Southpaw

Southpaw is the story about the ruin, but moreover redemption of a light heavyweight boxing champion who loses everything he loves in the face of tragedy. This is the riveting story of Billy “The Great” Hope (Gllenhaal), reigning Light Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World, who seemingly has it all with, an impressive career, a beautiful and loving wife (McAdams), an adorable daughter (Laurence), and a lavish lifestyle. When tragedy strikes and his lifelong manager and friend (Jackson) leaves him behind, Hope hits rock bottom and turns to an unlikely savior at a run-down local gym: Tick Willis (Whitaker), a retired fighter and trainer to the city’s toughest amateur boxers. With his future riding on Tick’s guidance and tenacity, Billy enters the hardest battle of his life as he struggles with redemption and to win back the trust of those he loves. (Gary Reber)

Special features include the featurette Inside The Ring (HD 21:30), eight deleted scenes (HD 20:46), an Extended Training Montage (HD 04:03), a Q&A With The Cast (HD 18:56), and upfront previews.

The 2.41:1 1080p AVC picture is gorgeous throughout, with a perfectly saturated color palette, with natural fleshtones. Hues are rich and warm and at times vibrant. Naturalness and realism are prominent. Contrast is well balanced with deep, solid blacks and revealing shadow delineation. Production design is excellent, exhibiting realism throughout. Resolution is superb, with fine detail evident in both foreground and background perspectives, as well as closeups of facial features and fighting injuries, hair, clothing, and object texture. This is an exceptionally fine cinematic presentation that is reference quality throughout. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is dynamic sounding, with plenty of punchy sound effects and enveloping atmospherics that extend aggressively to the surrounds, including tremendous audience excitement. The spatial dimensionality during the fight scenes are enveloping and directionalized. Deep bass extends to sub-25 Hz at times during high dynamic impact segments. James Horner’s orchestral score is generally reserved but emotionally supported, and during intense segments switches to hip-hop, with an aggressive surround presence. The music is spread wide and deep across the soundstage. Dialogue is nicely integrated spatially. This is a wonderful soundtrack that at times delivers a holosonic® presence. (Gary Reber)