Saturday night is the perfect time for a trip to the cinema. I checked the schedule and, honestly, I don’t think it’s ever been easier to make a choice—The Smashing Machine was a clear winner. So I headed downtown.
The guy at the entrance scanning tickets sees what movie I’m about to watch and gives me a little spoiler: “I think it’s Dwayne Johnson’s best performance.” My anticipation starts to build.
Here I am in what feels like the smallest cinema room in all of Toronto. There are only five rows of seats, and the screen is uncomfortably high up on the wall, so you can really only watch comfortably from the last row. But hey, it’s VIP, so they offer service to your seat. I ordered way too much popcorn and a beer, and started waiting for the action.
Note: The following text may contain contextual hints about the film, but no direct spoilers.
Inside the Mind of a Fighter
A fighter’s mentality, a fighter’s process, a fighter’s life. Losing isn’t an option. It doesn’t even exist in your reality. Without that mindset, it’s impossible to be a winner. But with that mindset, losing is unbearably hard.
I’ve always been fascinated by this rigidity and how it can make a fighter’s whole world so fragile.
The Smashing Machine is all about that. So is it an action movie or a psychological drama? Both! Don’t go see it if you’re expecting nothing but bone-crushing, relentless action. Go see it if you’re interested in watching someone’s world being crushed and smashed, and how that person struggles to rebuild it.
Had I heard of Mark Kerr before? I think I’d seen a couple of his fights on YouTube, but never put a name to the face. After I got home, I watched everything I could find about him. The only thing I tried to avoid were other people’s reviews. I wanted this one to be raw and uninfluenced.
How did I feel during the movie? As a martial artist, I related. I’m not a professional fighter; the closest I’ve ever gotten to a real fight is a controlled sparring match, which doesn’t compare. Still, I think all martial artists share a burning desire to win, to prove we’re the best. For me, I channel it into perfecting my art, improving my karate skills. My win is getting better every day in my own eyes.
Do I sometimes imagine a crowd of forty thousand people cheering for my victory? I do! But I remind myself that quiet victories are just as meaningful. Did I cheer for Mark during the movie? Wholeheartedly. His win felt like my own. Unfortunately, his loss felt just as personal.
I also felt angry—at Kerr’s girlfriend Dawn, played by Emily Blunt. She’s locked in her own battle for Mark’s attention and devotion.
I felt frustrated watching two people in a relationship try to communicate their truths, but not really hearing each other. They say communication is key. I’d add: only if you’re ready to actually listen. The scene where Mark draws a parallel between fighting in the ring and fighting in his relationship was one of the most powerful moments for me.
I felt relieved at the end of the movie. Hard to say exactly why—probably because, for Mark, the fight was over. The closing scene in the supermarket brings a sort of closure. We don’t know if Mark has found his own peace and joy independent of winning, but it feels that way—or at least, that’s what I want to believe.
Should you watch the movie? Absolutely! All the actors did a stunning job. The storytelling is great, the fight scenes are mesmerizing. Oleksandr Usyk, the famous Ukrainian boxer, is impressive as Igor Vovchanchyn. But be prepared to have your world shaken a bit. Remember, we all have feelings and fight our own mental battles the best way we can, and we don’t always win. Go in with compassion, come out with hope.
Reviewed by Combatpit team member, karate black belt
Continue reading: The Fighter Mindset: Tracing the Evolution of Mike Tyson
Book Review: My Fight / Your Fight by UFC Champion Ronda Rousey
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