling from his first major loss in the ring and confronting an addiction to painkillers. Directed by Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems), the wrestling drama pulls out all the classic moves in the awards season playbook. We can smell what The Rock is cooking – but is it a hearty meal?Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopcultureLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

MUSICHayley Williams is revealing who she's calling out as the “racist country singer” in her song “Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=FrwDiBQxk57ZdKnU&v=fN5rvIvjpnc&feature=youtu.be A 30th anniversary edition of The Smashing Pumpkins' double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness will be out on November 21st.Tina Turner's hometown of Brownsville, Tennessee, unveiled a statue honoring the late singer, but fans are not convinced it captures her at her best. NEW ALBUM RELEASES:Waylon Jennings - SongbirdOasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory? 30th Anniv. EditionTaylor Swift - Life of a Showgirl TV• Friday on Netflix: The series premiere of "Monster: The Ed Gein Story". Charlie Hunnam plays serial killer Ed Gein, whose crimes inspired the characters Norman Bates from "Psycho", Leatherface from "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", and Buffalo Bill from "Silence of the Lambs". (Trailer)• Friday on HBO Max: The streaming premiere of "Bring Her Back", a horror film starring Sally Hawkins from "The Shape of Water" as a creepy foster mother who takes in two teenagers and they discover that she wants them for a dark ritual intended to bring her dead daughter back to life. (Trailer)• Friday on Peacock: The streaming premiere of "Honey Don't", starring Margaret Qualley as a private investigator looking into some mysterious deaths tied to a shady church run by Chris Evans. (Trailer)• Saturday at 11:30 p.m. on NBC: Bad Bunny hosts the 51st season premiere of "Saturday Night Live", and Doja Cat is the music guest.• Sunday at 9:00 p.m. on AMC: "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon". Lori Loughlin and her husband of nearly 28 years, Mossimo Giannulli, have separated. https://people.com/lori-loughlin-and-mossimo-giannulli-separate-after-nearly-28-years-of-marriage-exclusive-7502189 In other couple news: Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi be the next celebrity break-up? According to sources, Portia needs space from Ellen. One source says, quote, "Portia loves Ellen dearly, but she feels totally suffocated much of the time, because every aspect of her life is constantly micromanaged. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/celebrity/articles/ellen-degeneres-wife-wants-time-160000933.html· MOVING ON INTO MOVIE NEWS:IN THEATERS:The Smashing Machine (Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt) DDwayne Johnson plays wrestler and MMA fighter Mark Kerr in this biography about his career and struggles with narcotics. Emily Blunt plays his high maintenance wife and the MMA's Ryan Bader plays his trainer.Bone Lake (Maddie Hasson, Marco Pigossi)A seductive horror story where a couple's romantic vacation at a secluded lakeside estate is altered when they're forced to share the mansion with another couple . . . which spirals into a blur of sex, lies and manipulation.Anemone (Daniel Day-Lewis, Sean Bean) stars Daniel Day-Lewis in a movie directed by his son, Ronan Day-Lewis. After living as a hermit for 20 years, his isolation is disturbed by the sudden appearance of his brother, played by Sean Bean.Are We Good? (Marc Maron documentary) is out today. Ethan Hawke is back as the serial killer The Grabber in Black Phone 2, a sequel to his 2021 horror hit The Black Phone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWNucAcRoBYAND FINALLYNew releases from Billie Eilish, Billy Joel, Sammy Hagar, Talking Heads and Warren Zevon are among the highlights of Record Store Day's Black Friday lineup.There are 175 limited-edition items on either vinyl or CD slated to drop that day. Check out the complete list at RecordStoreDay.com, or read on for our Top 25 picks.Cage the Elephant - Live From The Vic - 2-LP. This was recorded in 2011 at the famed Chicago venue.Creed - Live in San Antonio (11/14/1999) - 2-LP. This is Creed's first live album. Billie Eilish - Live - 10-inch EP. Live recordings from Amazon's Songline series, never before released physically.Jelly Roll - Beautifully Broken (Pickin' Up The Pieces) - LP. This features 13 tracks from the digital deluxe version of Jelly Roll's 2024 album, Beautifully Broken. Scott Weiland - "If I Could Fly"/"Barbarella (Live)" - 7-inch. This features a previously unreleased song from the late Stone Temple Pilots singer. AND THAT IS YOUR CRAP ON CELEBRITIES!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 (53:44). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: Benny Safdie and Van Lathan Producer: Jack Sanders Unlock an extra $250 at linkedin.com/thebigpicture Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ahead of the release of the new A24 film starring Dwayne Johnson, enjoy this free edition of Rewind-A-Wai #150 from February 2024 as John Pollock and Wai Ting review the original 2002 documentary, The Smashing Machine, profiling MMA pioneer Mark Kerr's rise in Pride FC and struggles with painkiller addiction.They discuss Kerr's successful amateur wrestling career (including a rivalry with Kurt Angle), the film's portrayal of MMA in its earlier days, its raw depiction of drug use and addiction, and their expectations for Dwayne Johnson's upcoming adaptation of the story.Rewind-A-Wai #150's subject was chosen by Espresso Executive Producer, Robert Holzhammer.If you like this documentary review, check out this week's Rewind-A-Wai for Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press (2017).Check out the Rewind-A-Wai Archives for all patrons: https://www.postwrestling.com/category/podcasts/postwrestlingcafe/raw/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/postwrestling.comX: http://www.twitter.com/POSTwrestlingInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/POSTwrestlingFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/POSTwrestlingYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/POSTwrestlingSubscribe: https://postwrestling.com/subscribePatreon: http://postwrestlingcafe.comForum: https://forum.postwrestling.comDiscord: https://postwrestling.com/discordMerch: http://Chopped-Tees.com/POSTwrestlingAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dwayne Johnson tackles his first role in which there is Oscar potential. Directed by Benny Safdie, The Smashing Machine tells the story of Mark Kerr, an MMA fighter going through major highs and lows. Matching Dwayne Johnson's intensity is Emily Blunt as his problematic partner. Do Jim and A.Ron see this film as a new direction in the Rock's career, or will the Smashing Machine fall flat on its face?  Bald Move Prestige - He Got Game (1998) support.baldmove.com Hey there!  Check out https://support.baldmove.com/ to find out how you can gain access to ALL of our premium content, as well as ad-free versions of the podcasts! Join the Club! Join the discussion:  Email | Discord | Reddit | Forums Follow us: Twitch | YouTube | Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Facebook Leave Us A Review on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Emily Blunt star in THE SMASHING MACHINE a sports biopic about UFC fighter Mark Kerr from A24 and director Benny Safdie. Is The Rock's performance worthy of a coming Awards push for this role?Rebecca Ferguson and Idris Elba lead a large ensemble cast in Katherine Bigelow's new Netflix political thriller A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE. How effective is this attempt at a nuclear war cautionary tale, and does it stick the landing?The Smashing Machine is now playing in theaters. A House of Dynamite is out in limited theaters on October 10th and streaming on Netflix October 24th.0:00 - The Smashing Machine8:21 - A House of Dynamite

