Thread: Southpaw movie

Saw this last night at the cinema with the missus, bit like a reverse Rocky in terms of plot and obviously very predictable.
Fight scenes are brilliant and realistic.
Acting is excellent (maybe an Oscar for Jake Gyllenhal?)
Was it better than the Fighter.... I didn't think so but got close.
Also they have Jimmy Lennon jnr announcing for HBO ppv which was weird.
Overall well worth seeing gets pretty deep (she cried a few times) some great acting and great fight action thats very well filmed.
Didnt dwell too much on training montages and moved fast through the script.

6.5/10

Good to hear. It got q bad review in a magazine I was reading. Turned me off but our review put me back on it.

Oscar De La Hoya wasn't impressed either -

In the film, Jake Gyllenhaal plays a boxer eager to get his life back on track after losing his wife in a tragic accident, and although de la Hoya praises the actor's commitment to the role, his transformation and acting skills, he noticed a few inaccuracies throughout the film.

In a review for The Hollywood Reporter, the Olympic gold medallist calls out the filmmakers for depicting violent boxers out of the ring and corrupt promoters - characteristics which de la Hoya insists aren't the norm in the real world of boxing.

He writes, "Ironically, it is where many boxing films like Rocky, Million Dollar Baby and others have been so successful - in the scenes that take place outside of the ring and the gym - where Southpaw ultimately lapses into stereotype and does a disservice to its audience.

"Gunplay at black tie functions; fighters unleashing uncontrollable rages at home; promoters fixing fights. Has this type of behavior (sic) reared its head in the history of our sport? At times, unfortunately, yes. Is it common? Absolutely not."

Despite his criticism, de la Hoya says he's pleased with the movie, especially since it brings boxing back to the big screen.

He continues, "However, regardless of what we in the boxing business think of the film, the good news is that Southpaw and the upcoming film, Creed - another addition to the Rocky series - are helping to bring boxing back to mainstream audiences that we need if we hope to grow the sport. And that is a great thing."

I saw Jake interviewed on ESPN, and among the things he discussed were how much training he had undergone for that part. The plot is the plot and if the movie's plot is weak, the movie itself is going to suffer. But strictly from the fight scene standpoint, I think actors should at least give a good account of themselves on the screen. If you look like shit throwing a punch... and no amount of training is going to make you any better... then either get a double or find another movie to do. To me that is the big difference between Jake's Southpaw and Stallone's Rocky. Jake's training comes through in the fight scenes. He looks in fantastic shape... and it's all credible. Stallone looked like a WWF reject in the Rocky movies. Doesn't help I was never a Stallone fan to begin with. In his fights against Apollo Creed.... had that been real life I think Stallone wouldn't have lasted 30 seconds with Carl Weathers (Creed). Now Weathers pulled it off. He looked like a real boxer in there. I haven't seen Southpaw, but saw a lot of the fight scenes and thought they were great as well. And if it helps to bring boxing to the mainstream public... then so much the better.

Jake Gyllenhaal looks good in it, want to watch it.

Watched Minions instead.

Boxing scenes were actually quite good.

Film was about a 5.5/10

Not a fan or forrest whittiker.

Originally Posted by TitoFan

I saw Jake interviewed on ESPN, and among the things he discussed were how much training he had undergone for that part. The plot is the plot and if the movie's plot is weak, the movie itself is going to suffer. But strictly from the fight scene standpoint, I think actors should at least give a good account of themselves on the screen. If you look like shit throwing a punch... and no amount of training is going to make you any better... then either get a double or find another movie to do. To me that is the big difference between Jake's Southpaw and Stallone's Rocky. Jake's training comes through in the fight scenes. He looks in fantastic shape... and it's all credible. Stallone looked like a WWF reject in the Rocky movies. Doesn't help I was never a Stallone fan to begin with. In his fights against Apollo Creed.... had that been real life I think Stallone wouldn't have lasted 30 seconds with Carl Weathers (Creed). Now Weathers pulled it off. He looked like a real boxer in there. I haven't seen Southpaw, but saw a lot of the fight scenes and thought they were great as well. And if it helps to bring boxing to the mainstream public... then so much the better.

Will Smith looked like the 1978 version of Ali throughout the entire movie and wasn't fast at all. At least Apollo looked like he had blazing speed.

Originally Posted by imp

Boxing scenes were actually quite good.

Film was about a 5.5/10

Not a fan or forrest whittiker.

I have to admit, I'm not Forrest Whittiker either.

But I am watching the film at the moment, fight scenes seem really good, characters really cliche so far but its not bad at the moment

questions should be asked about the refs as well

Films just finished, it was borderline ok.
Problems with the Pacing of the film and a few major plot holes but it was alright I suppose, I'll not be in a rush to watch it again

Seen it Okay but not Ragging Bull is it now that's a film.

I will give it another watch. The opening fight scene IMO just seemed too stereo typical. White guy that takes 10 punches just to land one.


Through blurred vision of swollen eyes and dripping blood- he comes back to win. Then he is angry enough to start a fight outside the ring- his woman gets it the worst. That's when I turned it off. To me he has every reason to spend the rest of his life knowing he cause his woman's death.

Originally Posted by SlimTrae

I will give it another watch. The opening fight scene IMO just seemed too stereo typical. White guy that takes 10 punches just to land one.


Through blurred vision of swollen eyes and dripping blood- he comes back to win. Then he is angry enough to start a fight outside the ring- his woman gets it the worst. That's when I turned it off. To me he has every reason to spend the rest of his life knowing he cause his woman's death.

Thanks for the spoiler. Saved me $5.

No problemo pal.

Look at this way, he aint the southpaw. Not sure who it is, does be switch hit at the end?