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

2025-10-03 · 102 min · 10 entities

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Asserted relationships

→ appeared on The Big Picture podcast

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Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
→ appeared on The Big Picture podcast

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Guests: Benny Safdie and Van Lathan
→ appeared on The Big Picture podcast

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Best Picture Power Rankings and The Rock’s Oscar Bid in ‘The Smashing Machine,’ with Benny Safdie!
→ discusses TV & Film concept

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Feed category: TV & Film
→ hosted by The Ringer company

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evidence rules-v5
Feed author/publisher: The Ringer

Entities found in this episode

persons 3

mentioned Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins person

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evidence rules-v5
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
mentioned Benny Safdie and Van La person

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evidence rules-v5
Guests: Benny Safdie and Van Lathan
mentioned Benny Safdie person

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evidence rules-v5
Best Picture Power Rankings and The Rock’s Oscar Bid in ‘The Smashing Machine,’ with Benny Safdie!

podcasts 3

appeared on The Big Picture podcast

0.82

evidence rules-v5
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
appeared on The Big Picture podcast

0.82

evidence rules-v5
Guests: Benny Safdie and Van Lathan
appeared on The Big Picture podcast

0.68

evidence rules-v5
Best Picture Power Rankings and The Rock’s Oscar Bid in ‘The Smashing Machine,’ with Benny Safdie!

companys 2

mentioned The Ringer company

0.70

evidence rules-v5
Feed author/publisher: The Ringer
hosted by The Ringer company

0.40

evidence rules-v5
Feed author/publisher: The Ringer

concepts 2

mentioned TV & Film concept

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evidence rules-v5
Feed category: TV & Film
discusses TV & Film concept

0.40

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: TV & Film

Episode description as stored

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