Film Review – The Smashing Machine (2025)

      The Smashing Machine, 2025.

      Written and directed by Benny Safdie.

      Featuring Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Lyndsey Gavin, Ryan Bader, Zoe Kosovic, Bas Rutten, Oleksandr Usyk, Paul Lazenby, James Moontasri, Yoko Hamamura, Paul Cheng, Andre Tricoteux, Satoshi Ishii, Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu, and Mark Kerr.

      SYNOPSIS:

      This film tells the story of the iconic mixed martial arts and UFC fighter Mark Kerr. Covering a chaotic three-year phase in Mark Kerr's life, The Smashing Machine represents a remarkable shift in filmmaking style from writer/director Benny Safdie, diverging from typical expectations of a mixed martial arts film. As organizations like UFC and Pride earned a reputation for brutal violence during the late 1990s, Benny embraces this brutality while focusing more on crafting a calm, almost surreal character study. The score by Nala Sinephro resembles soothing melodies found in The Legend of Zelda video games, contrasting with the heavy metal associations of such a high-intensity sport.

      This also illustrates the different artistic directions the Safdie brothers have taken, as Benny and Josh pursue individual projects, with Josh set to release an A24-backed film later this year. The Smashing Machine stands out as a refreshingly relaxed film for the sub-genre, although it occasionally suffers from moments of dullness, especially concerning the actual fight scenes. Nevertheless, it is not devoid of typical clichés, even if its subversive approach is wrapped in character exploration.

      The film's study largely hinges on Dwayne Johnson's performance, which is both highly fitting yet misaligned for the role. This creates a psychological tension paralleling that which exists within Mark Kerr himself. Dwayne Johnson excels in terms of acting and physicality; however, he falters in the crucial aspect of embodying a real person in a biopic. The concern isn't whether he bears a likeness to Mark Kerr, which shouldn't be a priority, but rather that for a significant portion of the film, it's challenging to see him as Mark and not just as himself. Despite a solid performance, the film struggles to convince the audience that this truly represents Mark Kerr.

      However, there is a redeeming quality in that it serves as a character study centered on insecurities, which, based on recent festival interviews promoting the film, Dwayne Johnson relates to. The Smashing Machine is more focused on the concepts of acceptance and the realization that even unbeaten fighters eventually face defeat, and how not to let such experiences completely diminish one's self-worth when that worth is often tied to their accomplishments in the ring or octagon. It captures a fall from grace, as Mark grapples with how he would respond to a hypothetical loss.

      Regrettably, the answer to that question is a collection of sports clichés. Mark, who has been sliding into a lifestyle of partying and substance abuse, further descends into addiction. His already troubled relationship with Emily Blunt's Dawn Staples endures numerous ups and downs, which could have served as a solid foundation for a more complete film. Unfortunately, it feels underdeveloped, with Dawn at one point telling Mark that he doesn't truly know her. The audience shares this sentiment, knowing only that their relationship seemed healthier when Mark was using drugs, as he relied on her more, which apparently is tied to her sense of self-worth. Excluding Mark's violent outbursts (thankfully directed at inanimate objects rather than her), their relationship ventures into dark territories that feel unearned within the narrative.

      Aside from that, the film tracks Mark’s path through a Pride tournament that promises a life-altering prize for the victor. His best friend Mark Coleman, portrayed by Ryan Bader, an actual mixed martial artist, adds an authentic touch to the film. It's noteworthy that Mark finds it easier to celebrate his friend’s accomplishments than to express genuine appreciation for Dawn or the happiness she finds in spending time with friends without resorting to drugs. When she accuses him of jealousy, it instead seems more like a triggering issue for Mark, who has cause to be upset, prompting him to call his sponsor. There’s definitely a rich discourse surrounding masculinity, fragility, and self-worth here, but their relationship feels marked by contempt, leading viewers to hope for their separation.

      One of the film’s most disappointing aspects is its lack of insight into mixed martial arts or the UFC, despite an engaging early dialogue addressing the sport's brutality and calls for its ban (including certain banned moves that impede Mark during a fight), ultimately concluding that fighters now earn millions for inflicting potentially irreversible harm on each other. While this is beneficial for them, it feels like an unexpected resolution for The Smashing Machine given everything previously witnessed.

      As a narrative about conquering insecurities, The Smashing Machine succeeds both in terms of plot and thematically, with Dwayne Johnson echoing these ideas