50. Southpaw
Year: 2015
Sport: Boxing
Starring: Jake Gyllenhall, Rachel McAdams, Forest Whitaker, Oona Laurence, 50 Cent, Naomi Harris
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Although recent in its release, Southpaw was an overwhelming story that can best be summarized as a tale of how sports can help people persevere through their most trying of times. In this case, it’s boxing which creates structure that had otherwise been lost for disgraced ex-champion Billy Hope.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, written by Kurt Sutter, and starring Jake Gyllenhall, Southpaw fired on all cylinders and flew far too under the radar.
Boxing films have a tendency to capture the general public’s eye more than those of any other sport. For whatever that reason may be, it was proven true in the Rocky films, Raging Bull, and a number of other memorable releases that will appear on this list.
It’s fair to refrain from placing Southpaw in that same discussion, but it certainly held its own against the massive standards set by the films it succeeded.
Gyllenhall’s performances was as grand as one could ask it to be.
Written by Sutter, the creator of the critically-acclaimed Sons of Anarchy, Southpaw blends superb cinematography with gut-wrenching scenes out of the ring. The main character must overcome addiction and the loss of his loved ones in this overwhelming story of a father’s will to do whatever it takes to get his daughter back.
By the end of this film, the only thing you’ll have left to say is, “I’m not crying, you’re crying!” A great all-around film.
Next: 49. DodgeBall