Boxing films are hard to come by. Enjoyable ones are more rare. So it’s easy to understand why boxing heads like myself get hyped when a film comes around that looks moderately watchable.
Southpaw tells the story of boxer, Billy “The Great” Hope (Jake Gyllenhaal), the reigning junior middleweight champion of the world.
Billy seems to have it all–a beautiful, devoted wife (played by Rachel McAdams, aka Regina George from Mean Girls, aka Allie from the Notebook, aka the maybe true detective in this season’s True Detective), a daughter (Oona Laurence) who thinks the world of him, and a lavish lifestyle that would certainly earn Billy a spot on The Money Team.
In the wake of tragedy, Billy must overcome his biggest obstacle—himself—to fight for his life, his family and his career. He enlists the help of Titus “Tick” Wills (Forest Whitaker), an amateur boxing coach and former fighter, to train him to victory.
The film doesn’t break from typical narrative conventions of sports drama, which would be fine if there was more of an effort to develop or at least add some dimension to its characters. While the hero/villain dichotomy is a staple of the genre, we don’t even get an origin story for our protagonist, or anyone else really.
All we know is that Billy grew up as an orphan through the system and became a world champion. It’s tough to understand or even sympathize with Billy when we don’t know much about him. His heartbreaks and triumphs would resonate more strongly if we knew more about this guy we’re supposed to root for.
Southpaw feels like it’s missing something, which I believe is a lack of dynamic characters. It’s a shame they are so flat, given the film’s talented leading cast. Southpaw’s missing gaps make it easier for audiences to get attached to the narrative, but not the characters. Heightened emotions, the sensationalism of the action and violence, and moral polarization (good vs. evil) often surpass the need for developed characters in melodrama. However, the film’s melodramatic conventions aren’t strong enough to let us forget (at least not for long enough) that we don’t know whom we’re dealing with.
Here’s my stance on Southpaw (pun intended): I did expect a little more from the film, especially from director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day), but I’m being much harsher on the film as a critic than as a boxing enthusiast. The movie will certainly be enjoyed by boxing fans who, if they are anything like me, will find themselves wanting to yell at Billy “Keep your hands up!” or “Use your jab!”
Southpaw isn’t the greatest boxing movie ever made, though the movie is great for boxing in terms of exposing people to the sport (I don’t know why I had hope for Kevin Hart’s Grudge Match).
Boxing heads will appreciate the small details Southpaw gets right, such as the fighter’s intense mental preparation in the dressing room before the bout and the experiences of family members sitting ringside. They’ll also feel right at home during the fight scenes that feature familiar faces and voices, including that of commentator Jim Lampley, boxer and commentator Roy Jones, and referee Tony Weeks.
Give Southpaw a go for date night this weekend. If you haven’t watched the trailer, you’re better off not seeing it before the film. Even sports movie fanatics who don’t know much about boxing will enjoy the film’s action and the drama of Billy “The Great” Hope.
If you see the movie, let me know what you think on Twitter @MerissaDyer
