'The Cut' Impresses at The 2024 Toronto International Film Festival

         At the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, 'The Cut' has received predominantly positive reviews from critics. In the film, which is directed by Sean Ellis, "A boxer comes out of retirement to vie for his championship title through a grueling and unsanctioned weight cut program with a coach who knows no limits, alienating himself from reality and loved ones, as he spirals out of control." The ensemble cast includes Orlando Bloom, Caitriona Balfe, and John Turturro. But what did the critics say?

        Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com says, "Bloom gives a physically committed performance, but the always great Turturro pretty much walks away with the movie as a man who sees people as nothing more than poker chips – something to play with (and possibly lose) to the house. He conveys the spirit of a man who has been broken by life and so doesn’t hesitate to break others for his own success. It’s a vicious turn in a movie that ultimately doesn’t quite add up to enough, especially when Balfe walks out for too long in the final act. See it for the cast, especially the three leads, but it’s more of a technical knockout than a stunning victory."

Photo by Bogdan Yukhymchuk on Unsplash 

        Mae Abdulbaki of Screen Rant notes, "Written by Justin Bull from a story by Mark Lane, it’s a gut-wrenching look at a destructive boxer who can’t let go of his shot at the ring one last time, even if that means pushing himself to the edge. The film focuses on Boxer’s psychological and physical struggle to get to 154 pounds, a struggle only a week before his match in Las Vegas. Aided by his tough yet patient wife/coach Caitlin (Caitriona Balfe), and new coach Boz (John Turturro), The Cut is not your average sports drama and, despite some of its low points, gets in a few good punches."

       Abe Friedtanzer of Cinema Daily US praises the film, stating, "The Cut is not an easy watch, but it does demand attention, hurtling towards a questionable finish that only underlines its core message as a cautionary tale." Concluding, "Bloom, who two decades ago was a major franchise star with roles in both The Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean franchises, is completely unrecognizable as The Boxer. The way he moves feels as if he’s barely awake, particularly as his body stops responding following nonstop efforts to extract and wipe off all sweat, cut off fluids, and exercise with no breaks. It’s an extremely physical performance that adds to the terrifying nature of this process, since The Boxer seems unable to stand up by himself or walk a few feet, let alone take down a competitor who hasn’t had to go to such lengths to make weight."