The Smashing Machine Gets Positive Response, Standing Ovation 15 Minutes In Venice

JAKARTA - Dwayne Johnson's latest film, The Smashing Machine received a lively welcome when holding a premiere at the Venice Film Festival on Monday, September 1 local time. This film is Benny Safdie's directorial debut as a solo.

The Smashing Machine tells of Mark Kerr, a legendary boxer in his life, career, romance, and friendship. Dwayne Johnson was present for the first time in Venice after a career for more than a decade with Emily Blunt, Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten, and Mark Kerr himself as iconic figures.

Emotional moments occur when you get a standing opportunity for 15 minutes and make the longest response during this festival held.

Cited from Deadline, Johnson could not contain his emotions seeing the explosive response of the audience until he hugged the players and Safdie as the director.

Some of the first reviews also praised Dwayne Johnson's performance as the main character who might be able to bring it to the Oscars next year.

Through his social media, he also expressed his enthusiasm for acting for a long time, but this is the first time he has been invited to the Venice Film Festival.

"Acting like I've been here before," Dwayne Johnson said in the video.

He also said he wanted to continue challenging himself as an actor after playing many films that scored box office in theaters.

When you're in Hollywood, it's all about box office. And when you chase the box office, and the box office in our caninis is really rotating and can push you into a category," said Dwayne Johnson.

I made those films and I liked them. They were fun. Some were good and worked, and some didn't. But what I realized was that I had a strong desire and a voice on my head saying What if something was more (than just box office) he said.

The Smashing Machine is planned to open publicly in theaters in October.