Actor turned writer/director Jack Huston delivers his feature film debut with Day of the Fight. The film boasts a star-studded cast including Ron Perlman, John Magaro, and Steve Buscemi, and stars Michael Pitt in the lead role of Mike Flannigan. The twelve-round character study is a bold and daring debut by Huston.
Day of the Fight follows Mikey, a former boxing champion preparing for his first fight after prison. As he reconnects with those in his past, he seeks redemption as he prepares for the biggest fight of his life.
Day of the Fight Review
Jack Huston has been acting for many years and is known for his work on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire, where he played Richard Harrow for 41 episodes. Huston tackles something we have seen many times before a fighter looking to make a comeback after making many mistakes. What Huston did that made Day of the Fight stand out was ground the approach.
Although you can be clouded by the star-studded cast that appears left and right, Huston writes Mikey Flannigan with precision. Mikey faces what many Americans who serve their time face: how do you get your life back? Thankfully for Mikey, Stevie exists in his life to help him get back on his feet. But for Mikey, it wasn't easy because the past mistakes overshadowed any future he could have.
This film works because of Michael Pitt's performance as Flannigan. It's such a subtle yet gut-wrenching portrayal that quietly sneaks up on you within each act. Again, the story isn't groundbreaking, but Flannigan's sole job is to sell us on this comeback, and he does that perfectly. Of course, it helps to have this star-studded cast around him. Ron Perlman is the perfect Mickey to Pitt's Rocky. The rest of the ensemble does their part to make this thing special.
Is Day of the Fight worth watching?
Ultimately, Day of the Fight is an emotional journey of one man fighting to rectify his wrongdoings while doing what he loves. Jack Huston's ability to build this story with three intertwined acts that work so effectively highlights even in his first film, he knows what he is doing. I can't wait to see what is next for Huston because this is the beginning of his writing/directing career. This is a twelve-round fight that is worth watching.
Day of the Fight is in select theaters now.