On this episode of The Movie Podcast, Daniel and Shahbaz sit down in Toronto with Writer/Director Benny Safdie and UFC Legend Mark Kerr to discuss THE SMASHING MACHINE at TIFF 50. The film stars Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt and is the story of legendary mixed martial arts & UFC fighter Mark Kerr. The Smashing Machine releases exclusively in theatres October 3, 2025 by VVS in Canada and A24 in the United States. Watch and listen to The Movie Podcast now on all podcast platforms, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheMoviePodcast.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@themoviepodcast.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FOLLOW US⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Daniel on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shahbaz on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Anthony on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Movie Podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rotten Tomatoes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The WWE superstar considered pursuing a career in mixed martial arts before realizing, "I don't like getting punched in the face." Johnson plays MMA fighter Mark Kerr in Benny Safdie's The Smashing Machine. He spoke with Terry Gross about his many injuries, his relationship with his late father, and his wrestling personas. Follow Fresh Air on instagram @nprfreshair, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter for gems from the Fresh Air archive, staff recommendations, and a peek behind the scenes. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The boys talk smoking cigars, favorite food spots in Austin, Texas, best food cities in America, Jamie Foxx's dating history, how stoked they're are to watch The Smashing Machine, Mark Kerr's past and new life, Netflix pushing woke kids shows, another naughty teacher, a no nonsense sheriff, a Chin health update and much more.Delete Me - Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to https://joindeleteme.com/FIGHTER and use promo code FIGHTER at checkout.O'Reilly Auto Parts - https://oreillyauto.com/FIGHTERTrue Classic - True Classic - Upgrade your wardrobe and save on @trueclassic at https://trueclassic.com/fighter ! #trueclassicpodMagic Mind - https://magicmind.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Rebecca and John discuss The Smashing Machine, Benny Safdie's new movie starring Dwayne Johnson as MMA fighter Mark Kerr. They are joined by Vanity Fair contributing editor Tom Kludt, who shares his thoughts on why sports movies are audience favorites but not always awards winners and  what Johnson should do to become king of the Oscar ring. Plus, Rebecca and John share their picks for must-watch October film releases.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

