Saralnama
Actor Dwayne Johnson was moved to tears after his film, The Smashing Machine, earned a 15-minute standing ovation at the 82nd Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2025. The film, directed by Benny Safdie in his solo feature debut, portrays the life of two-time UFC heavyweight champion Mike Kerr, focusing on his career achievements and personal struggles, including substance abuse and his relationship with his wife, played by Emily Blunt. Both Johnson and Blunt appeared on the red carpet alongside Safdie, with the director and cast visibly emotional during the ovation. Johnson shared that he spent three to four hours daily in prosthetics to portray Kerr and described the role as a challenging and raw opportunity. The Venice Film Festival this year featured other stars such as George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Emma Stone. The film’s screening was marked by fan enthusiasm, including a shout referencing Johnson’s WWE catchphrase. The Smashing Machine reunites Blunt and Safdie, who previously worked together on Oppenheimer, and Johnson and Blunt, who co-starred in Jungle Cruise. (Updated 2 Sep 2025, 12:32 IST; source: link)