Southpaw

Plot synopsis:
Billy "The Great" Hope is an undefeated professional boxer living in New York City with his wife Maureen and their daughter Leila. During a match in which he defends his light heavyweight world title, Billy sustains an eye injury and is convinced by Maureen to retire while he's on top. After the match at a press conference, an up-and-coming boxer Miguel "Magic" Escobar taunts Billy and tries to get Billy to fight him. At a charity event for the orphanage where he and his wife both grew up, Escobar is in attendance, and as Billy is leaving, Escobar threatens he'll take Maureen and his title away from him, and while Maureen tells Billy to let it go and go home with her, Billy's anger gets the best of him, leading to a brawl in which Maureen is accidentally shot and killed by Miguel's brother Hector, who flees.
Billy begins abusing alcohol and drugs while obsessively searching for Hector. He eventually gets a tip of Hector's whereabouts but only finds Hector's drug-addicted wife Maria, and leaves after learning Hector is a father. After attacking a referee out of frustration after losing a fight, Billy is suspended and left indebted, leading to his house and belongings being repossessed. He continues to spiral out of control and nearly dies after crashing his car in a suicide attempt, which also causes him to lose custody of Leila, who is put under care of Child Protective Services officer Angela Rivera. The incident drives Billy to sober up, but Leila cuts ties with him, blaming him for their predicament.
At the behest of friends, Billy gets a job as a cleaner at a gym owned by seasoned boxer Titus "Tick" Wills, and eventually convinces Tick to become his trainer. Billy's former manager, Jordan Mains, who is currently managing Miguel, arranges a fight between the two that could put Billy back in the spotlight. Tick is reluctant to train Billy, fearful he might be blinded by his vendetta against Miguel, but is motivated to do so when another of his students, Hoppy, is killed by his abusive father while attempting to defend his mother.
Seeing Billy's hard work after securing a job and keeping it, and his ability to show responsibilities of a father, the judge removes his visitation restrictions and congratulates him for his good work. Billy then takes Leila to his apartment where they have breakfast together and Leila asks if she can attend the fight. Billy, reluctant to let his daughter go to the fight because Maureen never wanted to expose their daughter to the violence in boxing, says he is unsure because Maureen used to make all the decisions for him. Leila asks if they can go visit Maureen's grave, where Leila convinces Billy to let her go to the fight to have someone by his side. Billy tells Leila that there will be people at the fight saying some harsh things, so Leila makes an agreement to go to the fight but stay only in the locker room with Angela, watching the fight via closed circuit television in the locker room.
As the match begins, Miguel has the upper hand against Billy, but, with Tick's advice, Billy has the chance to turn the tables in the final round by using the Philly shell defense and countering more aggressively with his left. As the round reaches its final minute, Billy pivots hard and, although fighting from a traditional stance, delivers a powerful left uppercut which sends the champion down to the ground. Miguel manages to get up before the count is over and is saved by the bell. Billy is declared the winner by a split-decision and reunites with Leila in the locker room, where she forgives his past mistakes and they embrace.

Tags: violence, flashback

Review:
And even if we barely have the time to see Gyllenhaal and McAdams' characters, we didn't need more because we were instantly dragged towards an emotional charge that never abandons the plot and whose "legacy" is carried on the main actor's shoulders.Gyllenhaal doesn't skip a beat and keeps his character's pain and rage constantly vivid in every detail - we feel it because we've somewhat experienced in our lives what it means to lose someone we love and feel lost afterward.
With his future on the line, Hope fights to reclaim the trust of those he loves the most.Antoine Fuqua has most certainly brought his charm back into the ring by bringing a fascinating boxing drama to the big screen.
Even though it may have a all to familiar plot when it comes to the formulaic boxing aspect, this film really smooths out well with such heavenly storytelling, we are given a accurate accusation of how something can affect someone in the hardest way possible.Jake Gyllenhaal giving a ferocious performance as a down on his luck boxer was truly a grand experience.
One person other than Jake that really stood out was Forest Whitaker, he easily gave one of the best performances of this year so far!The boxing scenes were so enthralling, they involved such wall-to-wall burst of punches with spraying blood and Fuqua's gutsy camera skills that keep you motived the whole time.
