Fact-Checking 'The Smashing Machine': MMA Legend Mark Kerr Compares the Movie to His Real-Life Story

Fact-checking 'The Smashing Machine': MMA legend Mark Kerr compares the movie to his real-life story

MMA legend Mark Kerr reveals how A24 biopic 'The Smashing Machine' compares to his true life story. Plus, writer/director Benny Safdie explains why he changed or left out key moments from Kerr's career in the film, starring Dwayne Johnson.

How "The Smashing Machine" Makeup Designer Kazu Hiro Transformed Dwayne Johnson into MMA Legend Mark Kerr

Veteran prosthetic makeup designer Kazu Hiro has garnered two Oscars for his outstanding work: one for transforming actor Gary Oldman into Winston Churchill for Darkest Hour, and the other for transforming Charlize Theron into Megyn Kelly for Bombshell. More recently, he was nominated for sculpting Bradley Cooper’s visage as legendary composer Leonard Bernstein in Maestro. But for writer/director Benny Safdie’s biographical drama about the begin…

‘The Smashing Machine’ finds beauty through broken things

Kintsugi: a Japanese art form that embraces beauty in broken things by repairing broken pottery with golden lacquer. Mark Kerr, known as “The Smashing Machine,” embodies this concept in the film of the same name, pieced together with Krazy Glue rather than gold. His first solo feature after working with his brother Josh Safdie, director Benny Safdie, known for “Good Time” and “Uncut Gems,” slows down his usual style, adding more emotional depth.…

How The Rock Transformed His Body -- And Mind -- Into Mark Kerr

SITTING IN A Beverly Hills hotel room during one of multiple media junkets, Dwayne Johnson spent nearly three minutes explaining how he morphed his mind and body into Mark Kerr for “The Smashing Machine” when he turned to the MMA pioneer and asked: “How did I do, by the way?” Kerr opted for an anecdote. His son, Bryce, saw the film in New York a couple of months ago. He immediately called Kerr afterward and began whispering his thoughts, almost …