Film Review – The Cut

Most boxing movies follow a distinct formula. It’s the “Rocky” way, following fighters as they experience challenges and troubles on the road to Fight Night, which is usually offered as a major climatic event, paying off all the psychological study and training insanity. “The Cut” is a boxing picture that has very little interest in the sport itself, with screenwriter Justin Bull drawn to a highly specific element of verification, the weigh-in, to inspire a descent into madness as an aging pugilist does everything possible to make sure he qualifies for an important match. It’s a unique look at desperation and manipulation, with Bull using the ugly side of training and business dealings to inspire a tough look at suffering. Director Sean Ellis (“Anthropoid,” “The Cursed”) is tasked to make an offering about pain, but “The Cut” is attentive to character history and relationships, helping to pull the feature away from simple sports film intensity. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com