Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has made a Hollywood name for himself playing blockbuster characters in which he seems invincible.
But in The Smashing Machine, which debuted at the Venice Film Festival, Johnson gives his most emotional and vulnerable performance to date – a role that critics say may make him a contender for an Academy Award.
Directed by Benny Safdie, the independent drama is a made-up interpretation of the life of Mark Kerr, a mixed martial arts (MMA) trailblazer in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Loosely based on an HBO documentary that aired in 2002, the movie examines not only Kerr’s success inside the cage but also the damage his rough-and-tumble career did to his body, loved ones, and psyche.
Johnson is also a natural choice for the part physically, his commanding presence bringing Kerr’s supremacy in the sport to life. With a rare full head of hair for the role, he lends authenticity and raw physicality to the screen. But what makes his performance truly outstanding is the emotional complexity – revealing Kerr not only as a warrior but as a man who is breaking down.
Partly set in Japan, where Kerr regularly fought prior to MMA’s popularity in mainstream U.S. culture, the film shows his fight against addiction, isolation, and tension in his relationship with girlfriend Dawn, played by Emily Blunt. Their explosive arguments provide a graphic contrast to Johnson and Blunt’s breezy coupledom in Disney’s Jungle Cruise (2021). Blunt serves to stabilize the narrative as Kerr’s conflicts at home rival those in the ring.
The film also explores Kerr’s complex friendship with fellow MMA fighter Mark Coleman, portrayed by real-life fighter Ryan Bader. Their relationship is challenged by the constant threat of being compelled to fight each other, reinforcing the isolating and punishing nature of the sport.
Safdie, the Uncut Gems and Good Time director, contributes his characteristic intensity to the endeavor, though The Smashing Machine is not as manic as before. Instead, it sticks to building low-key tension, capturing both the physical violence of MMA and the private despair that dogged Kerr beyond the cage.
For Johnson, the role represents a significant career change. Traditionally hailed as a charismatic action hero, he shows a dramatic chops that have the potential to transform his Hollywood career. Critics in Venice are already abuzz with talk of potential Oscar nods.
Ultimately, The Smashing Machine is more concerned with the cost to the individual of pursuing greatness than it is with winning inside the ring. Even the title of the film poses the question: is the machine Kerr, or is life the force that inevitably smashes all of us?
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
