4 Star

Legacy of a Mistake

Day of the Fight is an impressive start to a directing career, as actor Jack Huston (American Hustle, The Irishman) writes and directs this day-in-the-life film. Jack manages to get a stellar cast, who give this black and white film the dark and edgy feel the story needs. Day of the Fight is a search for redemption.

Many years ago Mike Flannigan “Irish Mike” (Michael Pitt, The Dreamers, Seven Psychopaths) was the World champion boxer, and he had many fans in his home city of New York. But Mikey couldn’t handle the fame, which drove him to drink and fatally drink-driving.

Violence was in Mikey’s blood as he grew up in a house where his father (Joe Pesci, Eureka, Raging Bull) was violent to him and his mother, and he took out his frustrations in the ring, with a very impressive knock-out record. But now his past indiscretions have been paid, he has returned to his old trainer, Stevie (Ron Perlman, Season of the Witch, The Bleeder) at his gym. He has managed to get him a major fight at Madison Square Garden tonight.

The next twenty-four hours sees Mikey travelling around the city visiting his Uncle (Steve Buscemi, Reservoir Dogs, Fargo), getting glimpses of his young daughter Sasha (Kat Elizabeth Williams) and visiting his ex-partner
Jessica (Nicolette Robinson, One Night in Miami, Woman of the Hour) who remembers the past very differently to all the men who still worship the ex-champ.
Day of the Fight is a film of light and shade, and a big shout-out should go to cinematographer Peter Simonite (The Tree of Life, Voice from the Stone) for putting that light and shade in the right light. Plus, there is a title fight to be won, as he lays his life on the line for the ones he holds dear in his heart.

Day of the Fight is in Cinemas now.