A retired boxer wants to make a comeback for the title and goes through extreme and illegal ways to cut down on weight, affecting him and his relationship with his team.
Emotional and, on occasion, painful to watch. When we talk about the early, experimental Sean Ellis (director), we talk about Cashback (2006) and The Broken (2008) – two films where what you see is a lot more than meets the eye. They are definitely my two favourite films of his. Mainly, it’s because of the darkness they hide in. Then, he went somewhat conventional, yet still brutal and original: Metro Manila (2013), Anthropoid (2016), and The Cursed (2021): https://kaygazpro.com/the-cursed-2021-fantasy-horror-mystery/. Conventional or not, Ellis’ stamp is on all of those films.
So where does The Cut stand? Like most of his films, The Cut is not for everybody. Despite appearances, boxing and what led Boxer (Orlando Bloom) to follow that path is the subplot. The plot revolves around his determination to make it to the ring, to cut down on weight and be there no matter what. And the “no matter what” is the plot. Writers Justin Bull, Mark Lane, and Ellis surface the deep trauma (subplot) that has made Boxer who he is, as well as the dark passenger who steers the wheel behind his motivation. There is a reference by Boz (John Turturro) to the journey and the destination, dismissing the journey and praising only the destination. Intentionally or not, The Cut is all about the journey, discounting the destination.
Regardless of what you read about it, it is definitely worth your time. Bull, Lane, and Ellis have crafted a dark and thought-provoking film that explores trauma, will, action, and consequences. With Bloom, Turturro, and Caitriona Balfe on board, you’re in for a mesmerising experience. Extra credits have to go to Bloom, who lost 52 pounds (23+ kg) for the role and got ripped.
Upon watching it, think about it. Are we consciously guided by our will or unconsciously by a past that, unbeknownst to us, has been in the driver’s seat the whole time?
P.S. Unintentionally, this review was written back-to-back with a film that has a very similar theme, Him (2025): https://kaygazpro.com/him-2025/. See how two similar themes can be so dissimilarly made. The beauty of cinema!
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