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First Reviews Of 'The Smashing Machine': Is Dwayne Johnson Going For Oscar Gold?
Dwayne Johnson's performance is being praised, marking a significant shift in his acting career.
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is known as Hollywood's muscle man, regularly appearing in action-packed comedies every year. With [i]The Smashing Machine[/i], he takes a completely different approach. This surprisingly works out very well.
This is Johnson's first truly serious role, and the reception has been overwhelming. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where it was warmly received. In fact, the film and Johnson himself are already being mentioned as a potential Oscar candidates.
This is also reflected in the initial ratings the film is achieving. As of this writing, it holds an impressive score of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. This is, excluding documentaries and animated films, the best rating Johnson has ever received.
Critics praise his remarkable transformation into MMA legend Mark Kerr. For example, Flick Feast states: "This is by far the best performance of his career". Variety calls the film "extraordinary", and The Guardian commends the actor for going both physically and emotionally to the limits.
Director Benny Safdie is also receiving much acclaim. His style is compared to classics such as The Wrestler and Raging Bull. That's quite the list. Still not convinced? Check out the impressive visuals below.
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This is Johnson's first truly serious role, and the reception has been overwhelming. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where it was warmly received. In fact, the film and Johnson himself are already being mentioned as a potential Oscar candidates.
Reviews
This is also reflected in the initial ratings the film is achieving. As of this writing, it holds an impressive score of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. This is, excluding documentaries and animated films, the best rating Johnson has ever received.
Critics praise his remarkable transformation into MMA legend Mark Kerr. For example, Flick Feast states: "This is by far the best performance of his career". Variety calls the film "extraordinary", and The Guardian commends the actor for going both physically and emotionally to the limits.
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Director Benny Safdie is also receiving much acclaim. His style is compared to classics such as The Wrestler and Raging Bull. That's quite the list. Still not convinced? Check out the impressive visuals below.
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