Jake Gyllenhaal leads an impressive cast as Billy Hope, a world champion boxer who finds his whole world turned upside down after a heated misunderstanding with another fighter. In the wake of unfortunate events, Billy must fight to get himself straight and get his family life back in order. As you might be able to predict, the only way he can do that is by winning a title fight against the boxer who disgraced him.
#Classic.
If you've seen Rocky or Raging Bull before, there's absolutely nothing that Southpaw brings to the table that's any different from what's depicted in those films. I know that the movie was originally written for Eminem to play Hope in what was to be a spiritual sequel to 8 Mile. I would have rather seen that movie. Not that Gyllenhaal is bad; quite the opposite. But a great Gyllenhaal performance is par for the course these days, and he seems to be going through the motions in a way that Mathers might not. The story would hit home for him emotionally more than it would Gyllenhaal. I'd expect a far more interesting picture with Eminem in the lead role.
Needless to say, I'm disappointed in most of the story beats found here. At one point, Billy pursues trainer Tick Wills (Forest Whitaker) in order to get back in shape. Tick initially refuses, asking Billy why he'd take on "the Great White Dope" as a trainee. I would've been perfectly satisfied if the film had pursued that aspect of Billy's character more. I'd be far more interested to see how he rebuilds his life amid a doping scandal as opposed to clichéd family trauma.
One gets the sense that the entire cast is above this material, from Gyllenhaal and Whitaker to Rachel McAdams, 50 Cent, and the marvelous young Oona Laurence as Billy's daughter Leila. However, there is a wonderful scene at the very end of the film where Billy meets Leila in the locker room after seeing him fight for the first time. She urges him to take her straight home afterwards. "Let's just go home," she says repeatedly amid hugs and tears. It's in that moment that Billy comes to grips with the fact that the fights aren't about him anymore. They're about his duty to his daughter. He sets himself aside in that moment, one in which the old Billy would've been quick to anger, to show that he is truly capable of change. I found that to be quite interesting, and it's sad that it comes so late in the film.
PROS:
-Gylllenhaal
-Oona Laurence
-Solid boxing action
-Superb character beats towards the film's end
CONS:
-Falls for every single boxing movie cliché
-Underwhelming final score from the late James Horner
-No Eminem (the music isn't enough!)
C+
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