There Is Always Hope

Rating: 7/10 (30 January 2019)

'Southpaw', although it doesn't bring anything new on the table in the boxing movie genre, is still one of the best boxing film outside the 'Rocky' saga and beside 'Raging Bull'. Jake Gyllenhaal is pure force majeure in this one and he is supported by Forest Whitaker's dedicated performance. Oona Laurence was wonderful as Billy Hope's daughter Leila. Although Rachel McAdams's screen time was quite brief (considering 2 hour running time) she still managed to leave impact. And all these dedicated performances turned 'Southpaw' very vivid emotional roller coaster ride. But don't think that without these great acting jobs this movie would have been just another cliche ridden bore. Although Jake Gyllenhaal's Billy Hope was most memorable part, Kurt Sutter's screenplay packs enough punch, and the author really knew (perhaps not on Stallone level with his Rocky movies) how to use these cliches the way they work.
Pretty straightforward and simple story, but Antoine Fuqua's directing style and superb acting make 'Southpaw' must see for every boxing movie fan, and like 'Rocky' movies, this one also holds re-watching value, even though the training montages aren't nearly as cool.