US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
‘The Smashing Machine’ Review: Dwayne Johnson Delivers Best Performance Yet
Dwayne Johnson gained 30 pounds and used prosthetics to authentically portray MMA pioneer Mark Kerr in a biopic exploring Kerr’s struggles and early UFC career.
- On October 3rd, The Smashing Machine opens in cinemas with Dwayne Johnson starring as former UFC fighter Mark Kerr in Benny Safdie's biopic.
- Johnson was intrigued by the Pride-era fighter lifestyle and considered leaving WWE, but UFC legend Ken Shamrock advised him to stay, shaping his early career decisions.
- To become Kerr, Dwayne Johnson, actor gained 30 pounds and wore prosthetics while spending weeks training and consulting with Mark Kerr, former UFC fighter.
- Early responses praise Dwayne Johnson, actor, for showcasing dramatic range, with critics and MMA figures praising his performance and noting it as a potential shift in his career.
- Set between 1997 and 2000, the film centers on the Ultimate Fighting Championship early years, emphasizing domestic life and recreating a Japan tournament climax in intense, single-take detail.
Insights by Ground AI
12 Articles
12 Articles
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson took real punches to the face to keep 'The Smashing Machine' authentic | Tech, Entertainment, Sport, Fashion, Travel News
When it came to playing the brutal, battered and drug addled UFC fighter Mark Kerr in his new movie, “The Smashing Machine,” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson agreed to a hard bargain. It was clear that there would be scenes of extreme ring violence. After all, the movie takes place in the 1990s, when UFC bouts were anything-goes bloodbaths. Wound gouging and head-butting made for such a spectacle that the late Senator John McCain disparaged the sport a…
A film of fighting: against the opponent, but above all against fears and drugs. Dwayne Johnson surprises in his strongest role.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left2Leaning Right1Center0Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Left
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources lean Left
67% Left
L 67%
R 33%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
