Southpaw (2015)

Wise finds the familiar sports-story plot elevated by Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance. He particularly praises Gyllenhaal’s physical transformation and the way his changing fight style conveys Billy’s mental state.

Macnab finds the film absurd and unoriginal but rousingly entertaining. He praises the forceful staging of the final boxing showdown.

The review finds a conventional boxing story made exciting by its cast, though its macho focus limits its crossover appeal. It singles out Jake Gyllenhaal’s magnetic, award-worthy performance as the film’s main attraction.

The accessible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. It likewise does not show what the critic singled out for praise or complaint.

The critic finds the drama visceral but somewhat familiar. Its visceral presentation is singled out for praise, while its familiar story is the main reservation.

Bradshaw finds the film hit-and-miss, with a clichéd story that fails to match its lead performance. He singles out Jake Gyllenhaal’s committed, psychologically acute performance for praise.

Kohn finds the film formulaic and its comeback story hollow, despite its energetic moments. He singles out Jake Gyllenhaal’s intense, expressive performance as the film’s saving strength.

Dowd finds the film a humorless, run-of-the-mill sports drama whose clichés waste Gyllenhaal’s commitment. He praises the authentic boxing scenes and the star’s athletic conviction in the ring.

Turan finds the film entertainingly audacious but undermined by a contrived, logic-defying script. He praises Jake Gyllenhaal’s committed transformation and convincing movement in the ring, while noting the role does not suit his talents.

The review finds the boxing drama underwhelming and anticlimactic, relying on familiar sports-film conventions. It praises Jake Gyllenhaal’s committed performance but faults the script for substituting violent outbursts for drama.

The critic finds the boxing melodrama too obvious and says it fails to match Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance. Gyllenhaal’s all-out commitment is the film’s standout strength.

The critic finds the film thematically narrow and its characters simplistically written. He praises Gyllenhaal’s committed performance and singles out the cinematography as the film’s other real highlight.

Chang finds the film a heavy-handed, conventional melodrama whose emotional manipulation undermines its story. He praises the dynamically filmed boxing scenes and Gyllenhaal’s committed transformation, while criticizing the shallow characterization.

Edelstein is mostly appalled by the film’s relentless melodrama, though he is impressed by Jake Gyllenhaal’s commitment. He praises Gyllenhaal’s physical transformation but faults the performance for staying emotionally narrow.

Sragow finds the film’s routine melodrama too rigid to become a contender. He singles out Jake Gyllenhaal as the element that could have made it work.

Romney finds the film a clichéd, underpowered boxing drama that fails to connect. He singles out Gyllenhaal’s physical transformation as impressive, but says the story remains closer to formula than to the genre’s greats.

The review finds the film weighed down by familiar melodrama, despite Jake Gyllenhaal’s committed performance. It singles out his physical transformation as a strength amid the story’s formulaic turns.

O'Sullivan finds the film entertaining in places but ultimately calls it nonsense, faulting its slick direction and packaged script. She praises Jake Gyllenhaal's engaging, technically impressive performance, while arguing that his physical transformation cannot carry the film.

Brody finds the film a hollow, poorly directed drama that its actors cannot rescue. He praises the cast’s energetic performances, particularly the brief training scenes, while faulting the bland script and impersonal direction.

Hammond delivers a strongly positive verdict, calling the film a sterling addition to the boxing genre. He especially praises Jake Gyllenhaal’s committed lead performance and the father-daughter story’s emotional pull.

The critic finds the drama predictable and overdone, but says Gyllenhaal’s performance gives it considerable weight. The natural father-daughter bond between Gyllenhaal and Oona Laurence is a particular strength.

The critic finds the film entertaining despite its familiar, old-fashioned story. He praises how Gyllenhaal’s character evolves as a boxer and how the editing makes the fights taut and suspenseful.

Welk finds the film adrenalized and emotionally forceful, but ultimately heavy-handed and one-note. He singles out Jake Gyllenhaal’s restrained, compelling performance as its standout strength.

Kaye finds Southpaw predictable and emotionally overdone, though still entertaining and occasionally gripping. He praises Gyllenhaal’s intensity, Whitaker’s compassionate trainer, and Fuqua’s brutally staged fights.

The review finds the film predictable and ultimately limited, though its comeback story is reasonably stirring. It praises Jake Gyllenhaal’s gripping performance and Antoine Fuqua’s realistically brutal boxing scenes.

McKnight finds the film a predictable, overlong sports drama that cannot rise above its familiar plot. He singles out Jake Gyllenhaal’s immersive performance as its sole highlight.

Kermode finds the familiar boxing-drama plot affecting thanks to its cast, though the film lacks imagination. She singles out Jake Gyllenhaal’s vulnerable performance for praise.

Pape finds Southpaw uneven, with its melodrama and implausible hardships weakening an otherwise entertaining underdog story. He praises Jake Gyllenhaal’s nuanced performance and Oona Laurence’s work as his daughter.

The critic sees Southpaw as a missed opportunity, despite its strong emotional foundation. Gyllenhaal’s performance and the film’s portrayal of Billy’s family relationships stand out, while the underdeveloped redemption arc is a key complaint.