The Smashing Machine: A Bittersweet Victory

The Smashing Machine: A bittersweet victory

Directed, written, produced and edited by Benny Safdie  Starring: Dwayn Johnson and Emily Blunt  ★★★½   With The Smashing Machine, Benny Safdie makes his solo directorial debut — and it’s immediately clear what he brought to his decade-long creative partnership with his brother, Josh. This biopic of MMA pioneer Mark Kerr is unlike any other, thanks largely to Benny’s uncompromising commitment to realism and his refusal to dramatize or sensationa…

What Did You Think of The Smashing Machine?

The world is about to see a very different side of Dwayne Johnson in The Smashing Machine. From writer/director Benny Safdie, the sports biopic follows the life of Mark Kerr, the legendary mixed martial artist and UFC pioneer. The film received rave reviews upon its debut at the Venice International Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival, and is now playing in theaters nationwide. The Smashing Machine is a powerful and gritty …

The Smashing Machine: Dwayne Johnson’s Brutal, Beautiful Descent into the Octagon

The Smashing Machine arrives like a haymaker to the gut. Directed by Benny Safdie—making his solo feature debut after years of kinetic collaboration with his

Director Benny Safdie talks new film 'The Smashing Machine'

Dwayne Johnson stars in ‘The Smashing Machine.’ (A24) A new biopic called The Smashing Machine enters the ring this weekend, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt. Johnson plays Mark Kerr, a real-life mixed martial arts fighter who battles an opioid addiction while rising through the ranks of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Director Benny Safdie tells ABC Audio he has a long history with the sport and remembers watching professi…