Beautiful, interesting, incredible cinema.
THE SMASHING MACHINE
Synopsis
After failing to reach the 1996 Olympics, Mark Kerr rises in MMA, dominating both UFC and Japan’s Pride. Behind the triumphs, he battles opioid addiction, strained love with his wife Dawn, and the pressures of perfection, as recovery deepens rather than eases the fractures in his life.
Synopsis
After failing to reach the 1996 Olympics, Mark Kerr rises in MMA, dominating both UFC and Japan’s Pride. Behind the triumphs, he battles opioid addiction, strained love with his wife Dawn, and the pressures of perfection, as recovery deepens rather than eases the fractures in his life.
Our take
In a knockout performance few others could give, former wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson brings bruised humanity to this story of real-life fighter Mark Kerr. Following the eye-catching success of Uncut Gems and The Curse, Benny Safdie’s searching solo debut hits harder than a right hook.