"You see this guy here? That's the toughest opponent you're ever going to have to face. I believe that's true in the ring, and I think that's true in life. Now show me something."
- Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), Creed
Whether it was planned or not, there has certainly been an increase in bringing back characters in pop culture from the past to now – particularly this year. Not in remakes, but in what is being called “legacyquels”: from television’s “Ash vs. Evil Dead” (Bruce Campbell making a return to the title role he left behind twenty years ago) to, obviously, Star Wars: The Force Awakens (everybody making a return to the roles they left behind thirty years ago). But, certainly one character who has without a doubt gone the distance (pun intended) is Rocky Balboa, played by the often imitated but never duplicated Sylvester Stallone.
Almost forty years ago, Stallone had to fight to get Rocky on the screen and in doing so left a lasting impact on pop culture. Soon sequels followed, some better received than others; but all notable in their own ways. Stallone had intended 2006’s Rocky Balboa to be the swan song for the character going out on a personal triumph. And this is still true. Rocky will never get back in the ring as a fighter again. Enter Ryan Coogler, hot off the critically acclaimed Fruitvale Station. Coogler had been a huge fan of the Rocky films growing up and pitched Stallone on a new story set in that same timeline of films, but centered on a new character: the son of Apollo Creed, Rocky’s former rival turned friend. Stallone was originally skeptical on a further installment (especially since this would be the first film featuring the Rocky character not scripted by Stallone) but was swayed by Coogler’s admiration and commitment to having Stallone as a viable part of the film.
All his life, Adonis “Donny” Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) has been chased by a shadow: the truth of the identity of his father, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers – who, despite being alive in real life, appears in archive footage). Determined to make a name for himself, he heads from Los Angeles, California to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to the restaurant owned by the aging Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone). The ring is the last place Rocky wants to be, but eventually and reluctantly, he agrees to help Adonis train. Over in England, there is a massively-built boxer, “Pretty” Ricky Conlan (Tony Bellew), who is out for one last good bloody fight before he goes to prison. In order to defeat this challenging opponent, Adonis will have to embrace his legacy, follow Rocky’s guide and face his destiny.
The Rocky series has often been lampooned as a series that should have known when to stop. Still, Stallone has never wavered in his devotion into Rocky being a symbol of endearing dedication to following one’s dreams and believing in one’s self. Creed follows in this tradition, paying great homage to what has come before, while opening up the world to a new fighter. I haven’t seen much of Michael B. Jordan, but he has a great likability and charm that quickly wins you over. Stallone undergoes a massive transformation as Rocky, and not just from a fighter to a trainer. It is such a dramatic change that many are predicting Stallone may be the first actor to get two separate Oscar nominations for portraying the same character. In the course of the story, it is revealed that Rocky has developed lymphoma and must undergo chemotherapy. Rather than keep it as a point to deal with later, the movie goes headlong into that and shows us an extremely vulnerable and health-deteriorated Rocky. It does not shy away from his appearance, but it also does not linger. It is Adonis’ story and Rocky is in his corner.
The score by the Swedish composer Ludwig Göransson pays tribute to Bill Conti’s original Rocky score (naturally you can’t have a Rocky movie without some form of “Gonna Fly Now”) while also establishing itself in the modern age. The best fight in the film is actually the one in the middle with Leo “The Lion” Sporino (Gabe Rosado). Coogler does something I have never seen before in a boxing film: shoot the whole fight as one shot. Now, there could be some hidden cuts that I am not seeing but that is massively impressive. It is over and under the fighters, crisscrossing and moving; the fight keeps going. The movie also works as an interesting mirror of the very first Rocky. It follows a lot of the same beats as the original: courting a girl, trying to get a trainer, dealing with self-doubt and eventually losing to the champ.
Not every movie beats a Pixar movie in critical acclaim, but Creed took down a Dinosaur. If this is the beginning of another six movies with Jordan as Adonis Creed, I think it is a good start. He is an immensely watchable talent, someone who you can invest in. Stallone has good-naturedly taken a backseat for the purposes of the story, but continues to show he is not just an action hero but a well-rounded and woefully underestimated dramatic talent. Director Ryan Coogler takes up the mantle and charges up the metaphorical stairs triumphantly. While I think I prefer Rocky Balboa to Creed, it is still a viable film for the franchise and shows that there is no sign of stopping.
No comments:
Post a Comment