Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt and Ryan Bader
Directed by: Benny Safdie
Rated: R
Running Time: 123 minutes
A24
Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Every now and then, a film comes along that isn’t great in the traditional sense, but it features a performance that redefines how we view an actor. “The Whale,” “The Wrestler” and “Leaving Las Vegas” are the gold standard here. These films are remembered as much for their raw performances as their narratives. Add “The Smashing Machine” to that list.
Set between 1997 and 2000, the film follows real-life MMA fighter Mark Kerr (Dwayne Johnson), a powerhouse trying to stay relevant through the early days of the UFC and the Japanese PRIDE league. While Kerr trains and fights with intensity, he also battles drug addiction, feelings of inadequacy, and a volatile relationship with his on-again, off-again girlfriend Dawn (Emily Blunt).
“The Smashing Machine” doesn’t reinvent biopics. The cinematography and storytelling are fairly standard, even pedestrian at times. What elevates the movie is Johnson and Blunt’s fully committed performances. Their love is messy, obsessive, and often toxic. Every confrontation, every long silence, feels lived in. These are career-best moments for both actors. Blunt may actually be the true powerhouse of the film with her wild emotional swings, but Johnson isn’t too far behind. Even in his quieter moments, we sense and see the tension building inside the gentle giant.
Those expecting a deep dive into Kerr’s addiction or the psychology behind his relationship may leave disappointed. For that, you’ll need to queue up the 2002 HBO documentary “The Smashing Machine.” Director Benny Safdie clearly admires Kerr, but he often chooses mood over clarity. The film hints at trauma and dependency, but rarely explores them with depth. Johnson’s moments of vacant staring and trembling silence, while sometimes excellent in their own regard, beg for more context.
Still, as far as sports biopics go, this one makes a compelling choice: it zooms in on an inherently unheroic and specific three-year window. Most sports films focus on triumph or redemption, because that’s how a good sports movie is supposed to be, right? “The Smashing Machine” is more interested in the fracture point, when greatness begins to crumble. It’s a quiet descent from invincible to vulnerable, and Johnson sells every inch of that slide. While it may not be Safdie’s strongest effort, “The Smashing Machine” could be a defining moment in Johnson’s acting career. It’s not a knockout of a film, but it lands where it counts.