Dwayne Johnson turns in a revelatory performance as Mark Kerr in the engrossing film The Smashing Machine, directed by Benny Safdie. The movie takes an unconventional look at former Mixed Martial Arts fighter Mark Kerr, focusing on a turbulent few years in his life as he battles addiction and a toxic co-dependent relationship. This is a dramatic departure for Johnson, trading charisma for raw vulnerability.
"Instead of presenting the usual paint by numbers biopic, Safdie chooses to focus on just a turbulent few years in his life. "— Ray Manukay
🎬 Cast & Crew
- Director/Writer: Benny Safdie
- Starring: Dwayne Johnson (Mark Kerr), Emily Blunt (Dawn Staples)
- Supporting: Ryan Bader, Oleksandr Usyk, Bas Rutten
- Cinematography: Maceo Bishop
The Vision
The movie has a documentary-type feel, presenting both dramatic and everyday moments to give the audience a backstage look at the early days of MMA. This is not a Rocky-type tale; it is a movie about perseverance, not redemption, capturing unflinching realism through 16mm and VHS aesthetic choices. Benny Safdie’s gritty, naturalistic direction strips away the Hollywood gloss to reveal the bruising reality of the sport.
🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts
- Prosthetic Transformation: Dwayne Johnson spent hours in the makeup chair with legend Kazu Hiro to achieve Kerr's specific facial structure.
- Real World Ties: The film features real MMA legends like Bas Rutten playing themselves, adding to the period authenticity.
- A24 Pivot: This marks Johnson's lowest-budget film in decades ($50M), signaling a massive shift toward serious, prestige drama.
✅ Pros
- Johnson's career-best dramatic performance.
- Benny Safdie’s gritty, naturalistic direction.
- Exceptional use of 16mm/VHS aesthetic for immersion.
❌ Cons
- May feel too bleak for fans of typical sports movies.
- Deliberately slow, meditative pacing.
- Lacks the traditional "hero's journey" structure.
Full Review
Dwayne Johnson turns in a revelatory performance as Mark Kerr in the engrossing film The Smashing Machine, directed by Benny Safdie. The movie takes an unconventional look at the former Mixed Martial Arts fighter; instead of presenting a "paint-by-numbers" biopic, Safdie chooses to focus on just a few turbulent years in Kerr's life as he battles addiction and a toxic, co-dependent relationship with his girlfriend, played by an excellent Emily Blunt.
The film carries a documentary-style feel, presenting both dramatic and everyday moments while giving the audience a backstage look at the unglamorous early days of MMA. Although the film succeeds as an excellent character study, the story is less successful as an inspirational, crowd-pleasing sports tale. This perhaps explains the film's cold reception by general audiences.
Admittedly, this is all by design. It is clear that Safdie and the filmmakers weren't interested in delivering a Rocky-type story; this is a movie about perseverance, not redemption. What is also clear is that The Smashing Machine is an outstanding showcase for Dwayne Johnson as an actor. The film features an award-worthy performance from him that deserves end-of-the-year kudos. This turn will no doubt lead to future opportunities for Johnson to stretch his acting muscles in similarly complex roles.
Definitely check this film out if you are in the mood for a more somber, challenging affair. It is a successful project that deserves more attention.
🏆 Final Verdict
A transformative moment for its lead actor and a bruising, realistic look at the costs of combat. The Smashing Machine is a heavy but rewarding character study.
View original review on Letterboxd
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