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Jake Gyllenhaal has never been one to shy away from dark, gritty roles in dark, gritty movies. In fact, he seems to have a gift for playing unstable characters. And his volatile performance in Antoine Fuqua’s boxing drama, Southpaw, helps to bring some personality to an otherwise unoriginal story.
Southpaw follows along on the road to redemption with boxer Billy Hope (Gyllenhaal). Battling his way out of a difficult childhood, Billy managed to become the light heavyweight champion. He had it all: fame, fortune, and a loving family—until his strong, supportive wife, Maureen (Rachel McAdams), was accidentally killed during a fight with another boxer and his crew.
Maureen’s death is just the beginning of Billy’s downward spiral. And after he hits rock bottom—losing his career, his home, and even his daughter, Leila (Oona Laurence)—he’s forced to rebuild his life from scratch.
The against-all-odds sports drama is like the male equivalent of the romantic comedy. Whether they’re light and fluffy or dark and heavy, they generally fit into a rather rigid mold. When you sit down to watch one, you pretty much know how it’s going to end. And Southpaw is really no exception. Though Billy’s story takes a few extra turns along the way—detailing his fall from greatness before forcing him to work his way back up—it doesn’t offer any big surprises.
When a story fits into the standard formulas, then, it’s what the filmmaker does within those formulas that can make or break a film. And Southpaw is beautifully filmed and skillfully acted, with an interesting cast of characters. It’s darker than the usual sports drama, with fight scenes that are disorienting and intense. And the cast is often so good that they’ll make you forget that you already know what’s coming.
McAdams may have a relatively small role, but she makes her time on screen count. She gives Maureen strength and passion; she’s just a little bit trashy yet sincerely devoted to her family—and you’ll feel her loss. And Laurence is absolutely compelling as the innocent young victim who struggles to forgive her father for everything he’s put her through.
Gyllenhaal, meanwhile, deftly navigates the ups and downs of his character’s experience, from those ecstatic moments following another win to those earth-shattering moments of desperation after he’s lost everything. Billy is a physically powerful man who relies on everyone around him for almost everything else—and when he’s left on his own, he comes unhinged in a way that’s raw and uncomfortable yet entirely appropriate. His downfall will break your heart, but it sets him up for a difficult but exhilarating chance at a comeback.
The outcome may be all too predictable, but the cast of Southpaw manages to fight past the formulas to make it more than just the same old sports story. Gyllenhaal’s fans, especially, won’t want to miss it.
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