ViewGuide

Created Jan 29, 2016 11:06PM PST • Edited Feb 12, 2016 01:23AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Good 3.0

   Southpaw telegraphs its punches. They do connect, but lose much of their impact because you see most coming. That said, Jake Gyllenhaal is an impressive physical actor, if not an exceptionally charismatic one.

   The result is a movie that’s worth a cheap’o rental for boxing movie fans, albeit hardly one for the ages.

4. Acting

   Very Good 3.5

   Jake Gyllenhaal carries the movie as a legitimate leading man and surpassingly impressive physical actor. Pity he can’t overcome the glass-jawed script.

   • Rachel McAdams lights up the screen as his gorgeous wife. She’s an ideal costar.
   • Oona Laurence charms as their precocious little girl.
   • Forest Whitaker turns in one of his best recent performances as a grizzled boxing trainer.
   • Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson is the biggest surprise as a semi-corrupt boxing manager. The guy can act. Art imitates life when 50 Cent – bankrupt in real life – explains to a client that his money’s gone.
   • Naomie Harris jumps off screen in a small role. Moneypenny’s got presence.

5. Male Stars Very Good 3.5

6. Female Stars Very Good 3.5

7. Female Costars Very Good 3.5

8. Male Costars Very Good 3.5

10. Film

    Good 3.0

    The Great White Hope hero is named Billy Hope, so his nickname can be “The Great Hope”. Trite.

11. Direction Good 3.0

    Antoine Fuqua has directed great films in his career. This isn’t one of them.

12. Play OK 2.5

13. Music Good 3.0

14. Visuals Very Good 3.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.3

17. Sex Titillating 1.6

18. Violence Fierce 2.5

19. Rudeness Profane 2.8

21. Reality

    Glib 1.7

22. Circumstantial Surreal 2.2

23. Biological Glib 1.8

24. Physical Natural 1.0