I enjoyed this, even I didn't found it to be very good. I'm a sports movie fan, so I was also looking forward to this. Unfortunately it never gets into my skin. The script is too full of cliches.
The performances of the leads are very good, just 50 cent i definitely annoying, but that could have just been for the part he played. The music wasn't anything special either. I liked the fight scenes, although the final fight was a bit of a letdown for me, but then it still had a edge of your seat climax. I like the film, but it's flawed, and comes nowhere close to the best Rocky's, and other similar kind of films like The Fighter, The Wrestler, and Warrior are also better.
Southpaw fascinated me, and it kept me interested, it's well shot too, that I want to think better of it, but ultimately it drowns itself in too much drama that the film can't handle.

B

I expected that.

lol

I'm really surprised about how much you love it, same for Chappie. I like them, but they're so far from great.

What makes you think they are so far from great? Oh yeah ... IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes.

And the fact that you didn't see them first. I believe this plays a big part in it. I mean, look at Everest. First person to see it and it instantly becomes your favourite of the year with an A grade. But other fantastic movies that you see after everyone else only get Bs and such.

IMDb and RT reflect the average opinion, which is held by the average person, so why is it so shocking to see people agree?

Did I say I was shocked? And it is not just one occasion. stuffp always agrees with the IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes' consensus. It's almost as if he goes into the film knowing that he will give it such and such a grade because he is generally aware of a film's reception beforehand.

Unless one avoids the internet altogether, it is essentially impossible not to know the general consensus beforehand.

Doesn't mean you have to let it affect your opinion.

If it affects your opinion , it is subconsciously. My opinion is mostly affected by whether or not I was anticipating it or not. If I was really excited for a movie that got bad reviews, I would probably look past the flaws and try my very best to like it.

zwackerm has a point here, that's relevant to me (too).

I think it's my anticipation and expectation is affecting my feeling about about the film after seeing it, more so than popular opinion. That said, I can't deny I find validation when I agree, or others agree with how I feel about a film. It's not something I seek out though.

If you've seen Creed and its in any way fresh in your memory, Southpaw should be avoided at all costs. Creed just puts it to shame on just about every level.

The movie also feels very hacked to death. As Thompsoncory and David mentioned, there is absolutely zero reason for Naomie Harris' character to be backstage at the final fight. Who even is she to the little girl anymore? A friend? There's zero interaction between the two of them. So did Gyllenhaal hire her? Are they dating?

And it's kind of amazing how quickly the film stops caring about McAdams death.

Speaking of Creed, this is pretty much Rocky V with a happy ending. Didn't work then, doesn't work now.

** (C)