[Movie Review] Southpaw (2015)
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Kurt Sutter
Runtime: 123 min
Main Cast:
- Jake Gyllenhaal as Billy Hope
- Forest Whitaker as Tick Wills
- Rachel McAdams as Maureen Hope
Review: by Faith and Marie
For a long time we have heard many things about this upcoming film. Having severe excitement already with the all star cast, we were also eager to see how they were going to portray the world of boxing.
Boxing isn’t a sport of surprises. It’s not about who can throw the best punch or dodge in a brand-new fashion. Like so many sports, it’s about mastering techniques and repeating those moves more fluidly than the competition. The familiarity of Antoine Fuqua’s “Southpaw” definitely fits appropriately for the subject matter. There are so few narrative surprises in this traditional tale of a boxer who is pushed down by a personal tragedy and then rises again to save the one person in his life who matters the most.
The remarkable Jake Gyllenhaal transforms himself yet again as Billy Hope, a boxing champion near the end of his career. “Southpaw” opens with an difficult fight for the champ, one that goes into the late rounds and leaves him battered. His wife, Maureen (Rachel McAdams), encourages him to take a break. As she warns him, two more years of this and he’ll be punch-drunk and unable to spend time with the most important person in his life, his daughter Leila (a breakthrough child performance from Oona Laurence). Billy doesn’t know much outside of boxing. He grew up in child services, which is where he not only met Maureen but the posse of friends who hang around after fights and encourage his rise to fame. As often happens in the world of boxing, a newcomer wants a shot at the King. Miguel Escobar (Miguel Gomez) is a younger, more agile fighter who shouts at Hope after press conferences that he wants his time in the ring.
Promoter/manager Jordan Mains (Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson) doesn’t want to schedule the Escobar vs. Hope fight yet, trying to get a few more wins (and their accompanying cash payouts) in the books. Hope wants the big match, but everything changes when a physical altercation between the often-violent pugilist and the rising star ends in gunfire. When the smoke clears, Maureen has a bullet-sized hole in her stomach and Billy’s life has been forever changed. He’s been barred from the only thing he knows which sends him down spirals into suicidal behavior, and risks losing his daughter forever. Can he rise again?
What We Liked:
Although this was an extraordinary movie all the way through, we would have to say that it was when Billy Hope met Tick (Forest Whitaker) the movie just got even better. Jake Gyllenhaal has quietly turned into a physically confident actor and it’s nice to see his strong work here matched by an excellent turn from Whitaker as well. It was not just one particular scene where Whitaker and Gyllenhaal showered us with excellence, but every scene they were in together they gave off a vibe of being the best at what they do. Another thing that was truly inspiring about this movie was the talk of family and the undying affection that a father has for his daughter.
What We Didn’t Like:
We will have to say that there was honestly nothing to dislike about this movie. It was wonderfully done and kept us intertwined with what was going to happen next.
Summary
There are more boxing movies than any other sport. Why is that, especially in an era when the real sport is declining in popularity? It’s because of the relatability in fighting for something, getting in the ring and trying to defeat not just an opponent but personal demons. “Southpaw” enters the long filmography of boxing flicks, and puts up a surprisingly good fight. We would definitely recommend that anyone and everyone go see this movie and we promise you will not regret it.
Images Courtesy of IMDB
