The Fort Worth Press - 'The Rock' finds new range in Venice debut 'The Smashing Machine'

The 53-year-old was the day's star attraction at the Venice Film Festival -- his first appearance at a European festival -- mixing with arthouse directors and independent movie fans on the Lido for the annual movie extravaganza.

The "Fast and Furious" action hero told a press conference that in Hollywood, "you chase the box office and the box office in our business is very loud and it can be very resounding and it can push you into a category and into a corner."

"I understood that, and I made those movies ... some were really good and did well, and some not so," the wrestler-turned-actor confided.

"I just had this burning desire and this voice that was saying 'Well, what if? What if there is more and what if I can?'"

On paper, the role in the "The Smashing Machine" by US director Benny Safdie was tailor-made: Johnson plays wrestler Mark Kerr, a real-life former mixed martial-arts fighter in the 1990s and 2000s.

But Kerr -- in a contrast to many of Johnson's previous roles -- is a flawed and nuanced character with a sometimes toxic relationship with his girlfriend Dawn (Emily Blunt).

"The film isn't about fighting. It's a love story about Mark and Dawn and his relationship," Johnson said, while also revealing he had had to bulk up for the role at Safdie's request.

- Shakers -

Elsewhere on Monday, Mona Fastvold, one half of the star writer-director couple behind Oscar-winning "The Brutalist", will showcase her new movie "The Testament of Ann Lee" about the founder of the radical "Shakers" religious sect in the 1700s.

Packed with music and singing, the feature was co-written by Fastvold and partner Brady Corbet, who used Venice last year to launch "The Brutalist" that went on to win three Oscars, including a best actor award for Adrien Brody.

"I don't subscribe to all of Ann Lee's ideas, but I think that the way she leads with empathy and kindness and wanted to created a space where everyone was equal ... I think is really important to talk about now," Fastvold told reporters.

Also at the festival on Monday, Hollywood actress Kim Novak, 92, received a standing ovation when presented with a lifetime achievement award.

Novak played the chilling dual role of suicidal blonde Madeleine Elster and brunette shop girl Judy Barton in Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo" from 1958.

"The Smashing Machine" and "The Testament of Ann Lee" are among 21 films vying for the top Golden Lion prize at Venice, which will be handed out on Saturday.

- Gaza -

Other in-competition films that have made a mark so far in Venice include Yorgos Lanthimos's darkly satirical "Bugonia" starring Oscar-winner Emma Stone, as well as opening night feature "La Grazia" by Italy's Paolo Sorrentino.

Wednesday will see the much-anticipated premiere of "The Voice of Hind Rajab" about the real-life killing of a six-year-old Palestinian girl in Gaza by Israeli forces last year.

The Gaza war was one of the main talking points in the lead up to the festival due to an open letter denouncing the Israeli government and calling on the festival to speak out more forcefully.

Directed by Franco-Tunisian Kaouther Ben Hania, "The Voice of Hind Rajab" has attracted heavyweight Hollywood support from Brad Pitt, Jonathan Glazer and Joaquin Phoenix who have joined as executive producers.

M.McCoy--TFWP