Bean's Review: Finally, a storyline not dependent on special or computer generated effects with good character development.
A professional boxer, Billy Hope, played
amazingly well by Jake Gyllenhaal, at the top of his career loses it all
when his wife, also played well by Rachel McAdams, is accidentally shot
and killed.
With the help of a trainer, played well by
Forest Whitaker, Hope gets his career back on tract and also, more
importantly, gets the return of full custody of his daughter, played
convincingly by Oona Laurence. The daughter draws out
the sympathy as well as the empathy. You become quite involved in
Hope’s angst and “hope” he gets it together and pulls through his grief.
Jake Gyllenhaal really got in great shape for this movie and is very convincing as a boxer.
Although sad at times, as is life, this is an
overall good story with great characterization and you do not leave the
theater depressed.
Best scene: when Billy tells his daughter that he is going to fight again
Bean’s rating: Matinee
Jake Gyllenhaal did an incredible job on the acting as well as the physical boxing. The fight scenes were very well done but it felt like some of the story was taken from the many Rocky movies that have been made.
If the movie didn't end the way that it had and finished with an even more depressing story line, this review would have been a lot different. Thankfully it had a somewhat decent ending.
Best scene: The final fight and getting his daughter back.
Mike's rating: If this is your kind of movie, then see it on the big screen. But for me its a wait for it on cable type of movie.
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