The Smashing Machine

Interview: Mark Kerr and Bas Rutten on learning about themselves watching The Smashing Machine

A two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion, World Vale Tudo Championship tournament winner, and a PRIDE FC competitor, Mark Kerr, a former wrestler, is one of the greatest mixed martial artists to ever emerge from the sport. Following his coverage as a subject in the documentary The Smashing Machine, which detailed his fighting career, director Benny Safdie adapted…

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Film Review: The Smashing Machine; Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt are formidable in visceral MMA biopic

Despite his absolute monstrous size at the time of his career and just how brutal he proved in the ring of mixed martial arts, Mark Kerr was – and still is – a figure that defied the expectations many would presumably put upon him from a personal standpoint.  Softly spoken, with an emotional sense that…

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The Smashing Machine; Dwayne Johnson is a revelation in brutal, emotional biopic: Toronto International Film Festival Review

Despite his absolute monstrous size at the time of his career and just how brutal he proved in the ring of mixed martial arts, Mark Kerr was – and still is – a figure that defied the expectations many would presumably put upon him from a personal standpoint.  Softly spoken, with an emotional sense that…

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TIFF rolls out the red carpet to welcome this year’s Gala and Special Presentations programmes

The Toronto International Film Festival is set to dazzle this September as it celebrates its 50th edition with a red carpet–ready slate of Official Selections from its Gala and Special Presentations programmes. As part of its full list, TIFF is presenting world premieres including Aziz Ansari’s Good Fortune, Maude Apatow’s Poetic License, Isabel Coixet’s Three Goodbyes, Romain Gavras’ Sacrifice, David Michôd’s Christy, Yeon Sang-ho’s The Ugly, James…

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Dwayne “The Oscar Winner” Johnson? First look trailer for UFC drama The Smashing Machine would suggest so

Dwayne Johnson has had a lot of iterations as a performer: The Rock, franchise Viagra, unlikely hit singer, television personality, Tequila connoisseur, United Football League owner…and now, possible Oscar winner? Transforming himself to embody Mark Kerr, an American former wrestler and mixed martial artist, Johnson is looking to prove his detractors wrong in The Smashing Machine, a filmic…

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