Screw the critics!

Rating: 9/10 (29 July 2015)

'SOUTHPAW': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five)
Jake Gyllenhaal, one of the greatest actors of his generation (or any), stars in this boxing drama flick, directed by Antoine Fuqua (the man responsible for such gritty crime thrillers as 'TRAINING DAY', 'BROOKLYN'S FINEST' and 'THE EQUALIZER'). It was written by Kurt Sutter; a TV writer, known for writing several episodes of such popular crime dramas as 'THE SHIELD' and 'SONS OF ANARCHY' (which he also created). The film tells the story of a champion boxer, who desperately fights to get his life back on track; after his wife is killed and he loses his daughter to child protection services. It costars Forest Whitaker, Rachel McAdams, Oona Laurence, 50 Cent, Naomie Harris and Miguel Gomez. The movie also features the final music score of the late James Horner; who worked for free, and the film is dedicated to. The soundtrack also features multiple songs by Eminem, who was originally set to star in the movie (reprising his role from '8 MILE'). The film hasn't received the best reviews from critics; but it's a sports movie classic, and it has to be seen by any true movie lover.
Gyllenhaal plays a professional boxer named Billy Hope; who's recently retired from the sport, after winning the World Light Heavyweight championship. His manager, Jordan Mains (50 Cent), wants him to keep fighting, and an extremely arrogant up-and-coming boxer, Miguel 'Magic' Escobar (Gomez), desperately wants to fight him. His wife, Maureen (McAdams), wants him to stay at home, at their house in New York City, with her and their young daughter Leila (Laurence). Everything changes though, when Maureen is killed in a tragic accident; and Billy starts abusing drugs and alcohol, to cope. He eventually turns to a veteran boxer, Titus Wills (Whitaker), for help.
I love Jake Gyllenhaal (he's my second favorite male actor right now), I also really like boxing movies and Antoine Fuqua films (to varying degrees). This flick is definitely no 'ROCKY', but it's still a classic (all the same); screw the critics. The movie is pretty dark, but at least it's not filled with sappy and overly clichéd melodrama; like a lot of critical darlings. It's emotional and inspiring, despite it's tragic moments, and Gyllenhaal gives one of the best performances of the year (yet again). Fuqua may not be one of the most talented directors around, but he knows how to deliver a film like this; and Sutter's script is brilliant. It's definitely not a perfect movie but it's still one not to be missed.
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