Coração de Lutador - The Smashing Machine

If you want to see an extremely sweaty Johnson, boy do I have a movie for you. In THE SMASHING MACHINE, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson stars as Mark Kerr, an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter before UFC became the UFC it is today. He was a pioneer of the sport, but between 1997-2000, Kerr had a lot going on. Struggles with his conflicting relationship with Dawn (Emily Blunt) and with his personal demons. This movie is...fine, but I do have a few problems with it. It successfully avoids the typical tropes you usually see in sports movies, but it doesn't replace that with anything of substance. The screenplay is flat, the characters feel like ideas of people instead of actual people (which they actually are). Don't get me wrong, the acting performances here are impressive. Blunt is always great, but Johnson actually puts in the work here, much more than his signature smolder. Nothing pulled me in. I needed more feels. It's shot like a documentary, keeping the audience at arms-length. They go for a more observational approach, going from life event to life event, not breaking the surface of anything. I wanted to be immersed in Mark's world, but I never was. The music, while interesting, was overbearing at times. I like the duality between Mark the soft-spoken, kind-hearted guy, and Mark the smashing machine. The makeup is amazing, successfully transforming a rock into a smashing machine. Overall, THE SMASHING MACHINE is sadly underwhelming, but I love the acting. A24 took a swing with this, sport fans might enjoy this, but I found it only alright.

OK, I just got back from seeing it. Overall, I think it's alright

The movie definitely has some upsides. The most obvious is that The Rock gives a solid performance. The best-acted scene is the one where he consoles his suicidal partner in the bathroom of their home. Emily Blunt never looked sexier; she reminded me a bit of Marissa Tomei here. The fight scenes, which occur mostly in Japan, are well-done. The in-ring action looks real; the setting and props look visually aesthetic and authentic. An MMA fan would likely devour those parts. Additionally - I like the closing scene, involving the real-life Mark Kerr.

But many problems remain ... the most obvious flaw, which lingers from start to end, is the movie's presentation doesn't fit. The color and filter give the sense that the movie takes place in the 1960s or 1970s. In truth, the events of the movie occur from 1997 - 2000. I must say: this movie does not look like the late 1990s at all

The movie's pacing is quite slow. The first hour feels closer to 2 hours. The movie doesn't include a rising action and climax like a regular story. Rather, the movie leans more into a straight historical telling. An accurate description is that the movie feels kinda like an academic piece. I think a bunch of viewers might find themselves yawning during the movie

There is a lot of mundane content. We watch his wife when she enjoys an amusement park ride; we watch The Rock buy a gift in a Japanese store; we watch The Rock make a smoothie in his kitchen; we watch The Rock look at a sunset through an airplane window; we watch The Rock trim a cactus plant and clear his pool of leaves etc. Kerr also doesn't have a charming or interesting personality to liven these scenes ... the harsh impression is that Kerr probably didn't have a story worth telling on the big screen

The Rock and Emily Blunt, again, exhibit good acting. But the domestic bickering scenes get so repetitive, as some critics have noted. Some areas of the film could have been covered more, such as Kerr's friendship with his trainer, his drug addiction, and his rehab recovery efforts.

6.5/10.

• Rating: 7/10
• Watched on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025 (first watch)
• Format: regular theatre

I really enjoyed how raw and authentic this movie feels, so much so that at times it feels more like a documentary than a film. The cinematography is framed to capture every moment, especially the fight sequences, in a way that makes you feel as if you're right there in the arena, weaving through the crowd to get a glimpse of the action.

This is easily Dwayne Johnson's best acting performance. Nothing more needs to be said. Emily Blunt and Johnson also share great chemistry, which makes their portrayal of a fighting and complicated couple feel believable. Casting the two of them together was a brilliant choice.

That said, the story itself felt like it was missing something. Even though it's based on a true story, which naturally limits how much can be changed or dramatized, it didn't quite work as a fully fleshed-out narrative. It almost felt like the film was less about telling a story and more about recognizing Mike Kerr and his influence, which is admirable but didn't fully land as a movie. That's why it felt like there was lots of filler sequences that had nothing happening in them that would push the plot somewhere or benefit the plot somehow.

On the other hand, the jazzy, drum-heavy soundtrack was a fantastic choice. It reminded me of Spencer (2021) in the way it mirrored and enhanced the protagonist's emotions, calm yet angry, distracted yet driven, slow yet fast-paced.

The Smashing Machine is a powerful and emotionally gripping sports drama that goes far beyond the world of fighting. The film doesn't just showcase the brutality of combat sports-it dives deep into the struggles, sacrifices, and humanity behind them.

One of the standout elements is the acting, especially by Dwayne Johnson. He delivers one of his most mature and layered performances to date. Johnson portrays the complexity of a fighter torn between personal demons and professional battles with both strength and vulnerability. His performance adds real heart to the story, making the audience feel every triumph and every setback.

The storytelling is raw yet inspiring, with strong direction and a grounded script that highlights not just the physical toll of the sport but also the emotional and psychological weight carried by athletes.

Overall, The Smashing Machine is more than just a sports film-it's an intense character study filled with grit, heart, and unforgettable performances. Highly recommended, especially if you appreciate powerful acting and stories about resilience.

The movie has the frame of a good biopic but never quite lands. The Rock pushes himself more than ever, yet the story doesn't feel worthwhile.

There's a thread about two best friends in a fighting league, but it gets sidelined for a tired relationship arc we've seen countless times.

Ironic, really, for a film built around the idea of never achieving greatness.