The Smashing Machine takes down sporting movie tropes

A raw character study instead of a rousing sports drama, the movie is cerebrally satisfying. By Noelle Adams

- By Noelle Adams

Above and bottom: Dwayne Johnson stars as real-life fighter Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine.

(Photo: A24)

lot can change in 25 years. In the case of mixed martial arts (MMA), rewind back to the cusp of the new millennium and the sport was a controversial, fringe affair, flirting with bans and paying its fighters a pittance for putting their bodies on the line as the rules changed constantly.

No pay-per-view spectacle. No weigh-in and press conference drama fuelled by ego, feuds and smack talk. No mega stardom for the participants.

It's back to these early days of contests like Pride and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) that the new sports drama The Smashing Machine transports audiences.

Uncut Gems filmmaker Benny Safdie writes, directs, edits and co-produces what is as much a takedown of sporting movie tropes as it is a setting the record straight on perceptions of MMA. Importantly, it's also a celebration of Mark Kerr, a heavyweight champion from the period who arguably hasn't received the credit he deserves for helping to entrench MMA in the public consciousness.