Speaker 1: In nineteen ninety seven, Mixed martial arts was a very
Speaker 1: different sport. It used to be billed as no holds
Speaker 1: barred fighting, which meant it could be very brutal to watch.
Speaker 1: There are a few pioneers of the sport who were
Speaker 1: considered to be among the best in those days. One
Speaker 1: of them was Mark Coleman and the other was named
Speaker 1: Mark Kerr. It's The Smashing Machine. I'm Ronald Young Junior,
Speaker 1: and I'm leaving the theater. All right. This is Ronald
Speaker 1: and I am leaving the theater after seeing The Smashing Machine.
Speaker 1: The Smashing Machine written and directed by Benny Saftie starring
Speaker 1: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Ryan Bader, Boss Ruten, and Alexander Ussik.
Speaker 1: For complete cast listing, you can go to the link
Speaker 1: in our show notes It is just Me Today. The
Speaker 1: Smashing Machine is a film about the early days of
Speaker 1: mixed martial arts, so the whole film takes place between
Speaker 1: nineteen ninety five in two thousand and It follows Mark Kerr,
Speaker 1: who was played by Dwayne the Rock Johnson, and Mark Coleman,
Speaker 1: who was played by Chad Bader, who is formerly a
Speaker 1: UFC fighter. He used to be on The Ultimate Fighter.
Speaker 1: Actually really enjoyed his season. He had a pretty good run.
Speaker 1: I think he got beat up by John Jones, pretty
Speaker 1: good on John Jones's Way to the Top. If I'm
Speaker 1: not mistaken. Now I'm demonstrating to you my mixed martial
Speaker 1: arts knowledge, because I used to know a bit about
Speaker 1: mixed martial arts. So this is a biopic about Mark Kerr.
Speaker 1: There's really not much more I can say about the
Speaker 1: plot of this film, because this is a for me,
Speaker 1: this was a complete nothing burger of a movie. There
Speaker 1: is essentially it is. It follows Mark Kerr, and it
Speaker 1: stays true to the idea of the real story, which
Speaker 1: is that Mark Kerr was frequently going to Japan to
Speaker 1: fight in Pride, and he fought in the UFC a
Speaker 1: few times in the United States. And he had a
Speaker 1: tumultuous relationship with his girlfriend don and he had a
Speaker 1: good friendship with his training partner, Mark Coleman, who was
Speaker 1: also fighting in Japan. And other than that, we don't
Speaker 1: have much of a film here. I'm not certain how
Speaker 1: this got made. Actually, I know it's a twenty four
Speaker 1: and it's The Rock and it's Benny Safty and all
Speaker 1: of them came together to get this film made. I
Speaker 1: don't know that it needed to be made. I don't
Speaker 1: know that I learned anything about the human spirit, about
Speaker 1: Mark Kerr, about mixed martial arts. I don't know that
Speaker 1: anything has really happened watching this film. I think the
Speaker 1: Rock is in a lot of prosthetics and makeup, and
Speaker 1: he is meant to look more like Mark Kerr because
Speaker 1: he does not look like Mark Kerr. He is taller
Speaker 1: and a bit leaner than Mark Kerr. Mark Kerr is
Speaker 1: six 's one. The Rock I believe is six'. Four,
Speaker 1: obviously he used to be a, wrestler football. Player he's
Speaker 1: just he's just much bigger Than Mark kerr. Physically that's
Speaker 1: not my biggest. Quibble my biggest quibble is that this
Speaker 1: film seems like it's grasping for An. Oscar it just
Speaker 1: it seems like, it and that makes it hard to
Speaker 1: watch this knowing that there's no plot and watching the
Speaker 1: performances and then, saying, oh, okay Is Emily blunt going
Speaker 1: to be in The oscar? Conversation Is Dwayne johnson gonna
Speaker 1: be in The oscar? Conversation should they be in The oscar?
Speaker 1: Conversation my answer is absolutely. Not BUT i, mean we
Speaker 1: know a twenty four can rock a. Campaign so if
Speaker 1: they do get, Nominated i'm telling you, now it's not
Speaker 1: BECAUSE i think their performances were that, Good but maybe
Speaker 1: it's because their performances sound Like oscar. Performances they're shaped
Speaker 1: Like oscar, performances which isn't enough for. Me nothing happens
Speaker 1: in this. Film this is a film in which it
Speaker 1: comes on and you See Mark curR, fighting and he's,
Speaker 1: fighting and then you realize he has a problem taking,
Speaker 1: opioids and you think that there's going to be some
Speaker 1: great collision of him taking opioids that, is and that's,
Speaker 1: like maybe that's typical biopicks, stuff but also the beats
Speaker 1: of biopicks typically work if someone is taking, drugs whether
Speaker 1: It's Ray charles or, whatever enter any other boxer slash
Speaker 1: musician in and a bio. Pick if they're taking, drugs
Speaker 1: there's going to be a moment of reckoning where they
Speaker 1: have to step back and then rebuild themselves in spite
Speaker 1: of the. Drugs and in this, case we start to have.
