{"id":2013128,"date":"2025-09-11T02:32:14","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T02:32:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2013128"},"modified":"2025-09-11T02:32:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T02:32:14","slug":"everybody-wants-to-talk-about-how-good-dwayne-johnson-is-in-the-smashing-machine-but-i-need-to-talk-about-another-great-acting-performance-by-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/everybody-wants-to-talk-about-how-good-dwayne-johnson-is-in-the-smashing-machine-but-i-need-to-talk-about-another-great-acting-performance-by-him\/","title":{"rendered":"Everybody Wants To Talk About How Good Dwayne Johnson Is In The Smashing Machine, But I Need To Talk About Another Great Acting Performance By Him"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><i>When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.<\/i><\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Credit: Paramount Pictures<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">All I keep hearing about lately is that \u201cThe Rock can actually act!\u201d now that people have seen Dwayne Johnson&#8217;s new movie, <em>The Smashing Machine<\/em>. But, hello? Did people not see 2013&#8217;s <em>Pain &amp; Gain<\/em>? Because I did, and I could have told you that awhile ago.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">But look, I get it. A lot of <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cinemablend.com\/news\/2487406\/the-10-best-dwayne-johnson-movies-ranked\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Dwayne Johnson\u2019s best movies;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Dwayne Johnson\u2019s best movies<\/a> are action flicks, so he hasn\u2019t always had the opportunity to flex his acting muscles. Even though critics seem to be raving about his <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/movies\/articles\/wasn-t-sure-expect-dwayne-230257823.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:\u201cscarily unstable\u201d performance;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">\u201cscarily unstable\u201d performance<\/a> in <em>The Smashing Machine<\/em>, I feel like Johnson has already shown nuance as Paul Doyle in Michael Bay\u2019s <em>Pain &amp; Gain<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">So, why was this performance so good? Well, you\u2019re about to find out.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Dwayne Johnson lifting weights in Pain &amp; Gain\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/VU1pq6UnLP9QqSw2h1Hxpg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/cinemablend_388\/cf3c29c203f469d93b00e761f14f1f17\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Credit: Paramount Pictures<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">Pain &amp; Gain Was The First Movie Where People Actually Thought, This Man Can Act!<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">I know it was a while back, but <em>Pain &amp; Gain <\/em>was a pretty big deal when it first came out. Loosely based on the true story of the Sun Gym Gang, which was a group of mostly bodybuilders who committed crimes like kidnapping, extortion, and murder, the filmwas a big deal for a number of reasons.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">One such was that it was a genuinely good Michael Bay movie that wasn\u2019t just another <em>Transformers <\/em>film, as he had done a string of them by this point <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cinemablend.com\/new\/Every-Michael-Bay-Movie-Ranked-105997.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:in his lengthy career;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">in his lengthy career<\/a>. Another reason was because it was really the first time in Dwayne \u201cThe Rock\u201d Johnson\u2019s career where people were truly impressed by his acting prowess (and to think, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cinemablend.com\/interviews\/michael-bay-recalls-how-he-stopped-dwayne-johnson-from-quitting-pain-and-gain-shortly-before-production\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:he actually wanted to quit;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">he actually wanted to quit <\/a>before production).<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Yes, he\u2019d done other impressive films, like <em>The Rundown<\/em>, <em>Be Cool<\/em>, and <em>Southland Tales. <\/em>But, this was the first where I remember people discussing him as more of an actor, rather than just a wrestler-<em>turned<\/em>-actor. In fact, this is one of the roles that made me consider whether The Rock might just be <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cinemablend.com\/wrestling\/the-rock-vs-john-cena-vs-batista-who-really-is-the-best-wrestler-turned-actor\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:a better actor than John Cena or Batista;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">a better actor than John Cena or Batista<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">He\u2019s arguably the best part of this movie, and I probably wouldn\u2019t even remember this film if not for Johnson\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Dwayne Johnson sitting in a church in Pain &amp; Gain\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/csnZlAlsrfcJUaVdbWPc.A--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/cinemablend_388\/f42d7a061e1d86870de10f0e0916a109\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Credit: Paramount Pictures<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">He Provides The Moral Compass Of The Film<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">As mentioned earlier, the film is about bodybuilders-turned-hoodlums, and it\u2019s a wild story that involves kidnapping people and basically muscling them out of money. Johnson\u2019s character, Paul Doyle, is constantly on the fence when it comes to his morality. The main hoodlum, Daniel Lugo (Mark Wahlberg) recruits Doyle after he was recently released from prison. In jail, Doyle turned to Christ and hoped to stay on the path\u2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">But, he ends up straying from it once again, and joining the Sun Gym Gang. He actually falls quite heavily, getting back into drugs, however, this is only after a priest makes sexual advances on him, which makes him question his faith to begin with.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">He then questions his faith throughout the entire movie, and Johnson shows such a range of emotions that you\u2019re constantly rooting for him. On one hand, you believe his commitment to wanting to save \u201call God\u2019s creatures.\u201d On the other, you\u2019re laughing as he takes several drug bumps off the back of his hand. That said, you never feel like Doyle is not capable of getting back on the path.