Film review: Southpaw (15)

Let’s be honest, we’ve all seen a film at some stage about a champion boxer that has fallen from grace and hit the road to redemption.

Southpaw, starring a hulked up Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler), follows the fall and rise of fictional Junior Middleweight Champion Billy “The Great” Hope.

If I’m brutally honest, there’s nothing particularly original about the script from Kurt Sutter (Sons of Anarchy) and Richard Wenk (The Mechanic).

But with Training Day director Antoine Fuqua at the helm, Southpaw is an emotional powerhouse of a film that is certain to tug at your heartstrings – and it probably serves as Gyllenhaal’s best performance yet (and there have been a few).

We find Billy in a pretty good place. He’s just seen off another challenger to his title and remains unbeaten.

But his cavalier style of fighting leaves wife Maureen (Rachel McAdams – True Detective) worried that he’ll be punch drunk in a few years, rendering him useless to their young daughter Leila (Oona Laurence).

With family life his everything, Billy agrees to make changes – but his life comes crashing down when an unsavoury public skirmish with wannabe champion Miguel Escobar (Miguel Gomez – The Strain) leads to a tragedy. A broken man, Billy soon loses his way – and it’s not long before he hits rock bottom in his career and personal life.

That prompts him to go back to basics at the run-down Hell’s Kitchen gym owned by retired pro-trainer Tick Willis (Forest Whitaker – The Last King of Scotland).

He’s hardly welcomed with open arms, but the pair soon forge a meaningful relationship.

And, with a grudge match against Escobar in the offing, Tick sets about trying to help Billy rebuild his life, family and career.

My main gripe with Southpaw was its trailer. As is seemingly becoming the norm, a huge spoiler is served up.

I’ve not repeated the trick here, but if you want to see this film, avoid any trailers at all cost. I knew way too much about the story coming into Boston’s West End Cinema and it really made one of the film’s most poignant moments fall flat.

That’s not to say Southpaw isn’t an emotional roller-coaster. You’ll connect with Billy, no doubt, and feel every punch – be it in the ring, or outside of it.

Having seen numerous Gyllenhaal films, this is a role like no other he has played and he really nails it.

McAdams serves as a great foil for him too, while Whittaker is perfectly cast as Billy’s reluctant saviour.

Young Laurence also shares some pretty touching scenes with her broken boxer father too in what is a remarkably mature performance.

Boxing fan or not, there’s a great story here that you will be able to relate to – just avoid that trailer.

Voice Verdict: 8.5/10 (reviewed at Boston’s West End Cinema)
+ Gyllenhaal is incredible
+ Emotional & relatable story
+ Strong cast
– Spoilers in trailer (again)

SHOWTIMES
Boston’s West End Cinema (Fri, July 31 to Thurs, Aug 6)

**FANTASTIC FOUR 2D (12A)
8.20pm (Thurs)

**MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: ROGUE NATION (12A)
11.25am (daily), 2.25pm, (daily), 5.25pm (daily), 8.25pm (daily)

**HOT PURSUIT (12A)
12.25pm (daily), 2.30pm (daily), 4.30pm (daily), 6.40pm (daily), 8.45pm (daily)

INSIDE OUT 3D (U)
10am (daily), 2.45pm (daily), 6pm (daily)

INSIDE OUT 2D (U)
12.20pm (daily), 8.30pm (daily)

SOUTHPAW (15)
20.40pm (Daily)

ANT-MAN 3D (12A)
10am (not Wed), 2.40pm (daily), 5.40pm (daily)

ANT-MAN 2D (12A)
Noon (daily), 8.20pm (not Thurs)

MINIONS 3D (U)
12.30pm (not Wed)

MINIONS 2D (U)
10am (daily), 2.30pm (not Thurs), 4.35pm (daily)

JURASSIC WORLD 2D (12A)
6.15pm (daily)

KIDS CLUB
Fri-Thurs 10.30am – Shaun The Sheep (U)

SILVER SCREEN
Wed 11.30am – Ant-Man 3D(12A)

** free list suspended

SHOWTIMES
South Holland Centre (Fri, July 31 to Thurs, Aug 6)

MINIONS 2D (U)
11am (Sat/Mon), 2pm (Fri/Tues), 6.30pm (Thurs)

MINIONS 3D (U)
2pm (Wed)

JURASSIC WORLD 3D (12A)
6.30pm (Tues), 7.30pm (Fri)

JURASSIC WORLD 2D (12A)
2pm (Sat/Mon/Thurs), 7pm (Sat), 7.30pm (Wed)