Speaker 1: That but then the movie kind of like pump. Fakes you,
Speaker 1: know he begins to have these issues with the, opioids
Speaker 1: and then he goes to rehab to clean himself, up
Speaker 1: he comes, out and then at the moment that he comes,
Speaker 1: out we're probably about an hour into the. Movie i've
Speaker 1: remembered thinking it's weird that we've seen him be in
Speaker 1: three fights And i've never once seen him trained for a.
Speaker 1: Fight and then there's the worst training Montage i've ever,
Speaker 1: seen because most of it is him standing around with
Speaker 1: his hands on his. Hips and then at some point
Speaker 1: he has to use the opioids again in order to
Speaker 1: help a friend of his who's in, pain but then
Speaker 1: he throws the rest of them, Away so it kind
Speaker 1: of feels like some sort of weird red herring THAT
Speaker 1: i don't understand what was the purpose of it being
Speaker 1: in the. Movie it's not like his friend formed a
Speaker 1: habit on the drugs or anything like, that SO i
Speaker 1: wasn't sure why they were. There and then after, that
Speaker 1: the drugs are pretty much not a problem in the,
Speaker 1: movie but this happened so early in the film that
Speaker 1: it doesn't feel like much of an. Adversary then it
Speaker 1: becomes tension between him and his, girlfriend which isn't like real.
Speaker 1: Tension it's IT'S i mean it's, tension but it's NOT
Speaker 1: i would say that it's not dramatic enough that it
Speaker 1: rose to the level of a film. Conflict it felt
Speaker 1: like they needed more, conflicts so they added. This SO
Speaker 1: i remembered, wondering what is the point of, This what
Speaker 1: is the point of, this of this fight between? Them
Speaker 1: like what is why is this? Happening and that's WHAT
Speaker 1: i kept wondering for the majority of the. Movie why
Speaker 1: is this? Happening why is this? Happening why is this?
Speaker 1: Happening and over and over AGAIN i WOULD i would think,
Speaker 1: that and then you get to the end of the
Speaker 1: movie and there's words on the screen along with the
Speaker 1: Real Mark, kerr and that tells you some parts of the.
Speaker 1: Story AND i remember, thinking if this is the context
Speaker 1: that's necessary for me to sympathize with this, story then
Speaker 1: it's probably context that needed to be added throughout the,
Speaker 1: film as opposed to added at the end of the.
Speaker 1: Movie THERE'S i, mean there's just so many parts of
Speaker 1: it THAT i JUST i was puzzled, by LIKE i
Speaker 1: didn't understand. Why that was the question that kept coming
Speaker 1: up was, why, why why is this? Happening why is
Speaker 1: this film Called The Smashing. Machine at no point in
Speaker 1: the film is the phrase the Smashing machine doesn't come.
Speaker 1: Up they're not Like mark the Smashing Machine. Kerr that
Speaker 1: has never said throughout the. Film if it, WAS i missed.
Speaker 1: It SO i don't understand the name of this. MOVIE
Speaker 1: i don't understand Why The rock had to Play Mark,
Speaker 1: kerrs like they might have gotten someone else for. That,
Speaker 1: WELL i do understand BECAUSE i think he wants to
Speaker 1: try to be in more serious roles and this is
Speaker 1: his pivot to. That you, know obviously he's not doing
Speaker 1: superhero movies anymore Because Black adam is. Done he's not
Speaker 1: going to get A marvel, part so this is his
Speaker 1: next pivot of. Acting John cena is doing a great.
Speaker 1: Job he is now a. Peacemaker he's found a lane for.
Speaker 1: Himself he's also a little bit more versatile Than The,
Speaker 1: rock and maybe even not that much more, versatile but
Speaker 1: just seems much more. Versatile has done a lot more
Speaker 1: comedies that have, worked Whereas The rock just seems to
Speaker 1: be showing up Being The rock and then disappearing for a.
Speaker 1: WHILE i don't. Know i'm not sure Why Emily blunt
Speaker 1: had to be in this, film except that she has
Speaker 1: a relationship With The. Rock they've Done Jungle. CRUISE i
Speaker 1: think they did one other film. Together If i'm not,
Speaker 1: mistaking it's failing me right. Now so they've obviously developed a.
Speaker 1: Rapport The rock is the producer of the, film. Y'ALL
Speaker 1: i really just don't have. Much it was, it it was,
Speaker 1: then nothing. Happened they barely gave me anything to. Critique
Speaker 1: there is no. Plot the pacing is, off and it
Speaker 1: wasn't no plot in the way that you watch a
Speaker 1: movie Like The wrestler and and you're going along with,
Speaker 1: it and you're seeing it as it, unfolds, uh and
Speaker 1: you're kind of like you're you're really in the in his,
Speaker 1: Corner you're really With Mickey rourke the entire, time and
Speaker 1: when it gets to the, end you kind of you're
Speaker 1: you feel like there are. Stakes the stakes in this
Speaker 1: are not clear to. ME i don't know why he's.
Speaker 1: FIGHTING i don't know if he has enough. MONEY i don't.
