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

The Pondering 10 - Yankees All-Decade Team for 2010s

I thought I would stay away from the "all-decade" shenanigans, but I got suckered in after all. Around here, end of year rankings, reviews, and reflections rule, so why not compose a list that embodies it all? And why not put together a list around my beloved Yankees? Especially in a decade in which they DID NOT win the World Series. Gasp! With all of that said, please see below not only my list of the Yankees All-Decade Team (because everyone can filter by position), but also by importance and contribution throughout the decade.
Read more

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 9/13/26

The Sunday Sundown Rundown (formerly in the format of "3 Up and 3 Down") is where I share thoughts on three topics that piqued my interest, along with my favorite photo from the week. 25th Anniversary of 9/11 It is sort of hard to imagine that it has been twenty-five years since that awful day. It's been fifteen years since I've shared my experience as a High Schooler in Brooklyn, NY , and everything that came with that day (and the many to follow afterwards).  The world changed, and to this day, it still feels hard to grasp what happened (and what transpired with the health of so many afterwards). The lives lost, and the damage done. My son learned about 9/11, and his questions around it ignite some of that struggle with thought around it.  Daddy, how did they get the planes?  Did the building just, like, fall over?  On this 25th anniversary, it is even more concerning to see how the day is also politicized and sometimes weaponized in culture wars. I remember Americ...
Read more