Southpaw - Jake Gyllenhaal Starring in Antoine Fuqua/Kurt Sutter Boxing Drama

[CapedCrusader14]

Those reviews don't surprise me too much. Gyllenhaal looks great as always and was the only thing drawing me to the film but it looked awfully melodramatic and cliched from the trailer to me. Is a shame though if it is as meh as some of the reviews are saying.

 

[Tim_Riggins]

It's really good even though Creed is probably going to destroy it (just a feeling). I can see where the critics are coming from on this one, Sutter & Fuqua paint with very broad brush strokes, and those who are familiar with Kurt's work on SOA (I personally love it) know that he's not exactly the subtle kind, but that's okay, it's his style and you either like it or not.

So yeah, you can call Southpaw cliché, overdone, overly bleak or whatever, but ultimately, for me, it works here, it just does, it's still well written, compelling stuff, it's no wonder it was a such a passionate project, it's relatable, it's powerful.

Gyllenhaal is incredible, I hope the lukewarm critical reception doesn't hurt him because seriously, he's on another level here, his acting is (duh) so physical, the transformation is insane, he almost looks like a caveman at times and for those who are familiar with the great MMA drama flick Warrior and Hardy's great underrated perf in it, this is what Jake reminded me of here.

He's like Tommy in Warrior who had that wounded animal, soulful and brooding quality to him, seemingly carrying a world of hurt & pain on his shoulders. He's just heartbreaking to see at times, and you (at least I did) just root big time for him to get his daughter back.

Whitaker just melts into the part of the coach Tick and reminds me of the great relationship btw Rocky & Mickey, seriously, it's the sort of role that seems to be written just for him, great stuff btw Jake & Forest here.

Oona Laurence playing Billy's daughter is very very good here. The boxing looks GREAT, it really does, I've seen an article in AC on the movie, and they actually used rigs they had the actors wearing to simulate POV shots, and overall, a lot of the shots take place inside the ring itself, upping the intensity and realism of the whole thing. That + it really pops color wise. It feels really gritty otherwise which I like, although shooting it on film would have brought more of that grittiness, anyway, still looks great.

Horner's score is a plus for me, very subtle and poetic.

The movie pretty much unfolds as you'd expect but the execution IMO is so good, and the performances so on point, and the visuals and the boxing so strong that it really grabbed me, totally.

Go see it, at least for Jake, if you don't like the rest of the movie itself.

 

[Kane52630]

Yeah I hear the fights are really good but the story is pretty typical and brought nothing new.


I'll probably see it tomorrow if I have time.

 

[Fallen Angel]

Went to see it today and yeah the fight's bring it. Jake Gyllenhaal is great in this. The boy is on a role. I really loved the father/daughter scenes. Seen that happen personally with family so it kinda hit home.

Naiome Harris is in this but she was barely promoted. Rita Ora is in this for like 30 second's and got more promo.

Rachel McAdams one word....

It's good but I expected it to be a bit better. 7/10.

 

[Tim_Riggins]

Yeah I hear the fights are really good but the story is pretty typical and brought nothing new.


I'll probably see it tomorrow if I have time.

I don't see the problem here?! Pretty much everything has been done before, what matters is the execution and the vision behind it really.

 

[Kane52630]

I'm just saying what I've heard. Of course everything has been done before, it's the matter of how its being presented.

 

[DarKush]

I checked this out today. It wasn't bad. It was cliched, but it was well directed and acted.

 

[MadVillainy]

I mean there isn't much to say about this. Ive been following this since it was first announced with Eminem attached and long story short: I was disappointed. I guess mini rant incoing:

Now this wasn't a "bad" movie. There was little to no incompetence on the part of the actors, director, etc.
The problem was that this is so bland and generic.
Really the only stand out thing is Gyllenhaal's performance. That's it.
Every other element, while not bad, is just so bland and forgettable. The boxing scenes weren't anything special, the supporting cast wasn't that interesting other than Forest Whitaker, the "villain" was cookie cutter...

I mean at this point of filmmaking, 95% of everything is what could be called "generic" and the boxing film subgenre is no different. However, most of other recent high profile boxing films I feel bring something to the table. This didn't.

