US Edition'The Smashing Machine' Movie Review: Dwayne Johnson Delivers a Knockout Performance in Benny Safdie’s Slow-Burning Biographical Sports Drama
Dwayne Johnson underwent a major physical transformation to portray MMA pioneer Mark Kerr, highlighting Kerr's opioid addiction and his record-winning streak in the late 1990s.
- The Smashing Machine, directed by Benny Safdie, stars MMA legend Mark Kerr and draws on the 2002 HBO documentary for source material.
- Tracing Kerr's path, the film follows MMA legend Mark Kerr's rise from the World Vale Tudo Championships in Brazil to Pride Fighting Championships in Japan and early UFC success during 1997–2000.
- Central to the film is Kerr's escalating opioid dependence and relationship strain, while Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson gained 30lb and endured prosthetics for the role.
- Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's performance has earned praise from critics and peers as potentially Oscar-worthy, and he responded emotionally at screenings, publicly thanking audiences on Instagram.
- Beyond the story, it highlights MMA fighters' chronic pain and addiction, strengthening Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's dramatic trajectory amid talks with Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio and Emily Blunt soon.
15 Articles
15 Articles
The Smashing Machine Has A Great Rock Performance But No Story & Other Reviews
Daniele Cifala'. Shutterstock Images.The Smashing Machine is a case where Benny Safdie the screenwriter did Benny Safdie the director no favors. Below is the review of that movie along with Taylor Sw...
'The Smashing Machine' Movie Review: Dwayne Johnson delivers a knockout performance in Benny Safdie’s slow-burning biographical sports drama
Dwayne Johnson, who is generally known for making out-and-out commercial, aka popcorn outings like Black Adam, Fast & Furious and Jumanji, delivers a knockout and poignant performance in The Smashing Machine and has all the potential to garner a nomination in the upcoming Academy Awards
‘The Smashing Machine’ shows a different facet (and face) of the Rock
The Smashing Machine is a strange one: a bio-drama about the emotional sensitivities of a professional fighter. Starring Dwayne Johnson, no less, and brought to us by writer-director Benny Safdie, half of the Safdie brothers team that has made such itchy, electrifying films as Good Time (2017) and Uncut Gems (2019).
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