Christopher Nolan Has Picked His Favorite Performance of the Year

By this point in the year, I’m usually already behind on whatever Oscar movies are being released, even if there aren’t that many yet. That wasn’t always the case, but with work, kids, and political strife at home and abroad, it can be difficult to have three-plus hours to see a movie (looking at you, Paul Thomas Anderson). I didn’t even know that I could already see If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, and that’s got one of my favorite people in it.

So, usually, I have to soak in whatever Oscar buzz is going on through osmosis. I try to keep track of what my friends like and are seeing. Everyone I know who’s had the time to see One Battle After Another hails it as a masterpiece. Someone I know thought If I Had Legs I’d Kick You was one of the best movies of the year. And Christopher Nolan really liked The Rock in The Smashing Machine.

According to the man behind The Dark Knight, Dwayne Johnson’s serious turn is “heartbreaking.” “I think it’s an incredible performance,” he said during an interview with the film’s director, Benny Safdie. “I don’t think you’ll see a better performance this year or most other years.” I ain’t no big-time director or nothin’ (pulls suspenders) but agree to disagree, mister Nolan.

Regardless of what I think, Johnson’s Oscar campaign may not be over despite so-so reviews for the film. Having a big director like Nolan step forward to heap praise on you is going to do wonders in the eyes of the Academy. Nolan is no stranger to Safdie or The Rock’s co-star Emily Blunt, having cast them both in Oppenheimer, so it makes sense that he would go to bat for them. He even made a joke!

Safdie revealed that he had been developing the film while shooting Oppenheimer, which is how he met Blunt. So, Nolan decided to “take a piss” as some of the lovely people who work for this site may say. “I heard a rumor that when you were supposed to be learning your lines on my set, you were actually canvassing people to be in your movie,” the director joked. “I wasn’t aware of that at the time, but it seems to have worked out great for you.”

Nolan also got sincere, giving Safdie’s work his stamp of approval. “Congratulations on the movie. It’s a really remarkable and radical piece of work that will be understood more and more over time,” Nolan noted. “I’m very proud to know you.” Working on a movie as massive as Oppenheimer for someone like Nolan must have been a big deal to begin with. Having the man behind it pump you up like that afterward? My guess is Benny could have flown home.

We’ve still got about two-and-a-half more months for Oscar contenders to emerge. I’m sure there are some upcoming movies that I just haven’t heard of yet, so we’ll see how crowded The Rock’s category is. If I’m certain about anything for the Academy Awards next year, it’s that Conan O’Brien will kick off the ceremony by interviewing his therapist character from If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. He’s gonna criticize his performance while the therapist criticizes him. It’s gonna be great.