The last time we saw him play anything close to an a$$hole was Hancock, but he couldn't let go of the love over vengeance trope that he clings onto. As the avid reader that he claims to be, he needs to understand how you can have a love story that hangs on the a$$hole's every move/line instead of doing the opposite every time. Casablanca is goated not because love wins, but rather, because logic trumps puny wants and wishes.
This is the same reasons Star Wars (the originals) blew up...its a space opera, its okay if Luke is kinda of a dikk. Same with Rocky, a love story doesn't have to dominate all else, its incorporated wisely...Smith is just too much of a one note pony to understand that. More God of War less Notebook.