The Smashing Machine is making a huge roar all over the world after it received a 15-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival. Pictures and videos of the film’s lead, Dwayne Johnson, crying uncontrollably in gratitude for the response he and his team received are now trending all over social media. The biographical drama now stands with Amanda Seyfried’s The Testament of Ann Lee and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, which have also received long-standing ovations at this year’s Venice Film Festival.
The Smashing Machine shines at Venice Film Festival: Dwayne Johnson getting Oscar buzz after 15-minute standing ovation
The Smashing Machine is directed by Benjamin Safdie, who has previously directed films such as Heaven Knows What (2014), Good Time (2017) and Uncut Gems (2019). Talking about the cast of The Smashing Machine, Dwayne Johnson is playing the character of former MMA fighter and UFC champion, Mark Kerr, while Emily Blunt is portraying his ex-wife, Dawn Staples. Instead of actors, Benjamin Safdie cast real MMA fighters, including Ryan Bader, Oleksandr Usyk, Satoshi Ishii, James Moontasri, and many more, in the film to enhance the quality of the sports biopic.
The Smashing Machine has been nominated for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, sparking speculation about Dwayne Johnson’s Oscar chances across the internet. Even before the film received an outrageous reception in Venice, Dwayne Johnson’s first look pictures have already shocked everyone. The former WWE wrestler’s transformation dropped everyone’s jaws on the floor as he looked completely unrecognisable. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Dwayne got choked up while talking about his transformation as he admitted that this is the first role in his career that made him “nervous”.
Apart from the physical transformation, Dwayne Johnson also added that there were about 13 or 14 different prosthetics on his face. However, setting aside all the transformations and prosthetics for a moment, the primary reason The Smashing Machine has generated Oscar buzz is due to its storyline, which is entirely based on the personal and professional life of Mark Kerr. Thus, without further ado, let’s take a look at Mark Kerr’s life, which has the potential to put Dwayne in the next year’s Oscar race.
Who is Mark Kerr? Two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion, dominated MMA, battled with substance abuse, and sought redemption
Mark Kerr was born on December 21, 1968, in Toledo, Ohio, to an Irish father and Puerto Rican mother. From his childhood, he aspired to become a professional wrestler. He began his career as a freshman at Bettendorf High School in 1983. In the following years, Kerr became a high school state champion for Toledo Waite. In 1989, Kerr was booked and arrested on charges of burglary for possessing stereo equipment, which he had stolen from a dorm room. It was a tough time for him, but a callback from Syracuse University’s assistant coach, Gene Mills, changed his life. During his time at Syracuse University, Kerr became the Division I champion.
Not only this, Mark Kerr went on to add three EIWA championships to his name and won the Fletcher Award for scoring the most team points in 1991 and 1992. After winning a series of gold medals at world championships, Kerr shifted his focus towards MMA and dominated it completely. Due to his brutal strikes and monstrous physicality, he gained the moniker, “The Smashing Machine”, and was labelled as the most fearsome person on the planet. However, soon he was caught up in his addiction to prescription drugs and alcohol. As time passed, his addiction started taking a toll on his professional career and personal life. However, he made a comeback in 2008 after he had finally started getting the better of his addiction.
Meet Mark Kerr’s first wife, Dawn Staples: Playboy model turned interior decorator, who saved him from mental health problems
After just three years in the world of MMA, Mark Kerr fell in love with a lady named Dawn Staples, who went on to become his wife and saved him from mentally slipping away. According to several reports, Kerr and Staples got married in 2000 and had a son in the years that followed. However, Staples wasn’t convinced by her then-husband’s violent fighting career, which became the origin of their countless arguments. In 2015, Kerr and Staples finally decided to separate, and as per some reports, the former’s substance abuse issues were one of the primary reasons behind their split. For the uninitiated, Staples is a former Playboy model who currently works as an interior decorator.
Meet Mark Kerr’s second wife, Franci Alberding Kerr, who is a fitness consultant by profession
After parting ways with his ex-wife, Dawn Staples, Mark Kerr fell in love with a fitness consultant named Franci Alberding. The couple got married on December 31, 2023, and in January 2024, they shared pictures from their tropical wedding on social media. Franci runs a business that designs custom wellness facility spaces for its customers. Since their wedding, Franci has accompanied Kerr to almost all of his promotional events. She was also with him for the screening of his film, The Smashing Machine, at the Venice Film Festival. We hope Kerr and Franci continue to lead a happy and content life ahead.
What are your thoughts on Mark Kerr’s personal and professional fronts? Does Mark Kerr’s biographical drama, The Smashing Machine, have the potential to take Dwayne Johnson to the Oscars? Let us know.
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