Despondent and desperate to get his life back, Billy swallows his pride and seeks the assistance of trainer Tick Wills to train him back to fighting form."Southpaw" is an acting showcase for its lead actor Jake Gyllenhaal.
Gyllenhaal and Laurence share some pretty intensely emotional scenes together.Forest Whitaker plays Tick Wills, the tough disciplinarian of a trainer whom Billy chose to bring him back on track.
It is interesting to note that Eminem was actually the original choice to play Billy Hope.Boxing is a common sport tackled in movies because of its inherent drama.
Southpaw is a drama/sports film directed by Antoine Fuqua and stars Jake Gyllenhaal.
And even though we know exactly what is coming to our 'hero', the performance by Gyllenhaal makes it seem a tad more enjoyable.At the end of the day, you've seen a ton of movies like Southpaw.
Jake Gyllenhaal gives his fans his best work since Brokeback Mountain as light heavyweight champion Billy Hope who suffers a horrific personal tragedy beyond any I've ever seen in a boxing film and comes back from it.
Also Forest Whitaker who trains the ex-champ for his comeback should also be singled out.Watching Gyllenhaal as Billy Hope put me in mind of heavyweight contender Hurricane Jackson when I was a kid.
Hurricane Jackson was very much like Billy Hope and did in fact end up punch drunk.This is a fine boxing film and Oscar nominations could come for Gyllenhaal and McAdams..
Southpaw is a movie about the successful boxing champion Billy Hope (Jake Gyllenhaal) whose life begins to fall apart because he cannot control his high temper.To begin with, the story line is simple and not very original.
3/10 just for Gyllenhaal - burdened with a paper thin character and script overwrought with so many clichés it borders on plagiarism - who managed to breathe the smallest amount of life into this "feature" film.I can understand the hype, with a new track from Eminem and Hollywood darling's McAdams, Gyllenhaal, & Whitaker, bloody spit takes, and convincing eye make up - what could go wrong?
I must say that the new boxing drama "Southpaw" is a real knockout film a winner that delivers the punch on both ends for drama and emotion it proves that sometimes before you regain it you must lose it all!
Billy Hope(Jake Gyllenhaal)is the raining and best known light heavyweight fighter on the planet who has it all from the championship belt, to a fine home and a fancy car with a cute little daughter to of course a hot sexy trophy colored bra wearing wife named Maureen(Rachel McAdams was just so fine in that sexy silk light pink colored bra scene!).
All of a sudden the wife Maureen wants him to have a change of heart and mind and leave the brutal business of boxing, yet one by one Billy's fame and life is ripped away as he has his wife lost in a tragic accident, and thru bad promotion and debt he goes broke losing his home, belt and even due to his drug using ways the courts take away his cute little daughter.
I walked into the cinema with a preconceived expectation that 'Southpaw' was going to be another boxing film with a clichéd tale about a man turning around his life for the good something greater than himself.
What is common is the performances of the actors, who give their heart and soul, with each one outstandingly giving a predictable script the feeling that you have just watched a good piece of theatre.This is out and out Jake Gyllenhaal's film, with a performance that is every bit as worthy of an awards season nomination than anything he has done in the past.
It will not be long before he finds the role that will put him echelon of actors that have ever stood in front of a camera.He plays Billy Hope, who is the undisputed, undefeated Light Heavyweight Champion of the world, using his raw aggressive emotion to win his fights.
Director, Antione Fuqua has delivered the audience his best production since 'Training Day' and has been able to turn a over told story into a movie that oozes emotion and feeling.Ignore the predictable script and focus on the memorable performances of the actors and you will come away with a very satisfying experience..
Jake Gyllenhaal's performance helps keeping the movie's strength, but it's just isn't enough to surpass the film's blandness.The movie never apparently fails at portraying the ugliest side of what the main character is going through, we can see the pain and misfortune to how his career and life fall apart.
The story can be great, there is some interesting aspects that could deliver a stronger theme, but the movie is unable to make every step of the plot feel authentic and makes the characters as generic as possible; leading to an entertaining, yet unsatisfying climax.
Jake Gyllenhall acting was good(ex: Prince of Persia) always Rachel McAdams has been used as small part in this movie but acting wise scope is not their example "the vow" after Cinderella, million dollar baby,rocky it brings same effect but little bit missing otherwise it is very good.Anger management always been part of all game here it is shown very well mainly defense seems to be bottom of the story line.Forest Whitaker taken position as coach but in this movie he taken serious and always showing his class i have been following from taken3,vantage point.
