Alongside Seven Bucks and director Bennie Safdie, A24 expands its catalog of sports dramas
with ‘The Smashing Machine‘. Dwayne Johnson (as Mark Kerr) and Emily Blunt (as Kerr’s
girlfriend, Dawn Staples) share the screen again after the 2021 movie Jungle Cruise. Beginning in a documentary style, the film tells the emotional story of MMA fighter Mark Kerr at
the height of his career, from 1997-2000, when Kerr was considered a pioneer in the
controversial sport of Mixed Martial Arts. Through interview style and fast, brutal fight scenes the story keeps pace with Kerr’s rise in MMA. Indeed, Kerr quickly showed dominance in size and brutality, earning him the nickname Smashing Machine. You get the sense of the making of a giant until the fractured worlds of Mark Kerr- fighter, friend, partner, addict- crash into one, as he begins to confront the troubling
aspects of his life.
Blunt is no stranger to dramatic roles (Sicario, A Quiet Place), and crushes it as Dawn Staples.
She’s an anti-hero, even a villain at times, who is unused to Kerr losing. Staples seemingly
struggles with Kerr needing more than she has to give in their on and off, complex relationship. Most notably The Rock is not in this film. Go ahead, look for him. Johnson is so brilliantly
immersed in this role that he is hard to find within the layers of prosthetics, makeup and raw,
dramatic acting. It’s an excellent performance from Johnson that I’m excited to see more of in the
future. The Smashing Machine does well with entertainment and artistry. Johnson, Blunt, and the full
cast (which includes other professional fighters) deliver an intimate sense of realism.
Distinctive shots and lighting force you to see deep into Kerr’s world and succeed in conjunction
with Johnson’s embodiment. Narration and music layered over montage build tension, unease,
and an undercurrent of emotion. At times, it softens brutal blows (emotional and physical),
confirming that as a fighter, Kerr is not just a machine. He may be troubled, but he has respect
for his opponents and love for his sport. The foray into Kerr’s psyche invites you to witness the
whole person, flaws and all. Kerr’s flaws humanize him and even make you want to root for him.
Victory is a bloody smile at the start of the smashing machine. By the time the film has run the
physical and emotional gauntlet, it’s natural to expect a triumphant rise for a fallen giant. The
Smashing Machine doesn’t fail here, but Kerr’s battles aren’t just with other brutal MMA fighters.
He’s battling his personal demons. In the end maybe he stops fighting himself. The win is a film
that’s a visually gripping and well acted knockout.
Rate this film (4/4) 🍿
