Review of Southpaw (2015) by Patrick L — 19 Aug 2015

Boxing movies are mostly an entertaining watch and mostly tend to be something more than scenes of two guys punching each other in the ring. Southpaw is the latest addition to this long lasting genre directed by Antoine Fuqua and produced on a relatively small budget. The film was originally meant to be a follow-up to 8 Mile (2002) with Eminem reprising his role but it went to a completely new direction when he dropped out of the project to focus on his music career. Watching Gyllenhaal in the finished film proves the decision to be for the best because he brings a whole new meaning to the term method acting! The title of the film is a reference to the eponymous stance traditionally adopted by a left-handed boxer - or in this case, a left-handed boxer with serious anger issues. Southpaw is a solid but predictable attempt in the genre that fails to distance itself from the boxing movie clichés we all know too well by now.

Billy Hope (Jake Gyllenhaal) is the undefeated light heavyweight boxing champion, and has a habit of taking a massive beating before coming back for the win. He's had a tough life but seems to be in a good place now. Having grown up in an orphanage, he's married to Maureen (Rachel McAdams), another orphan he met there. They live an idyllic life with their daughter Leila (Oona Laurence). After another big victory in the ring, Maureen talks to Billy about taking a break from boxing; she believes he's only a few steps away from permanent brain damage. When a terrible tragedy occurs, Billy starts to lose hope and his glorious lifestyle resulting in him hitting the skids and being discarded by his self-serving manager Jordan (Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson). Once the decision regarding the custody of Leila is under question, Billy decides to get his life back on track by getting back into the ring. When he finally embarks on the comeback trail, he receives help from the tough-minded Tick Willis (Forest Whitaker) in a run-down gym.

As mentioned above, Southpaw is a story we've seen many times before, but that doesn't mean that the film is not worth the watch. It is directed with such passion and skill that will keep thing interesting despite a two-hour long running time. As a story, it's melodramatic and familiar with no major surprises or twists in the end fight that makes the movie stand in a noticeable contradiction: It is loud, bold and bloody, but has nothing new or interesting to say and lacks depth and courage. But even with all these problems, the film still works because sometimes, watching a collection of clichés in a boxing movie is more satisfying than a failed attempt at making a unique one. Fuqua goes to great lengths to make us feel the punches and the violence in the ring, while delivering the dazzling excitement that surrounds a major fight. The big finale in Las Vegas' Ceasar's Palace is thrilling and full of edge of your seat moments with the camera constantly moving, getting close to the fighters and the superb editing that compliments the sequence. Yes it is very familiar and conservative, yes we've seen this done better in many other boxing movies, but it works fine here so, no complaints!

What gives Southpaw a respectable point is the stellar cast lead by a transformative role for Gyllenhaal, who is almost unrecognizable in the film. He looks and acts like a believable boxing champion, beefed up with muscles, ornamental tattoos and a tortured face that is often covered in blood. After giving a career best performance in last year's Nightcrawler, he makes the role is own and truly gives it his all, which makes the movie watchable for his performance alone. Rachel McAdams is also great, swiftly sketching in a character whose bond to Billy comes as much from their shared backstory as their current success. But even with all these great performances, it is young Oona Laurence who steals the show and manages to create some of the film's best and most heart-breaking scenes with her amazing performance. Her character's on-screen relationship with her father evolves over the course of the story and Laurence is truly believable as the pre-teen reacting to the sudden disastrous situation in her life.

It has to be mentioned that this is the last movie composed by James Horner before his sudden unfortunate passing. The music compliments the scenes well and Eminem's main theme song for the film will probably become a favorite among the gym goers due to its inspirational theme and composition. As a raw and brutal entry in the boxing movie genre, Southpaw is just another rehash of tired plot points and clichés but it uses the clichés well. What it loses on lack of originality and risk taking it more than makes up for in execution and acting, making it a worthy watch.