Southpaw--A Left-Handed Compliment

Rating: 9/10 (14 September 2015)

The boxing movie genre—Raging Bull, Rocky, Million Dollar Baby, The Fighter —is commonly tackled in movies because of its inherent drama and overt conflict between the protagonist, a down-and-out boxer and a champion. "Southpaw" neatly fits into this mold, but the story has some interesting surprises, not just a re-tread of previous boxing blockbusters.
Beyond the great acting, there are a few loose ends:
Who was responsible for what happened to the wife? What is the former manager's malfeasance? What is the backstory of the trainer? Is there more to Billy's absence as a father, and his past relationship with his little girl? How does the title "Southpaw" add to the narrative? Nonetheless , Jake Gyllenhaal owns this film and made it an extraordinary boxing film to watch.
Note: As in most of Fuqua's films, the fight scenes are extremely brutal and bloody, adding to the tension.See the complete review at: www.unhealedwound.com and let me know what you think!