This tries to be Rocky for the new generations

Rating: 5/10 (25 August 2015)

I want to start off, by saying that i am a HUGE fan of Boxing. and if this wasn't about boxing, i'd probably give this film a 4 or 5.
Southpaw had more then few problems with its story and its continuity. The cinematography and choreography were good, but far from being the best. Many boxing films have much more entertaining fights then Southpaw.
Story: Billy Hope is presented as an almost like Rocky character. Never explained why he is always dopey, slow and has a speech impairment. One could argue that it is because it is stated that he has no defense and lets his opponents just hit him so that he can fire up. Sounds like Rocky, except that Rocky tries show defense, but is more of a street brawler. both use same tactics. Hard punches, counter punches.
1. Miguel at the beginning and midpoint of the film, is not your typical bad guy, he shows a lot of respect for Billy, from clapping when he wins, to telling his idiot friend to shut up during the charity, his antics and media cries are all done to try and secure the fight against him, but there are clear signs of respect to him. But then the character just flips a 180.
2. At the charity, there were many reporters with their cameras who were not only following Billy as he was leaving, but also others who were doing an interview with Miguel. The probability that not a single one of those camera captured the shooting is ridiculous. Even if they were focused on the two men fight, they were being pushed back making all of their shots a wide angle shots, meaning capturing more of the space.
3.Billy never questions as to where his millions of dollars disappeared to, in less then one month after his wife's death.
4. every one turning their back on him. Not Curtis Jackson, but his so called close friends that he grew up with, all but one. Plus, the fact that he is so famous and can't get a single ad/ interview/ or commentator line of work is ridiculous, at least in Rocky it was because he couldn't read, but he tried. Here it's because he is just useless.
5. the daughter's strength and her version of depression. Now granted i am not an a child psychologist, but a young girl whose is very (super) close to her parents wouldn't be so strong (non- crying) as she was, yes she had one tear, and wasn't sleeping. But she was laughing and was always calm in all of her scenes. Even as to be calm enough to go and play outside with other kids, and do homework.
6. The ever lasting black eye. Black eye lasts up 14 days, assuming its a boxing injury lasts up to 30 days. After his loss to Turay where his has it again and his daughter is taken away from him. he is then told to have 30 days to get his act together, however during the second court scene he still has a black eye, and in his 3rd court scene it is still there, it is still there again 11 weeks later when he fights Miguel. That's some magic right there. near 14 weeks of having a black eye.
7. he has 3 title shots, there are 4 title shots, all within the period of one year. to be exact, all within the period of around 30 weeks. Thats impossible!!! and just stupid. How?... his first fight was day 1. He wins, remains the champion (Title fight 1) 2 weeks later is the charity, Wife dies, 2 weeks maybe less (presumed, as he still has all fresh wounds) later he signs the papers with Curtis to fight against Turay in 8 weeks. this puts the fight against Turay at around 11-14 weeks after day 1, he loses to Turay (Title fight #2). Hits the tree. Given 30 days (Court) with out his daughter. he is then given another 30 days. At which point Turay fights and loses to Miguel (Title fight #3) this puts this fight at around 16-17 weeks after day 1. 30 more days past for the Court, even though he agrees to the fight before the third court hearing. he is given 6 weeks to train. So if we take another 30 days which 5 weeks plus 6 weeks of training and add them to the 16-17 weeks past day 1. Billy fights Miguel 27-28 weeks after day 1. I'm not even going into the whole debate about the 1 year suspension. 4 title fights under 30 weeks is impossible.
Like I said this film tries to be Rocky of the new generation, but fails, Rocky was more consistent, we were told that Rocky wasn't all there. His brain was slow, we were told that he was a brawler growing up, that's why he fights a certain way. Billy is slow because either he is on drugs, or he has been hit so many times, we are not sure, or is it because he doesn't know what to say as he is depressed. He has had 43 fights, no losses but never learned how to defend himself. He grew up with friends that were his whole family, but then they all disappeared, even though they themselves have no families, so they should be super close. He has 3 pro fights, 1 charity even within 30 week period, there are 4 title shots within 30 week period. His promoter is a very cliché bad guy. His daughter's depression is almost non- existent. Making the other boxer use low punches and making him cliché is just stupid, why? Miguel's whole motivation was to get in the ring with him, and he did it.