After losing his shot at the title, the protagonist of The Cut, referred to only as The Boxer and played by Orlando Bloom, spends his days teaching boxing classes alongside his partner. Ten years later, an insistent desire convinces him that this is his last shot at redemption, prompting him to sign on for a fight. The catch? He’s 32 pounds (14 kilos) overweight and has just six days to shed the extra weight.
The film’s straightforward premise provides a clear goal and a ticking clock, establishing a sense of urgency right from the start. It quickly illustrates the challenges of the weight-cutting process, drawing viewers in to cheer for him as he strives to meet his target. You feel his frustration when the scale refuses to budge. Even though it seems impossible for the protagonist to hit his goal, the film skillfully weaves in a thread of hope, buoyed by supportive characters who rally behind him.
Bloom, typically not recognized for his dramatic range, fully commits to the role. His performance is undeniably showy, almost shouting, “Look how much I’m acting!”, yet it may very well be the best work of his career (though that’s not saying much). A notable choice he makes is portraying a character who, despite his physical strength, is emotionally guarded, often barely audible when speaking. This ‘weak’ persona makes it believable when he succumbs to the temptation of a piece of chocolate, effectively illustrating why he never quite achieved success in the ring. For once, Bloom manages to convey genuine emotion through his glances and vocal tones, a stark contrast to his typically wooden performances in roles like Legolas or Will Turner (although those performances fit their films).
In contrast, John Turturro shines as the unorthodox boxing trainer, delivering some of the film’s most memorable lines. While his character feels like a lesser version of J.K. Simmons’ role in Whiplash, Turturro brings an engaging energy that keeps the scenes fun and lively. Caitríona Balfe also excels as Bloom’s partner, effectively portraying her character’s strength and conflict. The script does her well by not overwhelming the audience with backstory, providing just enough context to understand her motivations.
Unfortunately, the film doesn’t extend the same subtlety to Bloom’s character development. It leans too heavily on clunky flashbacks that repetitively hammer home every detail and motivation behind his journey and the significance of the fight. Additionally, although the dissonant score by Lorne Balfe and Stuart Michael Thomas attempts to immerse viewers in the protagonist’s struggles, the film lacks a more effective visual representation of his mental state.
Nevertheless, The Cut concludes on a strong note, leaving audiences with solid performances and a compelling, fresh story told in a concise 99 minutes. Despite its flaws, it offers an inspiring look at determination and resilience that should not be cut.
- 1Sentimental Value
- 2Hamnet
- 3One Battle After Another
- 4Ne Zha 2
- 5Blue Moon
- 107The Cut#107 of 256
- 1Conclave
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- 3The Substance
- 4The Assessment
- 5Queer
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- Where to watch
- Rent or buy at Apple TV Store, Amazon Video
- Where to watch
- Rent or buy at Apple TV Store, Amazon Video
Play trailer
- Original title
- The Cut
- Director
- Sean Ellis
- Genre
- Drama
- Cast
- Orlando Bloom, Caitríona Balfe, John Turturro, Gary Beadle, Clare Dunne, Ed Kear, Mohammed Mansaray, Oliver Trevena
- Rated
- R
- Screenwriter
- Mark Lane, Justin Bull
- Composer
- Lorne Balfe, Stuart Michael Thomas
- Cinematography
- Sean Ellis
- Country
- Language
- English
- Box office
- 66455