For all of you fellow WWE fans complaining that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson wasn’t at WrestleMania (and yet Travis Scott was, WTF?), dude is busy!!! Johnson has his first real dramatic role on the way, Benny Safdie’s Mark Kerr biopic The Smashing Machine, and this is a big one for the actor’s career. Like it or not, he’s still got a lot of critics out there, especially lately as his image has faltered somewhat, so proving he can carry a film like this is crucial.
A24 has dropped the first trailer for The Smashing Machine, and you can see them trying to present it as a potential awards contender. Reports from a few people who have seen it say the film is actually kind of weird in tone and presentation, but until I see it for myself I can’t confirm anything. That said, I think you can see a little bit of what they’re talking about. Johnson’s massive bulk looks ill-fitting, and his offbeat demeanor is strange given the serious vibe of the trailer. Johnson is virtually unrecognizable, though, so if his performance is good it could draw raves.
The film follows the life and career of MMA fighter and UFC champion Mark Kerr. Some of his story was previously told in the excellent documentary, The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr. One of the key scenes from that film, with Kerr having a memorable waiting room interaction, is recreated in the trailer. A nice touch.
Also starring Emily Blunt and multiple professional fighters, including Oleksandr Usyk, Bas Rutten, and Ryan Bader, The Smashing Machine opens in theaters on October 3rd.
