A film full of gems - not your usual boxing film

Rating: 10/10 (9 July 2016)

I wanted to watch this film purely for the hype of Jake Gyllenhaal's power house performance. Could it really be that good or did he just beef himself up for an unusual role and give the illusion of doing something different. Well, I can honestly say, hands down, his performance is one of the strongest I have seen in a film. This truly is a great actor at work.
Jake's performance I had expected from the reviews I had read but what I didn't expect was the power of the story in this film. Full of unexpected twists, heart wrenching moments and an ability to have you routing for the 'good guy' in this exceptional tale of defiance and courage. Watching this film I simply did not anticipate the emotional roller-coaster it put me through.
I always say the mark of a good film is one that can make you feel something not just in the moment but leave you thinking and contemplating for days even weeks after watching it. That is exactly what you get with Southpaw.
Such a good cinematic story, performance, direction and cinematography would be lost without the power of a good score to go with it. As is to be expected, James Horner delivers one of his best scores filled with a wealth of subtlety and beauty that doesn't overpower the film but simply enhances it to state of euphoria. I find it incredibly fitting that this film, one of his finest musical achievements, is ultimately left in loving memory of him. A true pinnacle of his fantastic career.
If you are unsure about this film, please watch it and be open to its story. Be prepared to see not your average boxing film but something that packs a punch both in and out of the ring.
Enjoy it...