Posted on 09/01/2025 8:45:20 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
US actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has said he had a "burning desire" to make a different kind of film, after years of being "pigeon-holed" as a blockbuster star.
The 53-year-old could be in line for the first Oscar nomination of his career for his role in The Smashing Machine, which has just launched at the Venice Film Festival.
Johnson said playing UFC fighter Mark Kerr in the movie had "certainly changed my life", adding that the transformation was something he was "really hungry to do".
He told journalists: "I've been scared to go deep and intense and raw until now, until I had this opportunity to do this."
Johnson, also known as The Rock from his own earlier career in wrestling, added he didn't think playing the role was "about anything to prove to Hollywood as much as it is for me, internally".
Variety's Owen Gleiberman described his performance as "a revelation", adding that he "seems like a new actor".
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
I’d say life has been pretty good to him given his actual talent level.
A little gratitude would suit him better.
I saw an Ad for his new movie. They say The Rock is also the Star, but the actor I saw in the Ad does not look like him.
Maybe some younger Wrestler is acting that role.
I would absolutely volunteer for pigeon-holing for $$-gazillions-$$
I’ts creepy how he’s the latest ‘product’ they’ve decided to make a hit. LIKE HIM! YOU MUST LIKE HIM! And I don’t believe he’s always been hungry to be a better actor -just rich and famous would have been enough for him. His a marketing product.
Yeah, but lately there has been a bunch of critic hate on him so I understand him saying this.
Yep same outfit, same color tones.
Never go full retard.
I pass on all things Dwayne Johnson.
I agree. He type-cast himself, just like Samuel L. Jackson type-cast himself. They went for the money. Jackson complained not too long ago that blacks rarely get parts in period dramas, and that's because in most cases, there weren't blacks in those positions at that period of time. Can you see the jive talking Jackson playing the role of Ragnar Lothbrok in the History Channel series "Vikings"? It's bad enough that revisionists have seen fit to give a black woman the role of Anne Boleyn, or a black woman portray the daughter-in-law of Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII's Lord Great Chamberlain, or a young black man as Henry VIII's son Edward VI, which have all happened.
He is lucky to have survived steroid use this long.
it caught up with Arnold, wit multiple heart surgeries.
He was actually pretty funny in the movie where he said he was working for the gov, and another fella was along,for the ride, but unsure he was telling the truth. Can’t remember the name, but it was a pretty funny movie
“a black woman the role of Anne Boleyn,”
You have got to be shiiting me?
Do not watch TV, so could be just out of the loop.
Well, you could have always just played yourself, Dwayne. A muscle bound dumb f**k.
Prosthetics, make up, hair piece, but it’s him.
lols....his real problem is that he is a crappy, one dimensional actor. Boring!
From the article: [Johnson has been praised by critics in early reviews of the film. Variety’s Owen Gleiberman described his performance as “a revelation”, adding that he “seems like a new actor”.]
“Seems like a new actor”could be taken 2 ways.
The critics were especially impressed by Johnson’s lament at the climax of the film: “I coulda been a contender!”
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