Director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) tries his hand in the boxing genre in Southpaw and like any other films that showcase the life inside and outside the ring, the movie doesn't offer something new but Fuqua's grit mood throughout the movie aided by handheld shots and anchored by a tough yet heartfelt performance by Jake Gyllenhaal elevates it among other boxing films.
Southpaw is all about the reigning Junior Middleweight Boxing Champion of the World Billy "The Great" Hope (Gyllenhaal) who has it all: a great boxing career, a loving wife (Rachel McAdams) and daughter Leila (Oona Laurence) and financial success.
Unfortunately tragedy struck him one by one and when he had nothing, Hope had his hope on a boxing gym owner Tick Wills (Forest Whitaker) to put his life back on track. Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson also is in the film as Hope's promoter. He did not act. He just dressed the part.
Southpaw is a feel good movie masquerading as a grim one. Whitaker and young actress Laurence are also standouts in the film and as one who also watched the much hyped boxing event of the year which was the Pacquiao - Mayweather fight two months ago, you will have more fun and be satisfied watching Southpaw and not leave you shortchanged like that expensive live fight in Vegas.