In this episode, GG Hawkins sits down with filmmaker and actor Benny Safdie to dig into his solo directorial feature The Smashing Machine — a biopic‑adjacent portrait of UFC legend Mark Kerr starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. The conversation ranges from genesis stories and casting experiments to the heavy emotional labor behind staging domestic fights, and how Benny's dual identity as actor-director shapes his approach to truth in film. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guest Benny Safdie discuss… How the film began as a handwritten letter and a vintage sweater, and the surprising miscommunication that delayed the project Benny's desire to make emotional scenes feel like “virtual reality,” pushing the boundary between fiction and lived experience His method of breaking big scenes (fights, domestic conflict) into overlapping sections for pacing, focus, and emotional veracity Working with first-time actors and real athletes: adapting dialogue, rehearsal during casting, and honoring spontaneity The role of the score (with Nala Sinefroo) as an “actor” in the film, and how Benny collaborates with musicians Editing while shooting, watching dailies, and carrying the film in his mind from set to cut Struggles in balancing creative work with personal life, and how photography serves as a solitary creative practice Advice for emerging directors: start with something you intimately understand before trying to overreach Memorable Quotes: “What you write is meaningless if it doesn't sound good coming out of the person's mouth.” “I want it to feel like you were really there… the sound has to be 360.” “You have to love what's there. You have to fall in love with it.” “I call it liposuction for the end — shrink wrapping the film.” Guests: Benny Safdie Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram  

We've got a mid-week Breakfast All Day drop-in for you with exactly two items: An early review of "The Smashing Machine," in which Dwayne Johnson transforms himself to play MMA fighter Mark Kerr. It's in theaters Friday. A lengthy, LIVE spoiler chat about Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another," which we hosted on our YouTube channel. See you Friday for the Marc Maron documentary "Are We Good?" our weekly news livestream at Noon Pacific, and much more. Enjoy!

Celebrated filmmaker and actor Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems, Oppenheimer) did something outside his comfort zone when he made his latest film, “The Smashing Machine” — he directed it without his brother, Josh. Starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Emily Blunt, the film tells the true story of former wrestler and mixed martial artist Mark Kerr. During this year's Toronto International Film Festival, Benny sat down with Tom Power to talk about his first foray into directing on his own two feet, what it was like working with The Rock, and why mixed martial arts is more than just pure aggression.

Joe sits down with retired mixed martial artist and wrestler Mark Kerr. Kerr is the subject of the A24 feature film "The Smashing Machine," directed by Benny Safdie and starring Dwayne Johnson. Look for it in theaters on October 3, 2025. https://a24films.com/films/the-smashing-machinewww.markkerr.com Buy 1 Get 1 Free Trucker Hat with code ROGAN at happydad.com This video is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit https://BetterHelp.com/JRE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices