Jake Gyllenhaal is shown in a scene from “Southpaw.” (Photo credit: The Weinstein Company)

By Steven Zeitchik
Los Angeles Times

NEW YORK — The new drama “Southpaw” would seem to come in a long tradition of boxing movies and underdog sports films generally. But ask director Antoine Fuqua what he sees as the through line in it, and he has a slightly different answer.

“I didn’t really see it as a boxing movie — I saw it about a man who’s grieving and has to learn to be a father,” Fuqua said in a phone interview.

The Weinstein Co. film stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Billy Hope, a prizefighter who at the start of the film has it all but sees his life upended when his wife (Rachel McAdams) is accidentally killed during a spat between Hope and another boxer that turns violent.

That sends the hero down a spiral of misfortune, which includes losing his money and custody of his daughter. He has to train for a bout that could earn him back what he lost, but to do that he must learn a more disciplined method of fighting that stands in contrast to his more all-out approach.

Reviews of “Southpaw” were mixed, but critics praised the intense boxing sequences and Gyllenhaal’s pumped-up performance.

“Southpaw” features numerous sequences set in the ring. Fuqua wanted them to play as they would in real life, so he and cinematographer Maurio Fiore attempted to stage them to look like real fights, even employing HBO camera operators to shoot those scenes.

“I grew up with ‘Rocky’ and loved it; when I hear that song I want to go running,” Fuqua said. “And then Scorsese and ‘Mean Streets’ and all these other movies. But I don’t know of any movies that tried to do (the authentic shooting) we tried to do here.”

“Southpaw” arrived at Weinstein after a long development process with multiple studios. Originally packaged with Eminem, the film morphed (and was delayed) when the rapper left to focus on his music. (He still contributed some songs.)

Both director and star met with Mike Tyson before shooting. The boxer then came to the set to offer thoughts on how best to replicate pro bouts.

Tyson, whose talent was often at odds with his lesser impulses, is a good template for Hope — the “Southpaw” hero is a character who must learn to restrain his talents as much as unleash them.

“This is a character story about a man who has this rage inside him. He learned he could use that in the boxing ring and just let it all out,” Fuqua said. “But what happens when you need to control it?”