There's a new king of boxing movies, Jake Gyllenhaal is Southpaw in every sense of the phrase.
Man This movie was so freaking dope the best movie of 2015 a movie gets hit because of the acting of the Cast in the movie this cast worked their asses out for this movie i just love it my favorite movie Jake Gyllenhaal The kid The Wife The Coach Everyone did an Excellent job seriously i would say that this movie is worth watching my whole family was with me watching it, they loved it they almost cried at some scenes every scene in this movie is perfect and it really looks like a High budget movie.
I love film with Jake Gyllenhaal so it will be a real treat for me, let's not waste any more time and go for it~!7 minutes – the fight scene is a little too overdone, to say the least but I still love it14 minutes – I have such high hope for this one, it feels amazing and I genuinely can't wait to see what will happen next~!
It seemed as if it took way too much time to build a story behind the main characters.The big thing that really got my attention is that in watching it the movie seemed to follow the exact story of the original Rocky with a bit of money behind him already more per say a Rocky 2 remake of some sort.
The way they done this story was beautiful, calm versus if it were me, yet a great story.Southpaw turned out to be a really great movie even given the beginning, it was really worth my three times watching it; and I hope you all enjoy it as well as I..
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!.
Another fantastic performance can be seen from Forest Whitaker although I think the stand out supporting performance in the film is from Oona Laurence who played the daughter of Gyllenhaal's character.
Her scenes with Jake Gyllenhaal were excellent too they had good chemistry and they really played off each other well as father and daughter.The high standard of the performances helped to sell the drama in Southpaw, this was a relief to me because it meant that at least whilst watching the film the audience forgot that the what they were seeing was really nothing new or particularly special.
What can you say?This film is so full of clichés that I fell asleep.I would like to say more but I have nothing good to say about this.Boxer is world champion blah blah, loses it all blah blah - Gets a chance of redemption at the end blah blah.I think if you want to watch a decent boxing movie then watch RockyIf you have nothing to do then sure watch the movie but thats all I can say.I have no idea why I have to put a minimum of 10 lines as this movie is so cliché I cant say much more..
The main asset of the film is definitely Jake Gyllenhaal himself who has incredibly executing the bad tempered, brutal and depressing characteristics of Billy Hope.
I'm gonna start this off by saying I am the biggest Eminem fan, so when I heard a few years back he be making a boxing movie I was stoke, circumstances occurred and Jake Gyllenhal took the lead, after seeing this there is no doubt he was the PERFECT choice to play Billy Hope.
Jake Gyllenhaal puts on a killer performance and so does Oona Laurence (Billy Hope's daughter).
In spite of his wife's pleadings, Billy's ways of dealing with things eventually cost his family dearly and Billy risks losing everything when his anger leads to increased drinking, drug use and other self-destructive behaviors.When Billy hits his "rock bottom", the only other person who seems able to help him is former boxer, former trainer and current gym owner and supporter of at-risk youth Titus "Tick" Wills (Forest Whitaker, in possibly his finest performance since his Oscar win, and maybe his best ever).
The boxing sequences are well shot but its Eminem's Phenomenal track and other background score which gives the audience goosebumps and amps up the experience of this film.Jake Gyllenhaal is classic as troubled boxer Billy Hope.
But obviously I knew Jake Gyllenhaal was going to be good in this film but somebody who shocked me was Oona Laurence, who plays Leila Hope.
Southpaw is a boxing drama lead by Jake Gyllenhaal as this was a film in which he needed for his career.
Southpaw follows Billy "The Great" Hope, the reigning junior middleweight boxing champion, having an impressive career, a loving wife and daughter, and a lavish lifestyle.
Southpaw follows Billy "The Great" Hope, the reigning junior middleweight boxing champion, having an impressive career, a loving wife and daughter, and a lavish lifestyle.
The fight scenes look authentic and real, it's brilliantly acted by some of movies biggest hitters and gets better when Forest Whitaker appears.While it is predictable, it was still an entertaining watch.CHAPPY THINKS you should strap on your boxing gloves, boys and girls, because this is going to be one hard-hitting film!
