Review of Southpaw (2015) by Biowalkure — 12 Jan 2016

I was going into this expecting a "slug-fest" sort of movie, like the old Rocky movies, but instead received one part boxing and two parts personal struggle outside the ring. While it wasn't what I was expecting, it did well enough as it was. While the story was somewhat (or perhaps a little more than such) predictable, it still evoked emotion when wanted to. When it wanted you to feel happiness, a smile spread across your face. When it wanted you to feel sadness, your eyes teared up, or a tear or two escaped and rolled down your cheek.

It wasn't all about the fights, like I was expecting, as I've said. It was more of an artsy movie, focusing in on a man's fall from grace and rekindled "Hope" and drive to come back out on top. Personally, while it wasn't what I expected, it certainly had a near perfect balance of fighting (exterior conflict) and personal struggle (internal conflict; such as anger management, alcoholism, and depression). I give it an 8 for 1.) Jake Gyllenhaal's acting, 2.) the movie's ability to evoke particular emotions at particular moments, and 3.) the brilliance with which the final fight scene was filmed (despite the expected outcome).

While I don't see it winning any Oscar's (expect perhaps for Gyllenhaal's phenomenal acting), it is definitely worth a watch.