The Smashing Machine criticism: Dwayne Johnson wrestles with himself

We have long since known that Dwayne Johnson is a stark paint that likes to let his muscles play. But where suddenly this scalp hair comes from? Don't worry – it's not his own. Nevertheless, he could not do without it, because this time he hatched into a role based on a real model. He embodies the US wrestler and mixed martial arts fighter Mark Kerr-a task that should not be too difficult for the wrestling professional “The Rock”.

Benny Safdie on the road all alone

In fact, the suggestion for this project went from him and he knew how to inspire the indie director Benny Safdie in 2019. Safdie likes to fall into extreme situations and loves to build up pressure properly; He already demonstrated this with Robert Pattinson (“Good Time”) and Adam Sandler (“The Black Diamond”). His brother Josh also worked as a co-director in the works just mentioned, while Benny's new biopic was staged alone.

An inexperienced loser

Here is really fighting with hard bandages and Kerr lives up to his artist name: if he wrote an opponent to the ground, he sees his face into a bloody mass with a few punches. It goes well until it happens for him – he loses. After opiative painkillers, he has already reached beforehand, but now the addiction takes over and he soon sinks out of self -pity in complete apathy, from which his – even rather unstable – girlfriend Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt) cannot get him out. The situation even increases to a life -threatening state.

Very close to the emotional event

“The Smashing Machine” will soon make it clear to us: This man is only wrestlers outwards, but is actually the decisive struggle with himself – and a few nerve -wracking arguments also take place in the living room at home with his partner. It is often only a short way from tenderness to screaming and suicide attempts. Safdie always stays very close to the action with its proven documentary narrative style and captures great emotions.

A friend continues to fight

As a Kerr's reflection, we experience the career of his somewhat older friend and colleague Mark Coleman, who also tinkers on his own career and tries a comeback to fight for the top. Incidentally, his actor Ryan Bader is also a mixed martial arts fighter in real life. Where Kerr fails, Coleman could be successful – but it may not really count because the priorities have shifted.

The real Kerr drops by

In most cases, biopics are shot about already deceased, but in this case it is different, because Kerr is still in the best health at the age of 56 – and now even has a bald head (maybe he wanted to adapt to The Rock in return). In the very last film scene we have reached today and watch a man shop in the supermarket and stow the goods in his author. This is actually the real Kerr.

The film is clearly the proof that a combination of muscles and headhair Dwayne Johnson spurs on top performance. He has never seen it as a better actor. But Emily Blunt is also a congenial partner and, after the adventure bled in the Disney film “Jungle Cuise”, can now develop really great acting on The Rock's side.

4 out of 5 kneecks colliding with skull bones