SOUTHPAW starring Jake Gyllenhal Gets a Marginal Thumbs North

SOUTHPAW is the newest underdog boxing movie. It's a rematch of of older, broken in boxing films.  It has some ROCKY pumped with MILLION DOLLAR BABY.  There's the former golden-boy, washed up fighter, the fight trainer fighting his own demons while inspiring others and the cliched, self-serving promoter played by Fifty Cents.  (Ironically, Fifty Cents is claiming bankruptcy in real life & on screen, Billy Hope (an always winning Jake Gyllenhaal is bankrupt with his back against the ropes. Hope's wife, Maureen (the beautiful Rachel McAdams) is knocked off early in the film leaving Billy suicidal, homocidal and a bereft single father fighting to win custody of his daughter.  The daughter, Leila (Oona Laurence, Bwy's Matilda) is a talented young actress of stage & screen.  It's priceless to have Forest Whitaker in your corner & in your movie.  He plays Titus, the somewhat saintly gym owner & mentor for kids with little else going for them.  As luck will have Titus is also Billy Hope's last hope. This movie goes too many rounds round the block.  I found myself looking at the clock.  But, just when it feels like the movie may be down for the count, it delivers a few jabs to the heart.  Rapper Eminem contributes his rap music to the score.  The 1 - 2 combo of a C script with an A+ cast helps keep this movie on its feet.  This predicatable but pleasurable boxing film where you the good guy prevails gets a split decision.  It comes out a winner, but only by a small margin.