​FILMS

creed

2015 review number 180:

Creed: (Drama/Action): 85 out of 100: The first Rocky movie was released in 1976 and was followed by five sequels with the last one, Rocky Balboa, being released in 2006. Just when you thought the franchise had reached its use by date, along comes this sixth sequel which resuscitates Rocky and makes him more relevant and accessible to his audience, for nobody wants to see a 69 year old fighter in the ring. This is the first time Sylvester Stallone hasn't written a Rocky screenplay and he has been relegated from the main role. It's as if the series has come full circle with Rocky now acting as a trainer, imparting his knowledge and wisdom to a young boxer, just like Mickey did with him nearly 40 years ago. 

 

We first meet Adonis Johnson as a young boy in a foster home in 1998, beating up on another child. His famous father, Apollo Creed, was once the heavyweight champion of the world but he died in the ring. Adonis never met his father and was the product of an affair his father had. Apollo's widow, Mary Anne Creed (Phylicia Rashad), adopts him to allow him to have a chance in life and raises him as one of her own. We then see Adonis as a young man (Michael B. Jordan) participating in boxing bouts in Mexico. The lure of boxing results in him tracking down Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), one time foe of Apollo Creed and later his best friend. Rocky has lost all the people he has ever loved and now only has his diner to keep him going. He can see something in Adonis which will make him a champion, and at the same time, enable him to return to the world he loves best...boxing. 

 

This is probably the best Rocky film since the original. One might even be prompted to suggest that it isn't a true Rocky film as the main story now focuses on Adonis who changes his name to Creed so he can earn a shot at the title based on his name alone. Credit must go to Ryan Coogler, the director and co-writer for making Adonis a character viewers can invest their emotions in. This is Coogler's second directorial effort after the excellent Fruitvale Station so he is definitely a talent worth keeping tabs on. Not only does he direct his cast with sensitivity and precision but he has staged some excellent fight scenes. In the first fight there is one long sequence shot over a couple of rounds where the camera is held at shoulder height, providing a sense of intimacy and a feeling of actually being in the bout. 

 

What makes the story more appealing is that Rocky isn't the invincible and surefire character he once was. Age has slowed him down and now he must resort to factors other than physicality to survive. Stallone is now playing the Burgess Meredith role from the earlier Rocky films and this is his best performance in years. Don't be surprised if he is nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar as the Academy loves to reward the down and out character riddled with health problems, especially one that is portrayed by a veteran actor. Jordan is equally as good and the nuances of his character are beautifully exhibited. The scenes they share together provide a father/son relationship and there are moments when you will feel teary. Bianca (Tessa Thompson) provides the love interest and although her scenes are necessary to drive the romantic angle of the story, they aren't as powerful as the scenes involving Adonis and Rocky. 

 

There is a familiarity with the plot due to the training montage scenes and the neighbourhood sequences in Philadelphia. This can work both ways with some viewers being able to reminisce fondly of the Rocky films from the 80s and 90s while others might complain about the lack of originality. I was in the reminiscing category for my emotions were charged, especially with the Bill Conti-type score, this time written by Ludwig Göransson. There are echoes of Conti's original rousing compositions and there's also a snippet of Rocky's original tune.  

 

This could be the movie where Rocky hands over the reins to Creed. If a return to the character-driven plot of the original is what you desire then do yourself a favour and experience one of the best sequels of 2015. It's more about the story and the characters with the boxing scenes being the icing on the cake.

 

Starring Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson and Phylicia Rashad

(133 minutes)

Parental advice: Coarse language, violence and adult themes

Additional scene during or after credits: No

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ9OhBYjTds (Movie trailer)

 

(Reviewed on Sunday 29th November, 2015)

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