The Smashing Machine

10/9/2025

Mickey O’Rourke had a go in 2008 and Orlando Bloom earlier this year in “The Cut”, so now it’s the turn of Dwayne Johnson to bulk up and out to deliver a biopic of UFC pioneer Mark Kerr. This is all set at a time when he can make a living for himself and girlfriend Dawn (Emily Blunt) but there are no Ferraris and swimming pools for them. For that he has to win the Grand Prix in Japan and that involves his embarking on the ultimate in fitness and endurance regimes, aided by his own chemical romances that frequently seem to render him little better than catatonic. Domestic dysfunction ensues as he has to face up to his responsibilities and settle his priorities before what he has comes crumbling down. It’s a true story, but it just didn’t engage me at all. Johnson comes across well as the am

10/18/2026

(CASTELLANO) Una mole rota dentro de una película que parece más barata de lo que es Me interesó más por Mark Kerr y por Dwayne Johnson que por la película en sí. Lo primero que llama la atención es evidente: Johnson está irreconocible. No solo por la caracterización, el pelo o el rostro, sino porque por momentos consigue borrar bastante bien la imagen de "The Rock". Aquí no está haciendo de estrella invencible, sino de un hombre enorme por fuera y bastante hundido por dentro. La película acierta cuando se queda cerca de esa contradicción. Mark Kerr puede parecer una máquina de destrozar rivales, pero fuera del ring transmite cansancio, dependencia, inseguridad y una fragilidad que no encaja con el cuerpo que vemos. Ahí es donde más funciona: cuando muestra a un tipo construido para agua

10/24/2026

A well done fourth wall break? Sign me up. A slow burn but a good slow burn? I never thought I’d see real tears/misty eyes from Dwayne Johnson. I truly think this performance shows he has real potential. I’m not sure if he has zero range or he was really good at portraying someone who has no emotion. Either way, this was better than anything else he’s done. Ryan Bader was an incredible supporting actor. I’m impressed by Dwayne Johnson and I wasn’t expecting to be.