The Cut (2025) - Film Review

      The Cut, 2025

      Directed by Sean Ellis

      Featuring Orlando Bloom, Caitríona Balfe, John Turturro, Eric D. Smith, Clare Dunne, Ed Kear, Oliver Trevena, and Andonis Anthony

      SYNOPSIS:

      A former boxer makes a comeback for one final chance at the title, provided he can reach the required weight. Secluded in a Las Vegas room, he engages in an intense and illegal weight-cutting regimen with a shady trainer.

      It's disappointing that director Sean Ellis' The Cut, based on a screenplay by Justin Bull and a story by Mark Lane, falls into a well-trodden and trope-laden narrative, despite its intent to present a radically different and darker boxing tale. The film focuses on Orlando Bloom as a nameless, washed-up fighter (referred to as The Boxer) who fortuitously finds himself in contention for a Super Welterweight title shot tied to a celebrity fight that resulted in a death—a plot point that is never revisited. However, the story does not revolve around the in-ring action or build towards a climactic showdown in the championship match.

      Many may express frustration upon realizing the film prioritizes the lead-up to the fight. Observing this character's training lacks excitement; thankfully, the film offers more than just that. Instead, The Cut emphasizes the daunting 30-pound weight loss The Boxer must achieve to compete in the championship. Initially, he employs standard weight loss methods and sports clichés, but it's soon clear that he is making little headway and pursuing a futile goal.

      This is where John Turturro's psychopathic trainer, Boz, enters the scene. He is convinced he can assist The Boxer in reaching his goal, claiming that what he requires is someone unconcerned with his well-being, willing to push him to extremes and utilize dangerous, sometimes illegal, methods to help him lose weight. Up until the point where this grueling training takes an alarming and reckless turn for The Boxer, his wife Caitlin (Caitríona Balfe, delivering a solid performance despite an underdeveloped role) supports him. This gives an insight into the extreme punishments The Boxer endures, with Orlando Bloom offering a gripping performance marked by intense physicality and visual storytelling (courtesy of cinematographer Sean Ellis), often showcasing the body and its unhealthy transformations in detail.

      Where The Cut falters is in its exploration of The Boxer’s motivations. It follows a clichéd narrative about one final chance at greatness, but also includes flashbacks to his childhood, with him and his mother escaping a war zone. As these flashbacks progress, they hint at a tragic backstory but fail to deliver significant emotional weight or deepen The Boxer’s characterization. Instead, they serve merely as underdeveloped justifications for his self-inflicted suffering, which includes extreme measures like inducing vomiting, enemas, drugs, and a shocking event at the weigh-in.

      What saves The Cut are its strong performances and effective direction, capturing the harshness of the story with unsettling effects. At one point, the film also delves into a drug-induced delirium. There’s a palpable carelessness regarding The Boxer’s mental and physical health, exemplified by Turturro's chilling portrayal, which amplifies the already striking effort by Orlando Bloom. While the film stands out among others in the subgenre, it ultimately misses the opportunity to achieve something truly distinctive.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

      Robert Kojder