Director: Antoine Fuqua
By Alex Watson
Although Antoine Fuqua's boxing drama, Southpaw feels a little familiar story wise, it does boast one of this years most powerful performances. Outside of the ring this film doesn't quite hit above its weight. The script by Kurt Sutter does give us a hero who we do firmly root for, even if he might not have the charm of Rocky Balboa. Fuqua is an adept hand at providing solid film making and his form continues here.
Billy 'The Great' Hope (Jake Gyllenhaal) is the reigning Light-Heavyweight Champion known for his angry and aggressive fighting and hard knock out style. His wife Maureen (Rachel McAdams) is becoming concerned with the brutal beatings he is taking and urges him to cut back. When Maureen gets killed during a brawl with a rival boxer Miguel 'Magic' Escobar (Miguel Gomez), Billy's life begins to spin out of control.
Southpaw might not hit the classic heights of movies such as Raging Bull, but it is still a compelling look at a man fighting his demons both in and out the ring. Billy is a fighter who literally knows how to take a beating, he is all attack and never defend. He is riding high but his injuries are beginning to concern people. After tragedy hits, Billy become a mess of a man who gets lost in a haze of addictions until his daughter gets taken away by social services. Deprived of nearly all he loves, Billy is very much the fallen hero. Fuqua's presentation of a man having to go back to his old roots and rebuild himself is at least a smart reverse of a rags to riches story.
In the ring is the where the movie pulls the most punches and as we see Billy both taking and receiving savage hits, it is impossible not be mesmerized. As an antagonist, Magic offers little more past being a trash-talking jerk, but he does ensure the audience has a desire to watch him go down in flames. The people in Billy's life are both a blessing and a curse, when his trainer abandons him Billy approaches old school trainer Tick Willis (Forest Whitaker) whose lack of trust and affection might be the tools Billy needs to repair himself. Unlike former manager Jordan (50 Cent) who despite acting like family happily abandons him when the money runs dry.
The main compelling story line is truly Billy's wish to be reunited with his daughter Leila (Oona Lawrence). Relationship wise this is no straight forward story and Billy is very much an unfit father drowning in a pool of despair after Maureen passes. His yearning to improve himself is what really drives the film and despite some bumps along the way, Billy learns he can be more than just a punching machine.
Jake Gyllenhaal gives a whirlwind performance that makes Fuqua's film come alive. A ferocious presence on-screen,Gyllenhaal turns in what could be a career best turn. Billy is the complete opposite of Nightcrawler's Lou Bloom because despite having street smarts, he doesn't know how to handle the world outside his animal persona the ring. This powerful and painfully real turn could well be the one that finally wins this man an Oscar! Forest Whitaker also gives strong support as trainer Tick which he underplays masterfully. Tick is very much the blow softener and through his old methods he is the only man to rebuild Billy from the ground up.
While Southpaw maybe largely absent from the big prize come Oscar time, Jake Gyllenhaal will be expected to among the list of nominees are criminally being overlooked last year. This movie hits just above the right levels, but you have to wonder what could have been?
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