Skip to main content

Dome Pondering Movie Review: Southpaw (2015)

What is it about? 

A successful boxer who made it from the foster system must pull his life together after losing his wife in an accident and his daughter to Child Protective Services. 

Who is in it? 

Jake Gyllenhaal - Billy Hope

Rachel McAdams - Maureen Hope

Forest Whitaker - Tick Wills

Favorite Scene: 

[spoiler alert!]

In his fight against Miguel Escobar, Hope managers to knockdown Escobar right before the final bell rings. The visual of Escobar falling is absolutely amazing. 

Favorite Quote: 

"These kids coming up in here I'm telling them a bunch of stuff, this bullsh*t. "It's gonna be alright". You can control your destiny. You could control this, you could control that". You can't control sh*t."

Review: 

Let's just put this out here, because everyone does it in comparing a new boxing movie to Rocky. For me, my favorite boxing movie is indeed Cinderella Man. Gasp! I know. However, Southpaw is an amazing film that I really do believe is up there with the original Rocky and Cinderella Man. 

What I love about Southpaw is the story. Sure, every boxing movie has the typical underdog and overcome storyline arc for the big win. However, what I love about Southpaw, is what I typically like in most of the films/TV shows I am drawn to - they build up the protagonist and then completely destroy him early. Like - wham! - really tear him down! It sucks me in every time, and forces me to root for the hero, in this case, Billy Hope. 

Also, the visuals in the film are absolutely fantastic. The fight scenes feel so authentic, so real, and some of the fight action is shot so well. 

Of course, Jake Gyllenhaal with his superb talent is just that - superb in this role. And hey, even Curtis Jackson aka 50 Cent is pretty decent. 

All in all, if you enjoyed Rocky, or like really good films, be sure to check out Southpaw. 

Grade: 5/5
Labels:

Recently Read

Would You Rather: Questions 121-130

This edition of "Would You Rather" is credited to the NBA Would You Rather NBA Account on Instagram ( See Here ). Adding to the fun, this edition (and possibly future ones) are all NBA basketball questions.  121. Who would you rather have on your favorite NBA team - Giannis Antetokounpo or James Harden?  Seeing how I'm a lifelong suffering Knicks fan, the thought of any of these guys in blue and orange is hard to believe. With that said, I'm taking the Greek Freak for this reason - I enjoy watching him play a bit more. Nothing against Harden who is amazing as well, but at times, the ball sticks and that isn't always fun. Plus, I feel like we haven't yet seen a finished Giannis. 122. Would you rather have Giannis Antetokounpo with no driving ability or James Harden with no Three-Point shooting ability?  This is definitely a weird and unique one, but I'll take Harden. Giannis without his strength doesn't offer much. However, if Harden's d...
Read more

Thoughts on TNA on AMC Debut: "Yup, TNA is back. It is so back."

TNA is back.  And I know that because it is heavily under scrutiny by the internet. But that criticism comes with being back on a major platform like the AMC Network, and of course, taking the next step after a super successful 2025.  So, what did I think?  The show was...ummmm okay, at best. Some of the challenges the company faced heading into this weekend were well documented among the rumor mill, which didn't bode well for the company. In balancing reported visa issues with talent, pivoting after losing core talent to free agency, and attempting to build and manage talent workload with a premium live event on Saturday, TNA found themselves in the usual TNA stuff. The most peculiar - and strangest - of situations to be in going into a big network premiere. This company, man! All in all, again, the show was okay. It had its flaws. It had some cool moments. It didn't live up to the hype (or the expectations we each had for such a premiere). But it's one show. TNA has put...
Read more

Dome Pondering Movie Review: The Man from Toronto (2022)

What is it about?  After an average screw-up is mistaken for an assassin, they must work together to accomplish the mission at hand to break free from other restraints as well.  Who is in it? Kevin Hart - Teddy Jackson Woody Harrelson - The Man from Toronto Favorite Scene:  Teddy is on his first assignment from The Man from Toronto and is in a conference room, and must find out key information. What happens next is Teddy's goofiness shining through awkwardly.  Favorite Quote:   Teddy: [About his minute photos] What's that, for your little serial killer wall? The Man From Toronto: You think you'd make the wall? Come on, man. You're barely fridge material. Review:  This one lasted on the "My Watch" list for a few years. After finally getting to it, I wasn't disappointed.  Woody Harrelson is one of those actors for me who typically isn't in bad stuff, so this one got the benefit of the doubt. While I love Kevin Hart, the trailer alone felt very similar to...
Read more