TIFF 2025 | Movie Review: "The Smashing Machine"; Dwayne Johnson's Performance Packs A Punch In An Underwhelming Safdie Film
A rock-solid lead performance from Dwayne Johnson, ever sharp direction from Benny Safdie and an electric jazz score by Nala Sinephro will stir up your excitement and capture your attention, but fans of the grittier narratives in the Safdie filmography could be disappointed.
Something that feels important to this film is the ‘how’ and ‘why’ it was put into production. Dwayne Johnson brought this story to Benny Safdie and asked him to direct it. By the time the credits roll, it's very clear that this production is the inverse to Uncut Gems (how Adam Sandler was approached by the Safdies with that script and character.) Looking from the outside in, this is a film that feels quite out of place following Good Time and Uncut Gems.
I approached The Smashing Machine with lowered expectations and left feeling only content. In the post-film Q&A, Benny described becoming personally attached to the story and how he saw himself in Mark Kerr, only after pre-production was underway. I hope the next film Benny directs is more outside the box and much less traditional than this, both from narrative and filmmaking perspectives.
The film's widest draw, and what will put butts in seats, is undoubtedly Dwayne Johnson's inclusion and dedication to the role. The cynic in me wants to mull over how he chose a true story with a happy ending and a (mostly) clean character to keep up his public persona, but I can not deny how captivating he was on that giant IMAX screen. The film reads like Johnson is learning that it’s okay to lose and to be vulnerable not just for the audience, but for himself.
Here, Johnson proves he is absolutely capable of being more than just the big man, in a white shirt, in the jungle. Through this performance, you believe in more than just his strength - you believe in his vulnerability. Kerr is a character written with many layers and you can catch what’s beneath the surface, thanks to how well Johnson translates page to screen. In the week leading up to this screening, I watched Pain & Gain and Southland Tales for the first time and they prove that Johnson has what it takes to give more gonzo performances.
With this film, Benny proves that he can ride solo when it comes to directing the established Safdie boots-on-the-ground voyeuristic direction. Every shot feels deliberate and where the camera is placed makes you feel like a bystander. Having seen every previous Safdie Bros. feature, I hoped to see some non-actors and I wasn't disappointed. In the Q&A, Benny explained that he saw a man playing poker in public, liked his ”vibes,” then offered to cast him as ‘Amusement Park Worker.’ Sometimes it's as simple as that.
Another thing I am always enthralled by in a Safdie film is the score, and I was not disappointed here with that here either. Nala Sinephro crafted a rich soundscape that I find myself eager to listen to again and again. It ensnares you into a dreamlike state rolling from one scene to the next whether it be a passage of time, or intense fight sequence. Perhaps my favourite jazz score since Chazelle’s Whiplash.
“I just need you to treat me like a man.”
But something that I don't see myself revisiting any time soon is The Smashing Machine itself. The biopic genre is beyond tired in 2025 and only shows signs of aging as the years go on. It isn't exemplary, but it will definitely be your co-worker's favorite movie of the season.