Dwayne Johnson’s ‘Smashing Machine’ wows Venice Film Festival
Benny Safdie’s “The Smashing Machine,” which stars Dwayne Johnson as MMA legend Mark Kerr, premiered at Venice Film Festival to roaring applause.
unbranded – Entertainment
If early word on the festival circuit is any indication, the team behind “The Smashing Machine” might have a busy fall and awards season.
The upcoming film about the career of UFC pioneer Mark Kerr stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in the title role, alongside Oscar nominee Emily Blunt. The film was written and directed by Benny Safdie, who Saturday at the esteemed Venice Film Festival was given one of the top prizes.
Safdie won the Silver Lion award, presented to the jurors’ favorite director of the festival. The film’s debut at the festival elicited a reported 15-minute standing ovation. Variety magazine called the movie “a bracing, clear-eyed and laceratingly humane sports biopic.”
There is early awards buzz for Johnson, Safdie and Blunt. The film also features former Bellator two-division champion Ryan Bader as Mark Coleman. Bas Rutten plays himself, boxer Oleksandr Usyk plays Igor Vovchanchyn, Satoshi Ishii plays Enson Inoue, James Moontasri plays Akira Shoji andMarcus Aurelio plays Mestre Hulk.
“The Smashing Machine” opens Oct. 3 in the U.S., and while early reviews of the film so far only are from outlets who saw the festival screening, they’ve been overwhelmingly positive with an 82 percent critics score on Rotten Tomatoes out of the gate. The film will be part of the acclaimed Toronto International Film Festival this week, as well, ahead of its official opening in a month.
Check out highlights from the film’s lengthy standing ovation in the video above, and don’t miss images from the premiere below.
