“the Smashing Machine” Deconstructs the Sports Biopic with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Vulnerable Performance
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The new film, The Smashing Machine, currently in theaters, boldly attempts to dismantle the conventions of both the sports biopic and the action genres, offering a complex portrait of mixed martial arts pioneer mark Kerr and a surprisingly nuanced performance from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Distributed by Diamond Films, the film, directed by Benny Safdie, doesn’t aim for inspirational triumph, but rather a raw, frequently enough unsettling exploration of a brutal sport and the man at its center.
The film consciously avoids the typical sports film tropes – the glorious victories,the athlete’s all-consuming sacrifice,and sentimental celebrations. Instead, the film presents a compelling contradiction: a man of immense physical power grappling with surprising sensitivity.
As one observer noted, Kerr is portrayed as someone with unexpected vulnerabilities, desiring a whimsical cactus resembling the Road Runner and exhibiting anxieties about even simple carnival rides.this is where Johnson’s performance truly shines. The actor, often associated with larger-than-life action roles, taps into a quiet insecurity, a vulnerability hinted at even in recent discussions surrounding his actions within WWE, that resonates deeply in scenes where kerr simply enjoys a sunset or thoughtfully selects a gift for his partner.
Recreating the Dawn of MMA
The film transports viewers to the late 1990s, a pivotal period in the emergence of mixed martial arts.Johnson embodies Mark Kerr as he competes in the Brazilian vale Tudo circuit, the early days of the UFC, and the Japanese PRIDE Fighting championships.The fight sequences themselves are deliberately unconventional.maceo Bishop’s cinematography eschews the typical focus on suffering and dramatic close-ups of sweat and strain. Rather, the camera circles the ring, sometimes obscuring the full action, while Nala Sinephro’s jazzy score underscores the psychological pressure and internal conflicts Kerr faces.
Despite this stylistic choice, the film effectively conveys the visceral impact of the blows and the underlying passion that fuels the sport. However, the film’s ambition is hampered by a script that, while aiming for subversion, struggles with cohesion.
A Fragmented Narrative
The narrative of The Smashing Machine feels episodic, jumping between themes without fully developing them. Initially, the film appears to be a meditation on the brutality of MMA and its appeal to both participants and audiences. It then shifts focus to a historical exploration of the sport’s early days, before delving into Kerr’s codependent relationship with Dawn (Emily Blunt) and his struggles with addiction. A subplot involving Kerr’s friendship with Mark Coleman (Ryan Bader) and a potential fight between the two feels underdeveloped.
While these elements all relate to Kerr’s psychological state, their connections are tenuous, leaving the film feeling disjointed. The romantic relationship, in particular, lacks depth. Emily Blunt delivers a powerful performance as Dawn, a confrontational woman who consistently points out her partner’s flaws, but the script fails to explore her own motivations or what draws her to Kerr in the first place. This omission is frustrating, as Safdie occasionally hints at intriguing ideas about couple communication that remain unexplored. Consequently,Blunt’s explosive performance feels somewhat isolated,and the film’s reliance on expository dialog – including a particularly clunky scene involving Bas Rutten – further detracts from the narrative flow.
Celebrating the Pioneers, Despite the Flaws
Despite its shortcomings, The Smashing Machine manages to achieve something notable: a palpable respect for the pioneers of mixed martial arts and a celebration of their contribution to the sport’s global success. The film’s setting is meticulously crafted, and Johnson’s central performance elevates the material. However, it’s clear that the story had the potential for far greater depth and emotional resonance.
Ultimately, The Smashing Machine is a shaky but enterprising subversion of the sports biopic, a film that prioritizes atmosphere and character study over conventional narrative structure. It’s a flawed but engaging look at a brutal sport and the complex man who helped define it.
