By Sammi Schenkel, Staff Reporter.
The film starts out with a bang as the song lyric “I’m a muthafuckin’ beast!” helps to get Billy Hope (Gyllenhaal) warmed up on his routine. Hope is a lightweight boxing champion competing in Madison Square Garden.
Kurt Sutter of “Sons of Anarchy” wrote and produced this emotionally intense sports drama. The cast is top notch, with Rachel McAdams playing Billy’s wife, Maureen. Cast members included young star Oona Lawerence, 50 Cent as his manager and Forest Whitaker, who brilliantly plays his trainer.
The story and plotline overall is fairly simple but it is brought to life with the cinematography and editing. Hope is a boy who grew up in the system since childhood. He found his love for both boxing and his wife in the orphanage he stayed at in New York City. Undefeated in his matches, he now lives in a lavish home with Bentleys in the garage. His best friends from the orphanage have continued to support him emotionally even into adulthood.
His rival, “Magic” Escobar, taunts him at a press release and it sets the tension for the rest of the film. Known for his boxing style, Hope takes a beating as the anger rages within him. Fighting harder in order to win the match, “if he isn’t bloody, it isn’t Billy.”
I honestly loved the way the film was shot. The boxing scenes were edited and shot in a dynamic manner that made it come alive. The use of point of view shots, ringside shots and the pacing made it more of an experience because it was up-close and personal. When he got punched, we felt it.
The blur and shakiness was there along with the sweat as it sways off his face with blood splatter from a strong jab. The shots were always interesting and used both first and third person perspectives to make the story come together.
Overall, it was a film that was made incredibly powerful by the strength and talent of the cast. It carried the film and made it so believable. The cinematography aided the storytelling and changed to fit the needs of the emotional roller coaster in this film, leaving the audience exhausted but satisfied.
