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At the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, on the night of 1st September, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson delivered one of the most captivating turns of his career, premiering 'The Smashing Machine,' an intimate biopic of MMA legend Mark Kerr. During the extremely raw premiere, the celebrity, who is known for his explosive action parts, seemed clearly overwhelmed as he reflected on a change from prosthetics to emotional depth, which he characterized as something he had longed for. A resounding 15-minute standing ovation that highlighted a performance that could redefine his legacy brought Johnson and many others to tears as the credits rolled.
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From Muscle to Emotion: Johnson's Most Vulnerable Performance Yet
In order to portray Mark Kerr in 'The Smashing Machine,' Johnson went through a drastic metamorphosis, gaining strength, donning Kazu Hiro-made prosthetics, and spending hours in the makeup chair to mimic Kerr's physically and inner distress. Reflecting at the press conference in Venice, he acknowledged a long-standing desire to go beyond the expectations of an action hero, saying, "This transformation was something I was genuinely hungry to do."
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He was able to uncover hitherto undiscovered genuine sensitivity through his collaboration with filmmaker Benny Safdie and co-star Emily Blunt, whom he referred to as a creative pillar.
Venice Emotions and the Road to Reinvention
Johnson and the real Mark Kerr, who was there and clearly moved, were moved to tears when 'The Smashing Machine' came to an end and the Sala Grande burst into a 15-minute standing ovation. Johnson's performance was praised by critics as a game-changer, redefining his career path and generating Oscar hype. Alberto Barbera, the artistic director of Venice, even went so far as to say that Blunt and Johnson were "absolutely brilliant" and may be nominated for Oscars.
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Image Courtesy: The Straits Times
The film, which is already a strong contender for the Golden Lion, is a landmark because it is a genuinely human love tale with emotional stakes that go well beyond the ring, rather than just a fight drama.
Dwayne Johnson's journey with 'The Smashing Machine' at Venice marks a turning point—showing that the hardest battles are often internal, and the greatest victories lie in vulnerability. The film, is now, suppose to showcase at the Toronto International Film Festival on 8th September as part of its ongoing festival circuit. Following these high-profile premieres, the film is set to reach audiences across North America with a theatrical release on 3rd October, distributed by A24.
