'I can't lose my daughter. I'll give you my everything.'

Rating: 7/10 (1 November 2015)

How many times can this story be told? The answer is like 'infinite' because we see the same sad boxer film with different twists and casts almost every year. SOUTHPAW was written by television series writer Kurt Sutter and directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, Shooter, Equalizer, Olympus Has Fallen, etc). The reason the tired story and slow movie holds together is due to the splendid acting of Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams, Forest Whitaker, Oona Laurence and Naomie Harris. Otherwise it is a predictable, slow moving, same old story rehashed.
The story? – 'As tragedy strikes him in his prime (his beloved wife Maureen – Rachel McAdams – is killed after he has won the title of boxing champion at Madison Square Garden), famed boxer, Billy Hope (Jake Gyllenhaal) begins to fall into a great depression. Once the decision regarding the custody of his daughter Leila (Oona Laurence) is under question, Billy decides to get his life back on track by getting back into the ring. He turns to trainer Tick Wills (Forest Whitaker) to help him get his life back on track after losing his wife in a tragic accident and his daughter to child protection services.'
The musical score is James Horner's last and it is sad that it is so weak. There is some fine cinematography by Mauro Fiore – lots of closes ups of boxers beating each other bloody – and some moody lighting. But in the end - no surprises, completely predictable, and very slow. The reason for enduing it is the extraordinarily fine acting by Gyllenhaal et al. Grady Harp, November 15