Gyllenhaal carries this story of a man who has to hit bottom to become a real person.

Rating: Null/10 (6 December 2015)

I watched this on DVD from my public library. I think it is a terrific movie and Jake Gyllenhaal gives a super performance as the prize fighter Billy Hope. But my wife didn't care for it, she usually doesn't like movies based on this theme and she walked out after maybe 30 minutes.
Billy Hope seems to have it all, a beautiful wife and a young daughter that adores him, an upscale home and a faithful entourage. But Billy got to where he is, undefeated world champ, because of his anger and rage. Seemingly impervious to pounding by his opponent, when he got tired of the "boxing" he just moved in and knocked out his opponent.
But it is that same anger that toppled him into the depths of despair. At an event with his wife, he was being taunted by another fighter who wanted a title chance. Billy was able to shrug off the "I'll take your title" taunt but couldn't when the other man said "I'll take your bitch too."
Most of the movie turns out to be what Billy does after his fall, how he learns to control his rage, and for the first time how to really box smartly.
His wife is Rachel McAdams as Maureen Hope and Oona Laurence is his daughter Leila Hope. Billy meets Forest Whitaker as gym owner and trainer Tick Wills who helps him get back on a good track.
Good movie and Gyllenhaal is super.
SPOILERS: Billy dealt with the other guy's taunts by getting into a fight with him in a hotel lobby. Someone had a handgun, a shot is fired, Maureen gets hit and she dies in Billy's arms. He is devastated, underperforms in his next fight, loses his house, wrecks his car, his daughter is put into protective services, she is angry with Billy, Billy's management moves to a different fighter. Only when he listens to Tick Wills and learns to control himself does he become a good person, gets his daughter back, and beats the scumbag in a title fight.