Speaker 1: KNOW i barely know how he's paying for his. House
Speaker 1: he says he earned it by. Fighting but then there's
Speaker 1: a there's a point in the movie where they bring
Speaker 1: up the fact that he's not being paid enough From,
Speaker 1: pride So i'm wondering if that's a source of. Tension
Speaker 1: but then money is never an issue or discussed the
Speaker 1: rest of the. Film there's questions about the, rules and
Speaker 1: it has resolved so quickly THAT i, wondered what was the?
Speaker 1: Point why would that have been significant in the. Moment
Speaker 1: it's just a lot of stems of, film stems of
Speaker 1: problems that all end up to be either easily resolved
Speaker 1: or complete red. Herrings directing, wise it was. Fine AS
Speaker 1: i was calculating the, SCORE i could EASILY i know
Speaker 1: this is better than the last three films That i've,
Speaker 1: rated which Is The Long, WALK A Big, Bold Beautiful,
Speaker 1: journey And Caught. STEALING i liked this better than all of,
Speaker 1: them but not by. Much so with all of that being,
Speaker 1: said this is just a three of five star. Movie
Speaker 1: it's just three. Stars it's there's nothing going on. Here
Speaker 1: if it was ON i Would i'd probably watch it
Speaker 1: if LIKE i couldn't reach the. Remote it's probably closer
Speaker 1: to a two point nine to. Nine but it is
Speaker 1: better THAN A Big Bowl Beautiful, journey WHICH i gave
Speaker 1: a two point nine, Nine SO i have to give
Speaker 1: this one a. Three i'm trying to be Like WHEN
Speaker 1: i have clear feelings about films LIKE i have these last,
Speaker 1: few it feels easier to be able to score other.
Speaker 1: Ones say if it's better than, this THEN i know
Speaker 1: that it's a three THAT i know that it's A
Speaker 1: i know that it's a three point five and three
Speaker 1: point seven five so much so, far so. WHATEVER i
Speaker 1: know that BECAUSE i have these other metrics to judge it.
Speaker 1: By so, YEAH i just it didn't give me. MUCH i,
Speaker 1: uh it was. Fine good for the. ROCK i hope
Speaker 1: he gets another opportunity to continue to be taken. Seriously
Speaker 1: but other than, THAT i don't. Know if you need
Speaker 1: to go see this, one it'll probably show up WHEREVER
Speaker 1: a twenty four dumpsit's. MOVIES i believe It's. Peacock so,
Speaker 1: yeah with, That leaving The theater is a production Of
Speaker 1: Oh It's Big Ron. STUDIOS i mixed this episode And
Speaker 1: i'm working. Hard in These patreon. Streets we have an
Speaker 1: ad free. Feed that's what you get On. Patreon we
Speaker 1: have on the. Couch that's what you get On. PATREON
Speaker 1: i don't like. That that's what you get On. Patreon
Speaker 1: and when you're On, patreon you are supporting independent. Media
Speaker 1: you are supporting me continuing to make this. Show the
Speaker 1: more SUPPORT i, receive the more THAT i can, do
Speaker 1: the more THAT i can pay attention to The patreon,
Speaker 1: feed to the real leaving the theater, feed and begin
Speaker 1: to make real decisions about the. Show one of them
Speaker 1: is right, Now i'm at the worst theater THAT i record,
Speaker 1: at AND i Decided i'm just going to record in
Speaker 1: my car so it makes it easier for me to
Speaker 1: edit the show. Later so if you listen to an
Speaker 1: episode and you're, like, wow, Wow ronald sounds pretty clear
Speaker 1: there's not much going on in the background any of,
Speaker 1: that that's Because i'm starting to think about ways to
Speaker 1: make editing easier for myself SO i can get this
Speaker 1: show to you, quicker, easier with less stress and a
Speaker 1: more consistent. Basis i've gone through the whole entire month Of,
Speaker 1: september a terrible month for, movies And i've done. It
Speaker 1: i've done every single. Week by the time you're hearing this,
Speaker 1: episode you will have already heard the movie That i'm
Speaker 1: going to see. Tomorrow these are press screenings That i'm getting.
Speaker 1: In i'm scheduling. Them, WELL i should have stayed home
Speaker 1: today AND i DIDN'T i was ready to just lay
Speaker 1: in bed and lay around and be a, lump AND
Speaker 1: i was, like you know, What, No i'm going to
Speaker 1: go to this. Screening i'm not gonna mess myself. Up
Speaker 1: i'm gonna stay on. Schedule this is a labor of,
Speaker 1: love but it is. Labor if that means anything to,
Speaker 1: you go to patreon dot com Slash leave in The
Speaker 1: theater or go to the link in our show. Notes
Speaker 1: show art From Heather. Wilder theme music by the Mysterious Breakmaster.
Speaker 1: Cylinder for more information about The Smashing, machine check out
Speaker 1: our show. Notes you can follow me On, Instagram Blue, Sky, TikTok,
Speaker 1: threads or letterbox at Oh it's Big. Ron that's at
Speaker 1: hs B i G r O. N you can find
Speaker 1: out more about this show and OTHER Odes Big Round
Speaker 1: studio shows by following us On instagram AT Ods Big Round.
Speaker 1: Studios leaving The theater will be back. Soon thanks for.
Speaker 1: Listening