Movie Review: The Smashing Machine
Screened at Stockholm International Film Festival 2025
One-liner: This sports biopic is compelled by a versatile lead performance, a powerful true story, directorial flair authentic mis-en-scene and a nostalgic feel.
The Smashing Machine is a sports biopic based on the life of Mark Kerr, a pioneer in the MMA discipline whose life story makes for a fascinating chronicle. While physicality is a prerequisite for this kind of film, the focus here isn’t entirely on the fight; instead, it strikes a balance between Kerr’s tumultuous home life and the ring. For a muscular and well-built contender, it seems like an obvious decision for someone like Dwayne Johnson to assume the role.
However, this isn’t an ordinary sports biopic. Occupying a similar space to Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler starring Mickey Rourke, there is a darker edge and prickly undertone to this film. We find “The Rock” subverting his trademark charisma and heroic disposition for something grittier and more complex, aided by facial prosthetics and gaining 15 kgs of muscle. He presents a divergent version of himself, almost unrecognisable in this transformative performance.
Instead of working his natural charm, Johnson works against it to adopt a downbeat demeanour. He discovers a vulnerable and needy side to his larger-than-life personality, tapping into what feels like an alter ego. Johnson reinvents himself for this role, proving there is much more to his acting repertoire than we expected – much like how Adam Sandler reclaimed his dramatic credibility with Uncut Gems.
Ironically, the opposite effect seems to happen for Emily Blunt. While she is somewhat unrecognisable at first, she struggles to hit the mark with an equally uncharacteristic performance. It was an inspired move to cast the Jungle Cruise co-stars, who naturally share a history, yet the underlying tension and high-conflict nature of their dynamic has a campy air that clashes with the film’s attempt to be an unobtrusive, fly-on-the-wall drama. This difficult balancing act is the work of Benny Safdie, who brings a sense of nostalgia and wonder to this retrospective set in the 90s.
“I love the thought of coming home to you…”
Instead of leaning into the awkward fashion and stylings of the age, a raw authenticity carries through, capturing the sport in its infancy while it was still finding its feet in terms of audience, market, and rules. This curious tale about the pioneers redoubles the efforts of this character portrait, depicting Kerr as a “hulk of a man” with a fragile, emotional core.
This strange tension keeps the character compelling as substance abuse issues create a volatile situation. It’s a heartbreaking story of a giant in his most vulnerable state, leaning on peers and friends while trying to stay on top of the game, maintain his marriage, and strive to become a champion. While the subject matter is somewhat conventional, it is brought home through authentic mise-en-scène and a strong performance from Johnson. As a Benny Safdie film, there are bound to be curious artistic choices, but The Smashing Machine finds a unique way to tell its story, straddling both arthouse and commercial lanes.
One of the most inspired choices, besides casting “The Rock”, is the reliance on a jazzy soundtrack. The genre is a clever representation of Mark Kerr’s life story: somewhat haphazard, a little dreamy, and going with the flow, while capturing the essence of the era. This soundtrack goes a long way toward reinventing the typical sports drama with a more elemental and softer edge, landing some powerful and moving moments.
The Smashing Machine is another strong effort from Benny Safdie, effectively telling Kerr’s story with sensitivity, flair, and artistic license, without overhyping or glorifying. While a little manic at times – fueled by the sparring between Johnson and Blunt – the film serves as an honest portrayal of fame, pressure, and the struggle to keep it together when your world’s falling apart.
Dabs of humour counterbalance the raw intensity of the drama as this singular sports biopic tells its cautionary tale with empathy and without pulling punches. Both nuggety and tender, The Smashing Machine is an odd mix that works, capturing snapshots from across Mark Kerr’s career and celebrating one of the sport’s first global stars.
The bottom line: Transformative
