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Film reviews

The Smashing Machine Review

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When I look at Dwayne Johnson, I always think back to his days as The Rock in pro wrestling. Seeing him play an athlete going through struggles with addiction on his way to heightened fame represents a whole different level of achievement. Written and directed by Benny Safdie, this is The Smashing Machine, a true story that includes many knockouts and rounds of difficult trials and errors. Johnson delivers a stunning performance playing Mark Kerr. Emily Blunt is also outstanding. Her emotions are hard to dismiss in her role as Dawn Staples. The Smashing Machine is story about athleticism and the pursuit of a goal which involves components of physicality and drug abuse which lead to a hard fall.

The film is about Kerr’s life and his road to success and fame. His physique plays a key role as does the way he incorporates many types of injections to make sure his body stays in tune. Inthe martial arts competitions he competes in, he finds himself frustrated with new rules. He relies so much on drugs to thrive. Dawn recognizes that he is an addict. Despite his athletic success, she calls him out repeatedly. The realism related to shame, addiction, and guilt is no joke in The Smashing Machine. The title even speaks for itself because the film feels like a “smashing machine.”

The film’s vibrant display of hurdles faced along the way is compelling. Kerr feels there is no easy way out. His body takes a toll and the story guides viewers through the harrowing approach to redemption. To clarify, the harsh steps to get sober are presented in a vivid and spellbinding way. Safdie’s directing incorporates stressful displays of lighting and accompanying characterizations that make audiences’ hearts pound. This movie is almost as stressful as Uncut Gems, which he co-wrote and directed with his brother Josh Safdie. However, The Smashing Machine is Benny’s project. The writing leads to rapid heart rates which come from Benny’s ability to create unforgettable vibes in The Smashing Machine. Throwing in athleticism, dishonesty, and disconnection which all combine to bring self-aggravation and personal destruction, makes this film hard to dismiss. The Smashing Machine paints an honest portrait that proves that even in the darkest places there is still light.

The highlight of this film lies within the performances of Johnson and Blunt. They are an unmissable power couple that truly take the cake. This biopic of actual events hits many detrimental bumps along the way to get the message right. The Smashing Machine delivers the important message to never give up. I believe it is one of the best films of 2025. Also, it may be one of the best Johnson has delivered. He has come a long way since his wrestling days.

Getting out of patterns is not easy. Finding trust is what the story explores. The Smashing Machine shows how important it is to have a foundation for success. It is one-of-a-kind movie and atrue story that is meant to be seen. Four out four stars.

 

Film reviews

Highest 2 Lowest Review

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This film directed by Spike Lee with Denzel Washington in the lead is one that makes for a masterclass in filmmaking success. Highest 2 Lowest is what I consider to be one of the best films of 2025. It has a dramatic sense of power and irony that moves in a direction that creating its own force of nature. Lee’s directing is like the setup of a play of power and triumph–one where millionaires and the music industry find themselves in a battle of ransom to the highest peaks. Instead of suspenseful tones of action, it follows more along the lines of politics weaving back and forth with egos fighting to come to an agreement. With Lee, fans know that he is one to paint the portrait with the writing on the wall. It is fresh “writing on the wall” all over in Highest 2 Lowest.

The film centers on a music mogul named David King (Washington). He is all about money and thriving on the power of creativity via words and wisdom. His wife is Pam King (played by Illfenesh Hadera) and his family friend is Paul Christopher (played by Jeffrey Wright). The life of New York is golden and glamorous with King fully living the high life of the music industry. All that changes in a heartbeat when his son Trey (played Aubrey Joseph) is kidnapped. It is a ransom situation that gets political and ethical. A moral dilemma is presented with much authority associated.

The film is mesmerizing because of its set-up. It feels like a Shakespeare production. That is because the many moments of suspense will have Washington pontificating on authority and business while also dealing with finding the means to get around a ransom. Not only that, but also assuring that his life continues to be glamorous and successful with his family. Lee brings in that brotherhood and fatherhood vibe with many lines of wisdom throughout the hard and aching moments of the powerful crime. The New York streets boil down the mood of anxiousness with an artistic form of continuity that is one-of-a-kind in Highest 2 Lowest.