Anyway, Billy Hope (Jake Gyllenhaal) seems to have it all, with his big mansion, beautiful wife and loving daughter, and when the lightweight boxer wins all of the championship belts, life really can't get any better for this man who struggled through his childhood.
He also got the best out of Gyllenhaal, so I have to give him props for making a memorable film which touched many emotional heart strings.Budget: $30million Worldwide Gross: $91millionI recommend this movie to people who are into their action/drama/sports movies starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams, Forest Whitaker, 50 Cent and Naomie Harris.
He begins the story by introducing us to boxer, Billy Hope (Jake Gyllenhaal), as he is in the locker room getting prepared for his fight.
After touching bottom and in order to get his life back on track, Billy enlists the help of Tick Willis (Forest Whitaker) who takes him in to his gym and begins training him for his shot at redemption.The plot is way too familiar and it hits every possible cliché along the way, but despite it all Jake Gyllenhaal elevates the material by making his character compelling.
You know exactly where the story is heading at the end, but you can't help but feel engaged by Gyllenhaal's performance, and in the end he is the reason why the film succeeds along with other solid supporting work from McAdams and Whitaker.
I was highly anticipating this movie mainly because I was blown away last year with Jake Gyllenhaal in Nightcrawler and was eager to see how he would play the short-tempered, completely ripped Billy Hope.The story is as expected.
While Gyllenhaal is the obvious standout, others like Forest Whitaker and Rachel McAdams perform their roles with such brilliance that it just elevates Gyllenhaal's role and the film even more.As for problems, obviously being a formulaic movie comes with a fair share of predictability.
'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').
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.
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.
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).
Every actor here is putting in more than their work-load, from Rachel McAdams to her one act (from the poster you might think she'll be in it longer, but the trailer gives it away and it's not so much a twist as it is just that sudden turn to the story's conflicts), to Oona Lawrence as Billy (Jake Gyllenhaal) Hope's daughter - she is a seriously wonderful child actress, on par with all of her fellow actors, and really delivering on what she is asked to do, but giving a little something extra.
Southpaw is a film starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Forest Whitaker, Rachel McAdams, and 50 Cent.
This movie focuses on Billy "The Great" Hope(Jake Gyllenhaal) rise, fall, and eventual return to stardom as he treks through losing everything from his wife,Mo(Rachel McAdams), to custody of his daughter(Oona Laurence), to his title loss.
He then meets Tick(Forest Whitaker) a train and ex boxer, who works hard to teach Billy a new style of fighting.This movie is great!
The drama is so heavy, particularly in Tick-Billy conversations or Billy's family problem scenes, that I found myself trying not to giggle.There's still a sense of triumph in watching Billy succeed and get his daughter back, and I enjoyed elements of the film's boxing story and how it reflected on Hope's personality.
"A fighter only knows one way to work." Billy Hope (Gyllenhaal) is the biggest and best boxer in the world.
Although Jake Gyllenhaal's Billy Hope was most memorable part, Kurt Sutter's screenplay packs enough punch, and the author really knew (perhaps not on Stallone level with his Rocky movies) how to use these cliches the way they work.Pretty straightforward and simple story, but Antoine Fuqua's directing style and superb acting make 'Southpaw' must see for every boxing movie fan, and like 'Rocky' movies, this one also holds re-watching value, even though the training montages aren't nearly as cool..
They do not.For a basic plot summary, "Southpaw" tells the story of Billy Hope (Jake Gyllenhaal), a light- heavyweight champion at the top of his game.
I am not a fan of sports movies, but this film has a few things going really well for it.The biggest is the actor performances, with Jake Gyllenhaal playing one of the roles of his life and Forest Whitaker coming a close second.
Jake Gyllenhal delivers another terrific performance, this time as boxing champ Billy Hope.
Billy Hope (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) is the undisputed light- heavyweight boxing champion of the world.
Aaaanywways, "Southpaw" stars Jake Gyllenhaal as light heavyweight boxing champion Billy Hope.
Jake Gyllenhaal is one of the best actors going today and he continues that in this film with a great performance.
The girl who plays Gyllenhaals daughter in the film does a really good job being a believable kid actress that delivers a powerful emotional performance.
Billy Hope (Jake Gyllenhaal) is an undefeated boxing champ.