The Smashing Machine2025

A man of violence who wanted to live a life of peace.  I am shocked, SHOCKED, that a movie starring Dwayne “THE ROCK” Johnson, as an early UFC fighter, was so relatable and resonated with me so much. I could see myself in his quiet anger, his loneliness, and his yearning to be better. Not just a better fighter but a better man. And that is the triumph of this movie. He had to lose to win in the end.  I loved Dwayne Johnson in this. Which is something I never thought would happen. I remember seeing him as a kid in Mummy Returns and Scorpion King. And while enjoyable, those were cheesy, whimsical roles. Here, “The Rock” is laid bare, and I think his strength and insecurities shine through. This role is, quite honestly, the antithesis of everything he has done before. The Rock has no problems; the Rock never loses. Mark Kerr struggles, and Mark Kerr loses. Hard. And you can see it in Johnson’s performance.  Sure, this movie is tropey, but that comes with the territory. And honestly, the movie shines through all of that. Incredible visuals, editing, and performance, score, and soundtrack, all come together to make an awesome experience. One that I highly recommend.