The Cut

I’ve loved watching SportsCenter over the years, but I also think it’s made us only really care about the “highlights” of life. It started with sports—our conversations shifted from, “Did you watch the game last night?” to “That dunk was crazy.” Thanks to social media, I think that’s how we view life in general now. Personally, I love “day in the life” moments, and The Cut delivers exactly that. This is a boxing movie unlike anything you’ve seen before. While it may not be a true behind-the-scenes look, it shows a side of the sport that I can only hope is more fiction than fact.

At a small gym run by Catlin Harney (Caitríona Balfe), young fighters train to become the next great boxers. Among them is a fighter (Orlando Bloom) who once tasted success, but after a devastating knockout now just helps Catlin run the gym. Then comes an opportunity: a championship fight suddenly needs a challenger after the previous opponent drops out. A promoter remembers the boxer’s past success and offers him the shot—the only catch is he has one week to prepare. That’s a tall order, since the fight is at 154 lbs, and he’s currently walking around at 180.

Determined to seize the chance, he throws himself into a brutal weight cut. Catlin and his friend Manny (Ed Kear) help, but because they care about him, they won’t push him as far as he needs to go. That’s when Boz (John Turturro) enters the picture. He’s the guy who will get him to his desired weight—by any means necessary.

Written by Justin Bull from a story by Mark Lane, The Cut is a visceral experience that digs into the psychological and physical hell this boxer endures for one more shot at glory. Director Sean Ellis takes us inside the fighter’s battles, showing us not just the process, but the toll it takes. The intensity reaches nightmare levels at times—this isn’t your standard training montage set to inspirational music. Instead, we watch a man break himself down, shedding weight in any way possible.

The Cut is a fascinating look at boxing in a way we rarely see—focusing on the internal fights often overlooked in sports dramas. It has a lot going for it, but like a boxer who’s been hit one too many times, it stumbles, especially in its storytelling. What keeps it from going down is Orlando Bloom’s raw, compelling performance. He disappears into the role—gone is the sleek façade of Legolas, replaced by a man who’s life has already knocked him around a few rounds. John Turturro also shines, delivering the kind of grounded, commanding performance that reminds you how good he really is.

Unfortunately, the rest of the characters feel thin, and the flaws in the narrative keep the film from reaching its full potential. Still, The Cut lands more than a few strong punches. Even with its imperfections, it’s a boxing film worth staying in the ring for.