You’ve probably seen the photos of Jake Gyllenhaal’s new ripped body. It’s only the outward manifestation of his well-defined and richly riveting character. He plays a boxing champ who loses virtually everything and struggles to recover his life and, more importantly, the custody of his daughter (an equally impressive performance by young Oona Laurence). Director Antoine Fuqua uses his mastery of the form to create many compelling moments and outstanding images. Expectedly, there are several extended, but not especially original boxing scenes. This film might have more effective if there were moments of humor to lighten the load. As it stands, the potential for a truly powerful picture is weakened by its relentless seriousness. Gyllenhaal’s performance is impressive, but the plot’s predictability, the director’s heavy handedness and the harsh dark drama impede its full potential.
(3.5 / 5)