Southpaw (2015) does little to deviate from the formulaic storyline of a promising, young boxer and family man who faces challenges both in and out of the ring on the road to reaching his potential. Jake Gyllenhaal delivers the film's only knockout performance as boxer, Billy Hope.
We are introduced to Billy Hope (Gyllenhaal) in the midst of the fight that will solidify him as one of the greats and although he wins the fight it takes a heavy physical toll on him. After losing his wife Maureen (Rachel McAdams) in a tragic accident, he must find his will to live and fight for his daughter, Leila (Oona Laurence). He draws strength and inspiration from his trainer Tick Wills (Forest Whitaker). Curtis Jackson (a.k.a. 50 Cent) rounds out the cast, playing Jordan Mains, Hope's Manager.
Director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) turns in a very solid effort. The film doesn't bring anything fresh or unique to the boxing film sub-genre but screenplay writer Kurt Sutter (Sons of Anarchy) shoulders part of the blame for that. The dialogue is typical Sutter, intense and gritty, but the characters never deviate from well know archetypes and the boxing clichés are too plentiful.
However, the film has one thing that sets it apart from other boxing films and that thing is, Jake Gyllenhaal. Not since Cameron Crowe in Cinderella Man, has an actor so expertly portrayed the emotional toll that tragedy takes on a loving family and how fighting is a path for redemption. Gyllenhaal embodies the roles of husband, father, and fighter with honesty and ferocity. Gyllenhaal's performance alone takes this film from mediocre to must-see.