THE SMASHING MACHINE

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson stars as mixed martial arts (MMA) pioneer Mark Kerr in this biographical drama set in the late 1990’s. Based on real-life events from the 2002 doco ‘The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr’, it chronicles the early days of his career and his emerging dominance in the ring. It also exposes Kerr’s volatile and toxic relationship with girlfriend Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt) as well as his struggle with painkiller addiction. Johnson is unrecognisable as Kerr, with an even more jacked physique than usual, a realistic wig and dark contact lenses. In his most vulnerable and serious role yet, it’s the first time he’s shown his full acting range – or had material to work with that stretched his abilities. It’s a world away from his usual action comedy typecasting. He balances Kerr’s strength and sensitivity with an authentic rawness. Blunt also gives it her all as Dawn, a woman who is mentally unravelling. Both leads carry the film and are flawless in portraying their dysfunctional characters. This is a story about relationships first and fighting second. The fight scenes help push the narrative forward and involve bloody, intense bare-knuckle brutality. There’s a nice touch in the closing scene that brings the film into the present day. A gritty production that punches above its weight category.