Director: Benny Safdie
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt
2h 14m
"The Smashing Machine" offers ringside seats in the chaotic and brutal world of the early 1990s mixed martial arts through the eyes of a dominant yet troubled figure, Mark Kerr. Known as "The Smashing Machine," Kerr was a two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament champion and one of the pioneers of the sport, bridging the gap between wrestling and martial arts in the late 1990s. The film marks a dramatic departure for Dwayne Johnson, the former WWE superstar and global action icon, who delivers a career-best performance. Johnson, under heavy makeup, embodies Kerr with a dedication that sheds the familiar Hollywood action hero persona for which he is known. Johnson delivers a rugged yet nuanced and affecting portrayal of a man defined by the intensity of his profession.
Writer/Director Benny Safdie's biopic chronicles Kerr's rise as a professional fighter and subsequent struggles with addiction, tracking his arrival in the high-stakes PRIDE organization in Japan in the 1990s. The film takes a raw spectator's perspective on Kerr's dominance, a seemingly unstoppable machine in the ring with a decisive mentality for winning. However, as the demands intensify, both in the ring with lingering injuries and in personal life with his tumultuous relationship with girlfriend Dawn (Emily Blunt), the story centers on Kerr's addiction to prescription painkillers and, like any cinematic sports story, the comeback.
Johnson delivers an emotional and imposing performance that is undeniably the film's centerpiece. Johnson's commitment to embodying the fighter goes beyond the prosthetics and the muscles; he captures the duality of Kerr—a powerhouse competitor chasing perfection in the ring, yet profoundly vulnerable emotionally and ultimately isolated outside of it. The moments showcasing Kerr's battle with substance use, primarily his addiction to pain medication, are depicted with a rawness that exemplifies Johnson's performance. He successfully portrays the desperation and the obsessive drive of a Kerr, who sacrifices and destroys himself physically and emotionally to remain the best in a sport.
Despite the intensity of Johnson's performance, "The Smashing Machine" often feels emotionally distant, never willing to venture into the difficult moments to connect the character in a real way to the trials and tribulations that define the journey. Safdie captures the spectacle of the prize fight with unflinching realism; the brutality hits in a way that you can feel the pain, and the realistic fighting moments are incredible. Yet, once the moments in the ring are over, the film seems hesitant to venture beyond the ropes and behind the curtain. The viewer is left feeling like a spectator watching the fight on television or in the stands, observing the significant, brutal events, the wins, the relapses, and the dramatic confrontations, all of which are presented in broad strokes. We witness the downfall but rarely get to immerse ourselves in the quiet, agonizing process of healing, the personal pain, or the daily struggle of recovery, sobriety, and preparation for the subsequent brutal encounter. The film outlines the significant moments in Kerr's life, but seldom delves into the core of the man, the parts that make the machine operate.
Ultimately, "The Smashing Machine" serves as a testament to Dwayne Johnson's ability to handle dramatic material, a definite career highlight for the actor. However, aside from the performance, the film struggles to find its emotional target. While it captures the brutal exterior of professional mixed martial arts, it rarely dedicates the time to exploring the deeper, more complex battles of dependency and identity that Mark Kerr faced in every aspect of his life as a modern gladiator.
Monte's Rating
3.00 out of 5.00
