The film could have been an intense character based drama, but doesn’t end up being more than a simplistic and underexplored story of a damaged family man. It relies too heavily on Gyllenhaal’s shoulders and it’s a testament to the actor’s talent that he makes it (more or less) watchable.

Though Southpaw brings nothing new, Jake Gyllenhaal’s acting prowess is on full display as the vengeful boxer. Southpaw leads with both hands, bringing blood and sweat onto the screen.