Cinephile No. 1,338 “The Smashing Machine”
Recommendation: 4/5 Stars
Plot: “The story of mixed-martial arts and UFC champion, Mark Kerr.” -IMDB
Review: I can count on one hand the number of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson films I have watched in my life. On the same hand, I could throw in the number of mixed-martial arts matches I have watched, and the number would still not equal five. Neither has ever appealed to me. As an avid cinephile, what intrigues me is when actors make a tonal shift in their careers. I am fascinated by comedic actors who take on dramatic roles. In the case of “The Smashing Machine,” I found myself enthralled by an actor who has usually stars in action films, making a turn toward more serious fare.
Given my lack of time spent watching Ultimate Fighting Championship matches, so much that happens in this film was brand new to me. I did not know UFC’s history. I did not know anything about Mark Kerr. I had never heard of the Pride Fighting Championships. I did not come to the theater to fill a gap in my understanding, nor did I come to baptize myself in blood, sweat, and tears in the hopes that a UFC fan might emerge on the other side. No, I came to the movies in hopes of being entertained, and to see if Dwayne Johnson could take on this challenge.
While there is a lot to say about the pacing and production of this film, I want to spend this review analyzing Johnson’s performance. While the settings, cinematography, direction, sound, music, and other elements influence how we experience Johnson’s performance in this film, I am interested in dissecting this tonal change in his career.
Within the first scene of this film, we see Mark Kerr does not meet our expectations. He is a gentle giant concerned about the welfare of others. In the heat of battle, he can be menacing, powerful, and fearless, but as soon as he has achieved the thing he treasures most in this world, winning, he morphs into a sweetheart who deeply cares for those he is fighting. For Johnson, who came to fame wrestling, his time in the ring in this film is not a tremendous stretch. Where he shines is outside the ring.
Mark is obsessed with winning, but his chosen occupation has a profound impact on his body. To keep his body in peak physical shape and ready for the next battle, Mark turns to pain medication and drugs. At first, this delicate dance seems manageable, but with mounting pressure to perform and win, addiction is always lingering around the corner. Johnson excels in these moments. In one moment, he can be a kind-hearted man attempting to manage pain. In the next moment, he can be a slow simmering volcano ready to explode if pushed to the brink.
That explosion comes on two fronts. The first front arrives when Mark loses a fight against a fighter who should have been disqualified for a rules violation. The second front arrives in Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt), Mark’s girlfriend. Sometimes, Dawn can be loving and supportive. Other times, Mark’s regiment and constant push toward perfection can easily annoy her. In the locker room, after Mark’s first loss, we get a sense of how volatile their relationship is. This volatility is a mere preview of the hell that will be unleashed.
As you can imagine, Mark doesn’t take the loss well. He pushes himself even harder and begins looking for shortcuts to success. As he spirals down a dangerous road, his addiction grows. In one of the movie’s more dramatic moments, Mark is delivered to death’s door and barely escapes. In the wake of this episode, we get recovery and a promise to change. Again, Johnson shines in these moments. These scenes feel authentic. They are given space to breathe and feel pulled from sources that many of us will never fully understand, if we are lucky.
Exiting recovery, bliss does not last long. Mark is more determined than ever to get himself back in prime fighting shape. This means blocking all distractions, spending time with a new coach, and less time with Dawn. This creates its own slow simmering volcano. When it erupts, we get some of the most shocking, terrifying, and best acted moments in the entire film. We also get a set of movie moments I will not easily forget. In their wake, it seems Johnson’s tonal shift is fully complete.
What happens from there is well-known by UFC fans. It is an ending that felt a little anticlimactic for me, but sometimes life is anticlimactic. While the story told in this film feels like it is a few choices away from being great, there is no denying Johnson’s performance. For me, it is one of the year’s best.
Be good to each other,
Nathan
As a member of the factory, you are taking a stand for human powered creation.
