The Rock’s Chopard watches means he’s hungry for that Oscar
At the Venice Film Festival, The Rock settles in for the awards race with a wardrobe and watches befitting a leading man
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THE TIME HAS FINALLY COME: The Rock has arrived on the Lido.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson makes his Venice Film Festival debut for his upcoming A24 vehicle, The Smashing Machine. With a 15-minute standing ovation, to which The Rock reportedly endured through “uncontrollable sobs”, the Benny Safdie-directed film is poised to be a frontrunner in the coming awards race. The Rock plays American former wrestler Mark Kerr in the gritty and downbeat MMA flick. It marks a change of pace for the former WWE star’s acting career, known for family-friendly and tough-guy pastiche in past projects, but one he “was really hungry to do,” he told The Hollywood Reporter.
“I had been very fortunate to have the career that I’ve had over the years and to make the films that I’ve made,” he continued. “But there was just a voice inside of me, a little voice that said, ‘Well, what if I could do more – I want to do more and what does that look like?’”
Related: The best dressed men at the Venice Film Festival, so far
The Rock’s new look, part one
The Black Adam actor’s transformation in the film is noteworthy, but even more so his new leading man wardrobe as he sets off for the race ahead. Stepping off the gondola alongside co-star Emily Blunt and director Safdie on his first day, The Rock took advantage of being in Italy, wearing a navy Prada knit polo and white linen trousers. He cuts a suave figure in his new Italian wares compared to previous casual outfits, his old go-to consisting of colourful polos and camp collar shirts with the kind of dad prints that beat you to the punchline.
But perhaps most intriguing was the 41 mm Chopard Alpine Eagle strapped to his wrist. Dainty timepieces aren’t what we’d expect from The Rock – rather, a big chunky Hublot or a blinged-out Rolex is more like it. In Hollywood, the itty-bitty watch trend has been embraced with your Austin Butler and Paul Mescal types. In other words, male actors who’ve built their careers appealing to the female gaze. (And you’d probably find these womens’ boyfriends in the cinema next door watching a Johnson flick, too.)
There’s also something to be said about the Swiss jeweller and watchmaker branching out its image with the uber-buff actor. The watch itself is a contemporary reinterpretation of the (even more dainty) St Moritz from 1980. Made in stainless steel with a 9.70 mm thickness that slips out elegantly from under a tailored sleeve, you might’ve caught a view of the Alpine Eagle on Italian banker bros to Savile Row purists.
The Rock’s new look, part two
For The Smashing Machine premiere later that night, The Rock showed up in Prada again, this time in a custom double-breasted suit in stone grey. (No way is he fitting into those cigarette pants co-designer Raf Simons loves so much.) Another Chopard Alpine Eagle was his timepiece of choice, but now in a ritzier 18-carat rose gold featuring a navy dial. It certainly has an eye-catching effect as it contrasts with the concrete colour of his Prada suit, but less “garish” to his previous tailoring, as one colleague concluded. (The watch’s price is also mouth-watering at $104,500.)
It’s still early on in the awards race, but The Rock’s bid seems all but certain for a nomination. In terms of what the actor is packing for the road ahead, his timepieces seem to be the gravitational centre of his sartorial universe. In other words, The Rock is also hungry for that Oscar.
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