Dwayne Johnson (Mark Kerr) in ‘The Smashing Machine,’ directed by Benny Safdie.
Le Monde’s opinion – Must See
Good Time (2017), Uncut Gems (2020): Together with his brother, Josh, Benny Safdie has co-directed some of the most feverish and anxiety-inducing films of the past decade, frantic pursuits in a desperate bid to stave off an ever-nearing fatal outcome. That same electrified energy appears to inhabit Marty Supreme, his older brother Josh’s new feature starring Timothée Chalamet and set for release in early 2026.
With The Smashing Machine, Safdie sets an entirely different pace in his very first solo film, as reflected in the soft rock-tinged soundtrack featuring tracks by Sublime, Rod Stewart, The Alan Parsons Project, Elvis Presley and Bruce Springsteen. This choice allows the director to more gently mirror his characters’ emotions.
Yet, the true story that inspired the New York filmmaker lends itself perfectly to a film of noise and fury. The Smashing Machine traces the early years from 1997 to 2000, when Mark Kerr (Dwayne Johnson), an American wrestling champion, ventured into mixed martial arts, a controversial discipline where nearly anything goes. The undefeated man is gradually overtaken by doubt and addiction, which threatens to unravel everything he has built.
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