Respond to these rapid questions in our Southpaw quiz and we will tell you which Southpaw character you are. Play it now.
Boxing is not a sport that is full of unexpected outcomes. It is not a competition to see who can throw the most creative punch or avoid getting hit in the most innovative way. In this sport, as in so many others, it comes down to mastering techniques and performing those moves with more fluidity than the other athletes. As a result, the fact that Antoine Fuqua’s “Southpaw” is so widely known makes the topic almost seem like it was made for the movie. This traditional story is about a boxer who is brought down by personal tragedy but rises again to save the one person in his life who matters to him. Because there are so few surprises in the story’s narrative, one can pretty much map out the entire venture from the preview. However, not every movie needs to create something entirely new. Working from almost exactly the same template he did on “Sons of Anarchy,” a show that verged on Greek tragedy and also presented men who exist in worlds of violence and are often undone or saved by their children, writer Kurt Sutter plays with the very familiarity that will drive some critics away but comfort viewers looking for an old-fashioned tale of redemption. Sons of Anarchy verged on Greek tragedy and also presented men who exist in worlds of violence and are often undone or saved by their As I stated in a piece I wrote about the television show “Sons of Anarchy” two years ago, “Watching characters, with whom we can identify, persevere through the proverbial fire allows us to believe we can overcome relatively minor obstacles in our own lives.” The expression “Southpaw” refers to the very same thing.
Jake Gyllenhaal, who continues to amaze with his ability to transform his performance, this time takes on the role of Billy Hope, a boxing champion who is nearing the end of his career. The first fight in “Southpaw” features the champion going through an unusually challenging bout, one that goes into the late rounds and leaves him bloodied and battered. Maureen, his wife, played by Rachel McAdams, urges him to step away from his work for a while. She cautions him that if this continues for another two years, he will be punch-drunk and unable to spend time with the person in his life who is the most important to him, his daughter Leila (a breakthrough child performance from Oona Laurence, genuinely in the moment in every scene). Billy’s only real expertise is in the world of boxing. He spent his childhood in child services, and it was there that he not only met Maureen but also the posse of friends who hang around after fights and encourage his rise to fame. During his time in child services, he also became involved in a number of fights.
In the world of boxing, it is not uncommon for an up-and-comer to have aspirations of challenging the reigning champion. Hope hears Miguel Escobar, played by Miguel Gomez, yelling after press conferences that he wants his time in the ring. Miguel Escobar is a younger and more agile fighter than Hope. The promoter and manager Jordan Mains (also known as Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson) does not want to schedule the Escobar vs. Hope fight just yet because he is attempting to rack up a few more victories and the cash payouts that come along with them. Hope wants the big match, but everything changes when a physical altercation between the frequently violent pugilist and the rising star ends in gunfire. Hope still wants the big match, but everything else has changed. When the dust settles, it reveals that Maureen has a wound in her stomach about the size of a bullet, and that Billy’s life has been irrevocably altered. He is prevented from engaging in the one and only activity he is familiar with, descends into suicidal behavior, and runs the risk of permanently losing his daughter. Will he be able to recover?
But you shouldn’t waste any more time and start this Southpaw quiz.
Kurt Sutter investigated the intersection of aggressive behavior and emotional responses on the show “Sons of Anarchy,” as well as on “The Shield,” for which he served as a formative writer. Men such as Jax Teller and Vic Mackey were prepared to cross lines of violence in order to save the people and ways of life that they cared about. In many respects, Billy Hope is a member of this family lineage. He is a man who has had a difficult upbringing and knows little more than how to fight and love. These are two aspects of human existence that many people would consider to be on opposite ends of a spectrum, but Sutter has always presented them as coexisting in some men, particularly those who have been forced to fight their entire lives. He is a man who has had a difficult upbringing and knows little more than how to fight and love. Billy Hope does not so much change gears as he does rebuild the essence of who he has always been. He goes to a new trainer named Tick (Forest Whitaker) and tries to find his center after everything that matters to him is taken away in an instant. Sutter is aware of the fact that men like Hope (or Teller, for that matter) perform at their highest level when they are completely dedicated to the things that motivate them.
Southpaw Quiz
Gyllenhaal gets that too. In the ring, he portrays Hope as a powerful force of nature, screaming into the camera while blood and spittle collide with each other as they strike the lens. Outside of the ring, Gyllenhaal is aware that men like Hope frequently struggle with insecurity and even shyness when it comes to discussing things that are deeply personal and emotional. Look at how differently Gyllenhaal conducts himself around the boys in his entourage, Jordan, his wife, and eventually his new trainer. In moments where there is a chance for him to be redeemed, such as when he is speaking with Tick or the social worker who assists Leila (Naomie Harris), he lowers his gaze, almost as if he were a child hoping that someone will give him the answer that he so desperately needs. Again, the way Gyllenhaal carries himself in the role communicates more about the character than anything else in the movie. Gyllenhaal is known for making courageous and self-assured choices, as seen in the films “Prisoners” and “Nightcrawler.” He has gradually evolved into one of the actors in our company who is the most physically confident. And it is very satisfying to see Whitaker turn in a performance that is on par with the strong work that he has done here. Unfortunately, a significant portion of the rest of the ensemble, with the exception of Laurence, comes off as a plot device, particularly Harris’s case worker.
Also, you will find out which character are you in this Southpaw quiz.
Sutter is a film that director Antoine Fuqua, who is no stranger to tales of the dangers of macho male aggression, proves to be a good fit for. Because of his combative approach, we are frequently thrust into the middle of a confrontation and made to take blows from our adversary. It can get a little too hectic at times, and I do believe there’s a better version of “Southpaw” that takes a few moments to catch its breath a little bit more frequently in order to locate the character beats that take place outside of the ring. There is a fleeting moment when Billy says to Tick, “My wife would have liked you.” This is the kind of human interaction that the movie could have benefited from having more of by the time it was over. In addition, I believe that Sutter takes a few shortcuts in the second half of the story, most notably with a troubled inner city youth that Tick and Billy try to help. This youth could have been named Plot Device because his subplot is so poorly written and feels so cheap.
About the quiz
Boxing has been the subject of more movies than any other sport combined. Why is that, especially in this day and age when the popularity of the actual sport is on the decline? It’s because there’s something inherently relatable about fighting for something, like stepping into the ring and trying to vanquish not just an adversary but also one’s own personal demons. “Southpaw” is the latest addition to the extensive filmography of boxing movies, and it puts up a fight that is surprisingly impressive.Also, you must try to play this Southpaw quiz.
For more personality quizzes check this: Fantastic Four Quiz.
