SOUTHPAW (2015)

Genre: Drama
Running Length: 2:04
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Forest Whitaker, Rachel McAdams, Oona Laurence, 50 Cent, Naomie Harris
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Screenplay: Kurt Sutter 

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!” Rocky Balboa 

Sports drama (particularly boxing movies) are like romantic comedies; they follow tried-and-true formulas and audiences will walk away feeling satisfied because they got what they were expecting for. Just like Rocky, SOUTHPAW is less about winning or losing but more about the hero's journey towards redemption. It's more about personal growth and relationships. 

Antoine Fuqua has given us another technically flawless motion picture. The actors' performance are solid, the fights in the ring are intense, the score by the late James Horner is emotional at all the right spots and of course, the screenplay is focused. That said, there is something which is missing which I can't put a finger on it. For a dramatic film, one should feel the punch in the emotional gut at its climax but Southpaw didn't do it for me. Nevertheless, it's still a well crafted film with a knockout performance by Gyllenhaal (with Prisoners, Nightcrawler and the up-coming Everest, Gyllenhaal is one committed actor). In this movie, his switch from rage to vulnerability and his physical transformation are admirable. The rest of the supporting cast are solid especially Whitaker and McAdams. A big shout out to Oona Laurence's commanding performance as our hero's young daughter. 

Although the narrative is predictable, the depth of its characters and their relationships elevate this film to a compelling watch.

Rating: 7/10