SOUTHPAW

Plot:

Boxer Billy Hope (Gyllenhaal) has just won another championship title and belt to add to his collection of boxing trophies. He is on top of the world living life to the fullest with his beautiful wife and manager Maureen (Adams) and his daughter Leila (Laurence), living in a luxurious mansion and driving the best exotic cars money can buy. Yes life is good! Just like the outlaw gunslingers of the wild west boxers always have contenders trying to take their title of being the best. When Billy gets into an altercation at a charity event with a possible opponent his wife is accidentally killed causing him to soon spiral out of control because with him losing his soul mate he is on the verge of losing his mind. He becomes reckless and careless, leading him to lose all his wealth, home, cars and most of all his daughter who while coping with the loss of her mother loses her respect for him. Realizing that he has to get his act together he enlist the help of boxing trainer Tick Wills (Whitaker) with hopes that he will train him to prepare for his chance at redeeming the title and the love and respect of his little girl.


Reel Talk:

This is truly one of the most powerfully impaction movies that I have seen in awhile. This is not just a boxing movie but also a film that has an emotional story about how life can change for anybody in the matter of seconds. You can be on top today and on the ground tomorrow. All I can say is that Jake Gyllenhaal put in one heck of a performance and so does Oona Laurence as his beautiful daughter and then you add Forest Whitaker who you can never go wrong with. This was an excellent movie with an excellent cast, that will keep you glued to the screen. I strongly recommend this movie and also strongly recommend that you have some Kleenex handy. Definitely a must see!

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel Adams, Forest Whitaker, Oona Laurence, 50 Cent and Naomie Harris
Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
Rated: R

I give it 4 and a half eaten corn dogs.

By: The Reel Hustler