The Cut Proves That Ozempic Isn’t The Only Way To Lose
It’s TIFF time and I must admit I have become disenchanted. Perhaps it’s due to my nostalgia for the festival in the noughties when tickets were $11 and celebrities actually hung out in the city. Nevertheless, I was thrust into “Tiffing” once again after being invited to the World Premiere of Orlando Bloom’s film. So I put my favourite dress on and made my way to Festival Row. First impression: Festival Row was beyond disappointing with nothing to do other than get a free slice of pizza. Once inside the Princess of Wales Theatre I noticed a large amount of empty seats, but at a price tag of $95 per ticket I wasn’t surprised. With Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry both in attendance the audience was electric complete with necks craned at full capacity and iPhones set to maximum zoom.
Orlando Bloom stars in The Cut about a retired boxer needing to make weight in order to fight one more time. This movie is unconventional in the fact that the majority of the film deals with “the cutting” of 32 pounds in 6 days in order to qualify. Scenes of fighting are replaced with graphic depictions of weight loss. Consequently, we see Bloom purge, sweat and harm himself in order to shed pounds. Last year after watching Gran Turismo I wrote: “When did Bloom lose his ability to act because his performance is based solely on a variety of bizarre facial expressions and over the top shouting. (I miss Legolas.)” After attending The Cut I can attest that Bloom still has it. Bloom does a spectacular job of portraying a man tortured mentally and physically by a life that hasn’t turned out quite right. His once handsome visage is marked by deep creases and downcast expression while his enviable physique becomes unbearable to look at.
Although Bloom really shows up in this project the film overall is not great. The reason I say this is simple, too many plot lines are introduced and statements are made that go nowhere. As a viewer I felt confused as I was pulled from one direction to the next without any recompense. While Caitríona Balfe, his trainer/girlfriend, and John Turturro, a master cutter, give good performances the story leaves too many loose ends. Why does Bloom’s character want to fight again? What is Balfe’s backstory and is Turturro an actual murderer? The entire film creates a thick fog surrounding what we think we know. One could argue that is the point thus creating a daze similar to Bloom’s hallucinations but what I see is sloppy storytelling. While the weight loss is the meat of the film where is the rest of the stuffing? While The Cut is unlike any boxing movie I have ever seen the potential is tainted by a bitter aftertaste of dissatisfaction. It is worth noting that there is a subtly beautiful moment at the end of the film involving a beef burger, a belt and a phone call. Orlando I urge you to keep making choices that push the envelope and showcase your masterclass capabilities. No Gran Turismo 2, I beg of you!