The dynamic between Washington and Wright is also the major component of staying connected in Highest 2 Lowest. There is a background of writing that establishes what a close relationship looks like while dealing with a hard situation. But also, the ransom scenario has its moments where it competes—because money is the key to getting out of the conflict. Ultimately resolution is all in the hands of the business perspective of Highest 2 Lowest and Lee’s directing creates a road that presents this vividly in Highest 2 Lowest.

To retrace my words of why I love this movie, it is because I love how Washington can play a man of success and a man dealing with a complicated situation.  At the same time, he presents a serious side but is also mentally prepared to go down with the irreparable consequences. Music, money, family, hardship—greed and success does not bring good people with it sometimes. The portrait of jealousy lies within, but the voice of fighting to keep going strong via politics is where Highest 2 Lowest shines. Four out of four stars for Highest 2 Lowest.

 

Film reviews

Eddington Review

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Creative and domineering. This film is a masterclass from a director who can tango with true events and attach them to a fictional story. From the mind of Beau is Afraid, Ari Aster brings his audiences Eddington. A story based on a setup of the COVID-19 pandemic mixed with political class and surprises that test limits fuel a wicked grandeur of fun and limitless sensations. Aster  puts all his moments in one bowl which transpires into an array of different flavors. Some moments are funny, others serious, and certain ones blurry, which leaves the door open for unanticipated events.

Before going into detail about the plot and other spellbinding moments, I do want to mention that the film loops in the political issues faced in the world because of COVID-19. It also ties in the Black Lives Matter scenarios and covers the political fiasco of masking and other safety precautions. So, scenes in Eddington are insensitive. However, those scenes add fuel to the fire and help cross-examine anarchy in an interesting way. Thanks to Aster’s mind, there is no blind for joy in Eddington.

Eddington is the desert town where the film is set. The two characters of focus are a sheriff and a mayor. The sheriff is Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix) and the mayor is Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal). Phoenix returns to working with Aster after Beau is Afraid and plays an anti-vaxxer in this role. Pascal as the mayor displays safety concerns which range from masking to social distancing to eliminating anything that might spread the virus. Many patterns and habits that were common during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic are refreshed in the audiences’ minds in Eddington. I found this look back at history fascinating. Even though the pandemic was a hard time for everyone, Aster’s vision gives it a creative side with a suspenseful aspect to look back at. 

Joe, the sheriff who is very set in his ways, decides to take on the task of trying to run for mayor. Eddington is a world of political war in a small town. Aster utilizes the tension of real-life COVID events which makes this dark comedy irresistible and exhilarating. A lot of the film falls back on the performance of Phoenix—his personality is the success factor. Pascal’s performance is revolutionary as well. They are both the kings of their political views, and it makes Eddington shine with hysterical vengeance.

My respect for Aster has grown to new heights. Eddington reminded me of my nightmares and turned them into poetic portraits. COVID-19 made my mind boil and seeing it portrayed in a fictional setting felt like a form of revenge. “TAKE THAT COVID!” Aster takes realistic political scenarios and makes his audience feel the heat of the hard times while reminding them to be present in Eddington.

Eddington has characterizations that seem like they’re in comic-book form. Two other characters that add to the film’s intensity are Louise Cross (Emma Stone) and Vernon (Austin Butler). Louise is the wife of Joe, and she is back and forth in bipolar mode and unaware of her husband’s practices. Vernon is a podcaster trying to build a following based on his wild, yet ridiculous beliefs. The setup of Eddington is slightly satirical, but it leads to the best outcomes even when events fall apart. This film is a sensational adventure that has politics interweaving over obstacles. It is a rollercoaster that is lethally stunning. Eddington is one of the best films of 2025. Aster’s world of COVID is accurately portrayed and is bound to boggle minds and invigorate his audiences. Four out of four stars for Eddington.