I also feel that this should've been grittier. I mean it took steps in the direction but never fully committed. That could've been something that set it apart. I mean, I might be blanking but I can't think of any boxing movie that has been "gritty" since maybe Raging Bull. Some might say The Fighter, while I love that movie, I disagree.
I mean throughout the movie are these dark moments: Billy looking for his wife's killer, Billy apparently being an alcoholic, etc. but they aren't explored well. I know Kurt Sutter wrote this, Im wondering if his earlier drafts were grittier because coming from the guy who made Sons of Anarchy (one of my favorite shows) and The Shield this was tame. On another note: wasn't there controversy about his writer's credit?

Now making it grittier wouldn't necessarily made a really good movie, but at least it would've set it apart. Show Billy really down in the dumps really abusing alcohol and drugs, make really brutal fight scenes, etc.

Now the actual bad thing about this was the inconsistent writing.
-The villain Escobar. One second he's an a**hole, next he's being respectful, then he's a jerk again, then he's remorseful, then by the end of the movie he was a jerk again. They don't know what to do with him.
-50 Cent' character kinda has the same thing going as Escobar
-Was it ever explained why Billy waned to train with Whitaker specifically? I might've missed that
-Naomi Harris's character was woefully underwriten
-I knew what a southpaw was before the movie, but I don't think the movie ever addressed why it's important Billy is a southpaw or why it's something so important that they felt to name the movie after it.
-Was it ever explained what happened to Billy's friend who was arrested? I think I saw him again at the end.
-Billy was either punch drunk or just stupid, it doesnt seem like the move could choose

I mean, Im not trying to be rude, but if youre impressed by this you must be:
1) easily entertained or-
2) you haven't seen many movies

There is very little to this movie. I say just wait until HBO. As I said, its not bad in terms of being incompetent. It's just incredibly generic and forgettable. And it's a bad thing to be bland and generic if you don't bring anything new. It just makes the movie boring.


Small notes:
-It would've been better if they didn't spoil McAdam's death. But then again if they didn't it would've been kinda hard to market. So...
-I think this would've been a really dope mini series or movie trilogy.

1) 1st part: standard boxing film except grittier; a rags to riches story.
2) 2nd part: Billy starts dabbling with drugs and gets a little cocky, boxing takes a toll on his mental health (which seemed to be alluded to in the movie, but again was underwritten) this part ends basically with McAdam's death.
3) 3rd part: Billy getting deep into alcohol/drugs, losing his daughter, picking himself back up, etc.

Forest Whitaker should've been the trainer since the first part/movie but him and Billy have a falling out during the 2nd film due to Billy being an ass only to reconcile in the third movie/part.

Having the movie in parts would've been a better way to flesh out some characters and to play straight as well as subvert multiple boxing film tropes.

 

[Kane52630]

I thought Forest Whitaker was just as good as Jake Gyllenhaal but yeah, I thought this was alright. It's not the movie it wanted to be, but it's not one of the worst films out there.

 

[Matt Mortem]

Story was stuff we've all seen before, but the performances were top notch. I really liked it. I didn't have any expectations since the trailer left me pretty cold, but this was definitely a solid movie.

 

[DarKush]

Blackman,

You make some good points. Yeah, the film was fine but it was a bit too predictable. It was a lot of stuff you had either seen before or you knew how it was going to end. So I had been hoping that we might get a twist, like Billy losing the final fight on a decision but realizing like he'll be okay without being the champion. He didn't need a belt to validate him.

As to your question about why Billy wanted to train with Tick. Tick had trained the only fighter that stood toe to toe with Billy or could've beaten him, or something like that. Billy admits that 50 Cent fixed the fight so that Billy would win.

 

[chamber-music]

Performances were good but the movie was cliché.

 

[Fallen Angel]

#Southpaw gets awards season re-release http://bit.ly/1M51ON1

The Weinstein Company announced Thursday that the film will be re-released on more than 300 screens tomorrow, Oct. 2. The move gives the film a chance “to be seen by a more drama- and awards-focused fall audience,” according to the distributor. Added TWC President of Theatrical Distribution & Home Entertainment Erik Lomis, the re-release “gives more serious-minded audiences who may have missed it the first time around a chance to see a film that we feel is a very serious contender.”

 

[MadVillainy]

Waste of money for the Weinstein Company but ok

 

[Kane52630]