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Which is incredibly impressive. <em>Pain &amp; Gain <\/em>is a humorous movie, but Johnson centers the film. He deviates from his faith, but is also the moral compass, going back and forth on whether he&#8217;s actually happy living the life he\u2019s leading. This is immensely impressive to be able to pull off, and Johnson did it elegantly. Like I said, this guy can act!<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Dwayne Johnson standing by a ladder in Pain &amp; Gain\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/esU9mfIPTP07rCJOCMRE1Q--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/cinemablend_388\/cbaf6c49305a97c6bfba7e54fe136743\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Credit: Paramount Pictures<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">Plus, Like The Smashing Machine, Johnson Plays A Real Person. Actually, Three Of Them<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Here\u2019s the thing about <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/movies\/articles\/know-gonna-rip-rib-cage-191226604.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:telling real people\u2019s stories;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">telling real people\u2019s stories<\/a> &#8211; sometimes, you might have to embellish a little bit, and that seems to be the case with Johnson\u2019s role as Paul Doyle, as he\u2019s actually a composite character for three people, those being Carl Weekes, Stevenson Pierre, and Jorge Delgado.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Now, in the real Sun Gym Gang, all three of them played instrumental roles in the actual crimes. But, Johnson is such a superstar actor, that it&#8217;s believable that the writers and director were able to meld all three people into one burly man. Once again, this is extremely impressive. Mark Wahlberg and Anthony Mackie are the main stars of the film, and they play real life criminals, Daniel Lugo and Adrian \u201cNoel\u201d Doorbal, respectively.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Throughout the film, Lugo and Doorbal commit such horrible (and incredibly stupid) crimes that you don\u2019t really feel bad for them. Here\u2019s the thing about Johnson\u2019s character. If you read up on the actual activities from the Sun Gym Gang, you\u2019ll find little elements of the three people Johnson embodies in the film, but a lot of it feels like his own creation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">I think it\u2019s because Johnson is larger than life. His character extends outside of Weekes, Pierre, and Delgado, and he feels like a new criminal in this gang. One who is ultimately unforgettable.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Dwayne Johnson looking over his shoulder in jail in Pain &amp; Gain\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/FxR1LqnF70wA.NMtb7U3yA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/cinemablend_388\/6c4d66db979698ee2bf8c35e5949a732\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Credit: Paramount Pictures<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">The Film Plays To His Immense Size, But Doesn&#8217;t Focus On It<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Dwayne Johnson is big, but nobody was bigger than Arnold Schwarzenegger in his heyday. Films like <em>Commando <\/em>(which I still think is <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/5-reasons-why-commando-greatest-210407716.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:the greatest action movie ever made;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">the greatest action movie ever made<\/a>) showcased Arnie in all of his muscular glory. I mean, even the way he held his gun showcased his massive biceps. It was truly a sight to behold.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Lots of action movies have done the same with Johnson. It\u2019s one of the reasons why I think a lot of people think he can\u2019t act. For a large portion of his career, he\u2019s just been this massive guy who performs miracles, and looks cool doing it, and honestly, I feel like a lot of people have grown tired of it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">However, sometimes, Johnson has used his massive frame to his advantage, and it\u2019s not just for action purposes. Apparently, his size is an integral part of his character in <em>The Smashing Machine<\/em>. The thing is, it was also much the case in <em>Pain &amp; Gain<\/em>. Paul is a big guy, and the other characters use him for his size, but, he\u2019s more than just his muscles. In fact, the strongest muscle he uses (wait for it) is his heart.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In the movie, he\u2019s massive, but that\u2019s part of his character, which is something I wish we saw more in Johnson\u2019s career &#8211; his size used for story purposes.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Dwayne Johnson screaming in Pain &amp; Gain\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/PtlYOTh0wsqeFkQOOvJWDQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/cinemablend_388\/838fa2803810ac52c794a383a05153f1\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Credit: Paramount Pictures<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">In The End, I&#8217;m Excited For The Smashing Machine, But Let&#8217;s Not Forget Pain &amp; Gain<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Am I excited for <em>The Smashing Machine<\/em>? Hell yeah, I am. For one thing, I love Dwayne Johnson, and for another, I love Benny Safdie films (hopefully, <em>The Smashing Machine<\/em> gets more love than <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cinemablend.com\/movies\/how-did-adam-sandlers-uncut-gems-not-get-nominated-for-best-picture-at-the-2020-academy-awards\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:my beloved Uncut Gems come Oscar season;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><u>my beloved <\/u><u><em>Uncut Gems<\/em><\/u><u> come Oscar season<\/u><\/a>).<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">That said, I don\u2019t think we should forget about <em>Pain &amp; Gain<\/em>, which I feel like a lot of people have. When I heard people raving over Johnson\u2019s portrayal of Mark Kerr, I thought, have we already forgotten his portrayal as Paul Doyle? Apparently, people have, which is why I decided to write this article.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">However, people should remember <em>Pain &amp; Gain<\/em> since it was that first glimmer that Johnson always had it in him. It\u2019s a testament to his dedication to the craft, and I\u2019m happy that people are <em>finally <\/em>seeing him for the great actor he could always be.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">What do you think? Do you remember<em> Pain &amp; Gain<\/em>? I\u2019d love to hear your thoughts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Paramount Pictures All I keep hearing about lately is that \u201cThe Rock can actually act!\u201d now that people have seen Dwayne Johnson&#8217;s new movie, The Smashing Machine. But, hello? Did people not see 2013&#8217;s Pain &amp; Gain? 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