Rating: 3.5/5
Synopsis:
Dwayne Johnson flexes his acting chops by jumping into an A24 film. He plays Mark Kerr, one of the pioneers of MMA fighting in the US. “The Smashing Machine” details a period in his life where he tries to balance his fighting career, opioid addictions, and complicated relationship with his girlfriend. Mark must make choices that will determine the direction of his life in this biographical sports drama.
Positives:
I’ll admit I’ve never been the biggest fan of Dwayne Johnson as an actor. He’s gotten comfortable playing the cocky leading man with a pearly white smile. Even when he’s attempted to work outside his comfort zone, I still haven’t enjoyed his work. Credit where it’s due though…he does good work in “The Smashing Machine”. Johnson clearly wants to challenge himself as an actor, diving head first into the persona of Mark Kerr. His mannerisms often resemble those of an entirely different person, displaying Kerr’s hulking stature convincingly. He also showcases the kindness Kerr was capable of. We are able to see that behind the addiction and dust ups with his girlfriend that he is a man full of generosity. Kerr’s competitive edge is conveyed nicely as he often fights for his own rights within the sport. Since the Japanese had large influence in the MMA circle, he had to work without an agent to secure opportunities to grow the sport.
Kerr’s desire to be a champion is also portrayed well. Each calculation he makes in his personal life highlights his desire to be the best, whether it be his picky diet or his desire to have his home set up exactly how he wants it. Johnson’s scenes with Emily Blunt are the strongest in the film, allowing him to deliver passionate defenses of the character and why he does what he does. The movie has a neat look to it, mirroring the aesthetic of an old school documentary. Whether it be the grainy film or the interesting camera angles, this helps the audience feel as if they’re a part of the time period. Credit to director Benny Safdie for taking a creative risk in presenting the film in an unconventional way. The makeup team also deserves recognition for making Johnson look like an entirely different person.
Negatives:
“The Smashing Machine” is a good film, but it could have been a great one. Although Benny Safdie takes some creative risks in the presentation, it leaves portions of the story out that could have helped us understand Mark Kerr’s struggles on a deeper level. Johnson is good in most regards but fails to capture the strain Kerr displays in real life. The film shows us that he gets addicted to opioids but never dives into the why. It shows us he has a complicated relationship with his girlfriend but doesn’t give us enough information on either of them to understand why it boils to the point of explosion. We also gloss over most of the evolution of the sport. Part of Kerr’s legacy is how impactful he was in establishing the MMA as a viable source of fighting entertainment in the US market. We get small glimpses into this side of Kerr’s life but never enough to understand why he is so passionate about growing the sport. His relationship with his best friend is good enough but both of them made strong efforts to expand the sport, which could have made their chemistry in the film even stronger. It almost feels as if the story jumps around between different parts of Mark’s life without giving us much insight into the events in between. Perhaps more about the character’s life and struggles could have helped us connect with him more.
Conclusion:
I enjoyed Dwayne Johnson’s transition to dramatic acting more than expected. He clearly wants to challenge himself to be a more serious actor. The film’s creative style is to be commended for presenting a different kind of sports drama. In doing so, the film omits important details about Kerr’s life and the impact that he had on the sport. I feel that diving further into his psychological torment could have made the story stronger and provide Johnson with a greater challenge. Still, this is a watchable sports drama that might get Dwayne Johnson more serious acting opportunities.
