The Cut is the slick new boxing drama by British director Sean Ellis. Except it's not really about boxing. Orlando Bloom gives a great physical performance as an unnamed boxer who is thrust back into competition 10 years after a knockout blow ended his career. The problem is he has to lose 30lbs in a week. The movie is propulsive and no scene ever outstays its welcome, with tense moments as Bloom races against the clock and fights both his body and mind to meet the deadline. As the deadline nears he becomes ever more desperate to make the cut and the Bloom begins to lose his grip on reality. Bloom and John Turturro, his lose-fat-quick trainer, are both exceptional and whilst Oscar nominations might be out of this movies reach, could definitely get the nod for Baftas. Also worth a shout for a nomination is criminally underrated director Sean Ellis, who I've been a fan of since I came across Metro Manila. Some of the reviews for this movie have been quite negative about the filmmaking but I thought it was once again excellent. His style is simple yet kinetic, effortlessly rachetting up tension and leaving the audience with some questions that allow us to think deeper about the themes. The Cut is presented as a movie about boxing, but it's really about how far you'll go to achieve a goal, and whether you can muster the mental strength to achieve it. The title itself can refer to many different types of cut, and the movie itself pulls on many different strands. 7/10.

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