Southpaw

So, I just watched Southpaw and wow. From the very beginning, I knew this was going to be an extraordinary film, simply because of how it starts. The soundtrack is absolutely incredible, and of course, the acting is too. Maureen… honestly, I’m speechless. I expected her to just get shot, not to actually die. I genuinely didn’t process the fact that she really died. For me, it was too much; I was this close to feeling like someone from my own family had died. I really like how Billy’s situation is shown after Maureen’s death. It feels real. The fact that Leila is taken into child protection and that Billy loses his house it’s exactly what would happen in real life. Of course, I don’t like that this happens; I think it’s extremely unfair to him, especially taking his child away. I understand that he had anger issues, which could cause problems, but he would never hurt Leila. And honestly, in real life, I don’t think taking a child away is always the right solution. If the parent struggles with addiction or severe mental illness, then yes, but Billy didn’t have those problems. I get that it’s a rule and that it’s considered “normal,” but at the same time, it doesn’t feel right. I don’t really know which side to take here, because both perspectives have advantages and disadvantages, and I don’t think there’s a way for everything to be good at once. I really love Billy’s character development and how he learns to control his anger better. Even though I believe that his anger can also be useful and constructive, it’s good that he learns to manage it and not let it consume him. Of course, I have to talk about Tick, because I think he had an extraordinary impact on Billy. Just like he said, he couldn’t have done it without him. I really love Tick’s vibe; he’s that trainer everyone imagines, but at the same time, he’s also a friend. And I also need to talk about Hoppy… because I feel like everyone moved on way too fast after his death. I find it extremely sad how no one really mentions him anymore, even though he was a character who could have had an even bigger impact on Billy than he already did. And of course, Joe Joe, who was an amazing friend to Billy. I love how he stays with him from the very beginning, from Maureen’s death all the way to the final fight against Miguel. I also want to talk about Billy’s relationship with his family. I love the fact that he does all of this for his family, that he’s always there for Leila, and that even though they have conflicts, they stay together. The fact that Leila comes to the final fight meant a lot to me. I also loved how, after winning, Billy stays in the ring and talks to Maureen. I think that’s how everyone should be, remembering the people who were there for you. Maureen meant everything to him, and I love that she stays with him throughout the film, that she watches him from above. I also love that Billy has her name tattooed on his back, that he still loves her, talks about her, and thinks about her. In conclusion, I don’t even know how to explain how many times I cried and how much I loved this film.