The Rock that dared to crack
Imagine the scene: a temple of consumption called Plaza Toreo becomes, by the art of corporate magic and a Hollywood budget, the scene of an almost religious fervor. But instead of saints, a former wrestler turned titan of cinema is worshiped. The roar, of course, did not come from a real ring, but from the throats of hundreds of devoted fans chanting “Rock, Rock!” as if the fate of civilization depended on it. And there, in the midst of the collective ecstasy, Dwayne Johnson appeared, accompanied by Benny Safdie, to present “The Smashing Machine“. Because nothing says “auteur cinema” like a massive promotional tour.
The new jewel in the crown of A24, the production company that made weird cinema chic, opens today in theaters across the country. The premise is deliciously contradictory: uniting punch-in-the-face poetry with artistic sensibility. The stage, a replica of a UFC octagon, was the perfect metaphor: a space for fighting, but without the inconvenience of someone actually getting their nose broken. The energy, we’re told, was a mix of comic book convention, sports rally, and group therapy session. All very coherent.
Devotion, Autographs and Cardboard Heads
The crowd, as in the best services, showed their faith with offerings. Some held up WWE belts—in case anyone forgot what this was about—while others brandished handmade signs with pleas like “Take the Oscar, Rock!” or the always original “Can I have your autograph?” But the award for the most dedicated follower went, without a doubt, to the gentleman who was carrying a three-dimensional head of Dwayne Johnson that, in a practical and somewhat disturbing twist, functioned as a glass. What better way to honor your idol than by drinking from his effigy? Others, less inclined to themed tableware, sported tattoos with his face or AI-printed photos where, finally, they posed next to him in an alternate reality.
The enthusiasm was so palpable that it could almost be packaged and sold as a vitamin supplement. There were souls who, armed with patience and probably a thermos of coffee, had been waiting since 5 pm on Tuesday. His holy mission: get a signature on a piece of paper or, the holy grail of the modern era, a selfie that would validate his existence to his followers on Instagram. The hosts of the event, the film critic Rafa Fong and the sports journalist Marlon Gerson, juggled to maintain a thread of decorum until the appearance of the former The Rock, now converted into a guru of vulnerability, unleashed controlled chaos.
That’s when Johnson dropped the bomb: “I feel like our society sometimes celebrates invincibility.” A revelation as surprising as saying that water is wet. We magnify, he continued with the solemnity of someone who discovers fire, the idea of being strong, capable and resistant. “But when it comes to vulnerability, especially in men, it seems like it’s not cool to be vulnerable or lose.” Ah, the old dilemma: is a knockout or crying in therapy cooler? The movie, “The Smashing Machine“, comes to answer that existential question. According to Johnson, the fighter on whom the film is based, Mark Kerr, was a titan in the octagon, but where he really hit the mark was in the ring of life. Something that, theoretically, we can all relate to, even if most of us don’t have a multimillion-dollar contract with the UFC to vent about.
For his part, director Benny Safdie, who had already delighted us with the gems of anxiety and self-destruction in “Diamonds in the Rough“, explained with the air of a philosopher that his new work is not about winning, but about losing oneself. Come on, it’s a light comedy to watch with the family. “About understanding that you are not perfect, and that if you accept that you will be in a much better place in life,” he declared, in what seemed like the prologue to a luxury self-help book. “If you become obsessed with total control you destroy yourself and those around you,” he added, probably without thinking about the film’s producers who obsessively control every penny of their budget. Safdie even confessed to being an obsessive person, capable of hurting himself or affecting others due to his fixation. What a relief to know that he put “a lot of himself” into the story, so that we, mere mortals, when we see ourselves reflected, do not feel bad, but rather accompanied in our disaster. How generous.
In short, a night in which the culture of strength was put against the ropes, or rather, against the canvas of a fictitious octagon, to be subdued with a key of vulnerability. A perfect paradox: using the platform of a blockbuster and the fame of a global star to talk about how hard it is to be human. Irony, of course, is not just a literary device, it is the driving force of the show.
Are you intrigued by this look at the fragility behind the blows? Share this article on your social networks and make your audience debate between the perfect uppercut and the perfect tear. And be sure to explore more film-related content that challenges stereotypes.
