Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is unrecognizeable as UFC fighter in A24's "The Smashing Machine"

Okay, so this movie isn't set in Johnson's milieu, professional wrestling, but the nascent days of mixed martial arts, when UFC was a weird evolution of tough man competitions. Still, Johnson knows his way around looking like he can fight, and he certainly has a fighter's physique.

Johnson is playing real fighter Mark Kerr, who was highlighted in a 2002 HBO documentary also called "The Smashing Machine." The only other notable actor to be seen in the trailer is Emily Blunt, playing Kerr's paramour Dawn Staples.

This is no empty-calories sports movie, as this A24 offering clearly has an awards patina on it. It's also directed by Benny Safdie, of Safdie brothers fame. Both brothers have their own movies coming out this year, as Josh is directing the ping pong movie starring Timothee Chalamet which will also likely be an awards play. If you're not sure which Safdie is which, Benny is the one who is also a really good actor.

Johnson showed some acting chops early in his career, but he swiftly went down the blockbuster path and strived for movie stardom and his own franchises. This is a guy whose Instagram is largely dedicated to shilling products he endorses or has financial stake in. However, "The Smashing Machine" finally sees him attempting to take a swing at the kind of serious, dramatic work he has largely eschewed. Of course, if he fails to get an Oscar nomination it's probably back to the superhero salt mines or trying to get another "Jumanji" movie greenlit. We shall see how that all goes.