SOUTHPAW (Theatrical Release USA 2015)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.9|5.0 Starsìììì

Southpaw becomes one of those boxing masterpieces (which we thought could never happen again after Stallones’ Rocky) that completely satisfies. It’s got an outstanding storyline and backs that story with outstanding acting by Jake Gyllenhaal. Watch for Fifty Cent and especially Forrest Whitaker as this is one of his best works since The Butler.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Billy Hope (Jake Gyllenhaal), at the top of the boxing game, reacts to rough comments about his wife and in the melee that follows loses his wife. His life falls apart. When he loses his daughter to Child Services, he realizes he needs help and goes to the Tick Wills (Forest Whitaker) Gym to train for fighting to get his daughter back and his life back on line.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Antoine Fuqua for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers David J. Bloomfield, Cary Cheng, Jonathan Garrison, Stuart Parr, David Ranes, Paul Rosenberg, David L. Schiff, Dylan Sellers, Kurt Sutter, Ezra Swerdlow, Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, and Fang Zhao for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Maureen Hope (Rachel McAdams), Leila Hope (Oona Laurence), Jordan Mains (50 Cents), Hoppy (Skylan Brooks), Angela Rivera (Naomie Harris), Ramone (Victor Ortiz), Jon Jon (Beau Knapp), and Miguel ‘Magic’ Escobar (Miguel Gomez).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It meets Rocky head to head for boxing entertainment.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers