Review of Southpaw (2015) by Filmphonic — 24 Jul 2015

We’ve come to expect a certain level of intensity from a Jake Gyllenhaal film in recent years and ‘Southpaw’ is no exception, the dramatic performance out of the ring is strong but the dedication shown to becoming utterly convincing as a pro boxer is extraordinary, even from him.

With the help of former pro-boxer and trainer-to-the-stars Terry Claybon, Gyllenhaal had only 8 months to not only physically transform into a peak-conditioned boxer without looking like a bodybuilder, but also had to learn to box from scratch by living full-time as a fighter.

The result is a brutally honest and convincing portrayal of a prize-fighter, although to the trained eye he might not look like the undefeated light-heavyweight world champ “Billy Hope” is supposed to be, it’s about as close as an actor with no boxing background is likely to get.

It’s really a great shame then that for all his efforts, Gyllenhaal ‘s monumental performance only just manages to carry along a story that’s painfully predicable and recycles multiple clichés in fight and sport film history, not to mention every riches-to-rags and redemption story too.

‘Southpaw’ was originally set to star rapper Eminem in a boxing drama mirroring his own life, but although the star and director changed, the story remained a gritty but unoriginal and melodramatic narrative which ultimately feels like a missed opportunity.

The Bottom Line….

Jake Gyllenhaal’s extraordinary transformation and utterly convincing performance make an all too familiar and uninspired story watchable enough, ultimately though ‘Southpaw’ could have been so much more but Gyllenhaal’s reputation as a top actor of his generation remains untarnished.