The Smashing Machine (Open Caption)

15A123 min

In one of the year’s more surprising duos, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and indie director Benny Safdie team up in The Smashing Machine, a powerful biopic of pioneering mixed martial arts/UFC fighter Mark Kerr. Kerr helped grow the sport’s popularity in its early days, but the fights’ brutal demands took a toll, eventually leading to painkiller addiction.Johnson is known for the humour he brings to action films and he perfectly captures Kerr’s soft-spoken manner. He was gigantic, but his gentle demeanour challenged the intense brutality of the sport. Johnson gives an eye-opening performance, supported by Emily Blunt as Dawn, Kerr’s devoted partner, tormented by the price he pays.Told in a quasi-documentary style, with a similar energy as the Safdie brothers’ groundbreaking Good Time and Uncut Gems. That behind the scenes realism is enhanced by the presence of a slew of MMA legends like Bas Rutten and Ryan Bader, and there’s even a cameo from Kerr himself.