Confession, I'm a sucker for boxing movies. From the Rocky series to Cinderella Man, I can't get enough of them — regardless of how predictable and repetitive the story arc.
I mean, how many times have we seen the same story of a boxing great fall from glory only to rise up and fight the new champ? Well, we're about to see it happen again with Jake Gyllenhaal in the new boxing drama Southpaw.
Southpaw follows the redemption story of Billy "The Great" Hope (Gyllenhaal), the reigning Junior Middleweight Champion with a loving family, a beautiful home, and just about everything else you could want. But, when a tragic accident leaves his wife dead, Billy falls into a downward spiral. With his life consumed by alcohol and prescription drug addiction and his home repossessed by the bank, Child Services eventually steps in to take away his daughter. In steps former boxer Tick (Academy Award-winner Forest Whitaker) who takes Hope under his wing as long as he agrees to clean up his act. Cue dramatic comeback as Hope not only fights to regain custody of his daughter, but also his life as a professional boxer. I think we all know how this one will turn out.
Still, the movie looks awesome, and I'm not even a Gyllenhaal fan. Southpaw is directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, The Equalizer) and also co-stars Rachel McAdams, Rita Ora, Naomie Harris, Tyrese Gibson Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and boxer-turned-actor Victor Ortiz. Fun fact, Oscar-winning rapper/songwriter Eminem was originally attached to play the lead, but dropped out of the project. That didn't stop him from providing the thumping soundtrack in the trailer.
Southpaw is set to hit theaters on July 31.
