“The Smashing Machine” starts with a long montage of fighter Mark Kerr (Dwayne Johnson) pounding and wailing on various opponents. The camera is oddly divorced from the action, but there’s no denying the fact that Kerr – one of the most famous figures in the early years of mixed martial arts and UFC – is absolutely annihilating these guys. Over the montage, Mark is talking to a reporter, affably going into detail about how much he loves winning. He sounds like the nicest guy in the world, but make no mistake – he is no loser. He will always win.
This is where “The Smashing Machine” starts – where another movie’s middle might be – with Mark on top of the world. He’s in a committed relationship with girlfriend Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt). He’s already addicted to painkillers. And he’s about to lose the first fight of his career.
Directed, written, and edited by Benny Safdie (his first film made without his brother, Josh Safdie), “The Smashing Machine” is based on the 2002 documentary of the same name and feels remarkably similar in its construction. Safdie’s film is observational, almost natural, in feel. While it’s an admirable goal, to make a sports movie that feels so rooted in realism, the attempt is far more interesting than the product. What comes out of this experiment is something completely devoid of tension or emotion that leaves you wondering why you should even care in the first place.
Read Sammie’s full review on Rough Draft
