The Rock’s The Smashing Machine Movie Review 🏆
#a24 #dc #marvel #marvelstudios #spiderman #peacemaker #peacemakerseason2 #hollywood #therock #dccomics #dcuniverse #fantasticfour #disneyplus #ironheart #dcu #mcu #spidermanbrandnewday Dwayne Johnson has spent decades building his career as one of Hollywood’s biggest action stars, but with The Smashing Machine, he takes on a role unlike anything we’ve ever seen from him. Directed by Benny Safdie, the film just premiered at the Venice Film Festival and it’s already being talked about as one of Johnson’s most raw and layered performances. In this film, Johnson plays Mark Kerr, a legendary MMA fighter who rose to fame in the late 1990s, dominating the octagon with an intimidating presence and an undefeated streak. But outside the cage, Kerr struggled with a devastating opioid addiction and a stormy personal life. This is the side of Kerr’s story that The Smashing Machine dives into — not just the victories in the ring, but the pain, the vulnerability, and the battle within. What makes this performance so surprising is how Johnson sheds his larger-than-life persona. Gone is “The Rock.” Instead, Safdie guides him into a stripped-down, fragile version of himself. Prosthetics, wigs, and an almost uncomfortable physical bulk transform Johnson visually, but it’s the emotional honesty that makes his portrayal so compelling. Alongside him, Emily Blunt delivers a powerhouse performance as Dawn Staples, Kerr’s girlfriend and later his wife. Their relationship, filled with love, codependency, and conflict, becomes the true heart of the movie. Their dynamic — tender one moment, explosive the next — grounds the story in something deeply human. It’s not just about fighting opponents in the octagon, but about fighting for connection, for sobriety, and for a life outside the spotlight. Safdie’s approach as a solo director after parting ways with his brother Josh is also worth noting. Instead of crafting a gritty, high-octane drama in the style of Uncut Gems, he creates something gentler, almost documentary-like. The handheld camerawork, real MMA fighters cast as themselves, and even the quiet Tokyo street scenes give the film an authenticity that keeps pulling you in. It doesn’t feel like an overproduced sports biopic designed purely for awards season. Instead, it feels lived-in, natural, and personal. There are moments of rage, addiction, and despair, but also moments of humor and sweetness. Lines like Mark’s joking offer of Advil after a failed attempt to score stronger painkillers, or Dawn’s biting but heartbreaking remark about “leftovers” at dinner, linger long after the credits. In the end, The Smashing Machine isn’t about glorifying violence or addiction, but about showing the fragile humanity underneath. It’s a love story, a cautionary tale, and most of all, a showcase for Johnson’s range as an actor. Critics are already calling this the most layered performance of his career — one that might finally shift how he’s viewed in Hollywood. With A24 releasing the film on October 3rd, it’s safe to say audiences are about to see a side of Dwayne Johnson that they’ve never seen before — vulnerable, bruised, but ultimately unforgettable.
