DAY OF THE FIGHT should be called THE BUILD-UP TO THE FIGHT. For an hour and twenty minutes, audiences follow Mike (Michael Pitt) as he sets things right and preps for a comeback fight. It’s the classic underdog story told in beautiful black and white. While the build-up meanders sometimes, the acting and style are so strong that they compensate, giving audiences enough to root for.
Thanks to the black and white photography, DAY OF THE FIGHT feels like a 1970s film. It prioritizes mood over a complicated story. And despite having limited screen time, audiences get to see Joe Pesci return to a boxing movie!
At times, DAY OF THE FIGHT plays like Terrence Malick-light cinema. It’s visually poetic and won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. But for those who like “mood pieces,” it might just be the comfort viewing you want.
DAY OF THE FIGHT is not a knockout like ROCKY or RAGING BULL, but thanks to Michael Pitt and the supporting cast, it goes a solid twelve rounds that are worth a view… at home.
It’s opening in limited theatres on 12/6.
