The Smashing Machine Review
Benny Safdie's solo directorial debut disappoints after the electrifying work he created alongside brother Josh.
Dwayne Johnson in The Smashing Machine. Credit: Eric Zachanowich / A24
I love the Safdie brothers. While I was disappointed by their decision to work independently, I was cautiously optimistic about the films they were making. Their collaboration peaked with Uncut Gems, a cinematic anxiety attack showcasing Adam Sandler's dramatic range, and every project before it was excellent. Safdie brothers’ movies are electric. The Smashing Machine, unfortunately, lacks that signature Safdie energy entirely.
Unlike their previous fictional narratives, this follows the true story of MMA pioneer Mark Kerr (Dwayne Johnson) during his late-90s prime. We track the former college wrestler from 1997 to 2000 as he dominates tournaments across the U.S., Brazil, and Japan before suffering his first devastating loss. The defeat triggers a downward spiral as painkiller addiction and relationship turmoil with partner Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt) compound his troubles.
Emily Blunt, Dwayne Johnson in The Smashing Machine. Credit: Eric Zachanowich / A24
Safdie retains elements from earlier work with his brother. The gritty documentary-style cinematography creates authentic immersion that often makes you feel like an intruder witnessing deeply private moments. But the unsettling tension and controlled chaos that defined the Safdie brothers' filmography are absent here. Aside from a few exceptional scenes, the result is a conventional sports biopic.
The fights carry an air of brutal authenticity, shot with detachment, exclusively from outside the ring, as spectators present might witness them rather than delivering traditional sports movie theatrics inside the ring. This creates a distance from the violence, though the fights ultimately carry less weight than the interpersonal drama.
Dwayne Johnson in The Smashing Machine. Credit: Eric Zachanowich / A24
Johnson’s performance represents the film's biggest liability. While he improves in the second half, I rarely found his performance emotionally authentic. That said, I really admire the risk he’s taking with this film. Johnson famously includes clauses in contracts that prevent his character from losing or looking weak, and tackling such a vulnerable, damaged character shows genuine ambition. Emily Blunt elevates every scene as Kerr's volatile girlfriend; some of her scenes against Johnson are among the best in the film. Surprisingly, non-actor and actual MMA fighter Ryan Bader impresses as Mark Coleman, Kerr's friend and occasional opponent.
Throughout viewing, I kept comparing this unfavorably to last year's The Iron Claw, a wrestling biopic that delivered the raw emotional resonance I felt was lacking here. Josh Safdie's solo effort, Marty Supreme, releases later this year; coincidentally, it's also a sports biopic, and I hope it’s better than this one.
The Smashing Machine opens in theaters on October 3rd.
