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The post The Rock opens up about The Smashing Machine amid shocking appearance change<\/a> appeared first on ClutchPoints<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n When Dwayne \u201cThe Rock\u201d Johnson shared a picture in Europe on Memorial Day weekend, fans thought he might be making his long-awaited return to the WWE<\/a> at Clash in Paris<\/i>.<\/p>\n Instead, the \u201cBrahman Bull,\u201d sporting a much slimmer look that went viral on social media<\/a>, was in Italy, where his new film, The Smashing Machine<\/i><\/a>, received a 15-minute standing ovation at the Venice International Film Festival.<\/p>\n Discussing his new role with Variety to correspond with the debut, Johnson revealed that, after spending years playing a big action hero, he wasn\u2019t sure if he could do a smaller drama like the Benny Safdie picture. And yet, in the end, he\u2019s proud of his efforts, as he was able to break out of his proverbial box<\/a> and deliver a top-notch performance.<\/p>\n \u201cI have, for a long time, wanted this.\u00a0The three of us have talked for a very long time about, when you\u2019re in Hollywood \u2014 as we all know, it had become about box office. And you chase the box office, and the box office can be very loud, and it can become very resoundin,g and it can push you into a category and into a corner. This is your lane and this is what you do, and this is what Hollywood wants you to do,\u201d Johnson explained via Variety.<\/p>\n \u201cI just had this burning desire and voice that was saying, \u2018What if there is more and what if I can?\u2019 A lot of times, it\u2019s harder for us \u2014 or at least for me \u2014 to know what you\u2019re capable of when you\u2019ve been pigeonholed into something. Sometimes it takes people that who you love and respect, like Emily and Benny, to say that you can.\u201d<\/p>\n Though The Smahing Machin<\/i>e doesn\u2019t come out in America for a few more weeks, the film is already a smash hit with critics who caught the film in Italy, with the picture holding an 88 rating<\/a> on Rotten Tomatoes on 17 reviews. Whether The Rock is 200 pounds or 300, it\u2019s clear he won\u2019t be pigeonholed any longer, outside of WWE fans eager to see more of the \u201cFinal Boss.\u201d<\/p>\n Related: Rampage Jackson releases fiery statement after Raja Jackson-Syko Stu incident<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n