Review: Creed
Cinema: Creed (2015)
Nine years after Sylvester Stallone figuratively and literally waved goodbye to everyone as Rocky at the end of Rocky Balboa, he returns to the big screen in Ryan Coogler’s ‘Creed’.
No longer providing the body (in more than one sense of the word) of the movie, Stallone is without doubt the beating heart that pumps the emotional content. Rocky’s days of stepping into the ring are far behind him, and his solitary life revolves around running ‘Adrian’s’ restaurant. His world is turned upside down though when a face from the past confronts him and he has to fight for much more than a Championship belt.
By his own admission Sly had said a fitting farewell to the character of Rocky Balboa in 2006, but Ryan Coogler had other ideas. Showing a tenacity to succeed that would make Rocky proud, he never gave up promoting the idea of Creed to Sly despite a series of knock-backs. The end result is a movie that not only continues the story of Rocky, but also introduces new characters within that universe who flesh out some of the past while also creating opportunities for more stories going forward.
Beginning with a flashback to 1998 and a taste of the life Adonis Johnson as a child (illegitimate Son of Apollo and unaware of who his Father is) it jumps forward to present day to find him stuck in a job he doesn’t want to do, yet fuelled by a passion for boxing that is literally ‘in his blood’. He asks a reluctant Rocky to train him, and much like the previous Rocky movies, a series of events lead to a final fight where everything is at stake. I shall keep this review ‘spoiler free’ and so will give no more details away about the storyline, but I shall give you a flavour of what to expect when you go to see it.
The original Rocky was integral in introducing cinema audiences to Steadicam techniques, and it is fitting that Coogler’s kinetic camerawork makes copious use of it. None more so than during Creed’s first major fight scene. In a stunning sequence (that gives the illusion of no edits), the camera floats around the ring like an ethereal entity; almost as if we are seeing the fight through Apollo’s eyes as he keeps a close watch on his Son. The fight is very reminiscent of the ones between Rocky and Apollo in the first 2 movies; gritty and visceral where you can almost feel every punch yourself. The timeline of the Rocky fights seemed to flow throughout this movie for me, as the final fight in Creed (presented in true HBO fashion) seemed more akin to those in Rocky 3&4; more wild punches, more blood, more action.
Michael B. Jordan plays the title role in a superb performance. He displays a physicality that his onscreen Father would be proud of, while also displaying an emotional vulnerability that keeps both his personal and professional life on a knife edge throughout the entire movie. He pounds the streets of Philadelphia in grey sweatpants and hoodie, retreading the steps taken by Rocky and running through areas that seem stuck in a time vacuum since we originally saw them in 1976. People keep moving forward, but sometimes places just stay the same.
Tessa Thompson plays Creed’s love interest Bianca, who has to deal with issues of her own. Once again there are echoes of the past as we see a relationship build that is akin to that formed by Rocky and Adrian many years previous; a young boxer and a female that has her own inner issues to deal with.
It is Sylvester Stallone that steals the movie for me (and as a self confessed Sly fan since 1978, that is probably no surprise to people who know me). I am objective enough though to recognise when he is either in a bad movie or gives a poor performance, but with Creed he gives a nuanced and heartfelt performance that underlines a brilliantly shot and scripted story. At time of writing he has already won a Golden Globe for best supporting actor and has been nominated for an Academy Award, and both very well deserved. As his 70th Birthday approaches later this year, it is good to see that his acting ability is finally getting the recognition it deserves. Even in the action extravaganza that was Rambo, there were nuances to his performance that underpinned a character who showed far more than wanton aggression. I feel that we have seen the end of ‘Action Sly’ but I welcome the upcoming years of ‘Acting Sly’ where he will hopefully have the opportunity to be given more dramatic roles and show the world that he is more than just the two iconic characters of Rocky and Rambo.
There are subtle aural and visual nods to previous Rocky movies that fans of the series will appreciate and raise a smile, but this is not to say that Creed relies totally on nostalgia to engage its audience. Here we have the beginnings of what could become a whole new franchise (and if box office takings so far are anything to go by, I’d be very surprised if we didn’t see the next chapter in the life of Adonis Creed) with characters that have links to the past, yet are charismatic enough to forward the narrative on their own terms.
We may well be nearing the end of the journey for Rocky Balboa, but it seems that his legacy is in good hands for any future stories. Just do me one favour please Hollywood: NEVER re-make any of the Rocky movies; Sylvester Stallone IS Rocky and always will be.
Review by Dave (host of 60 Minutes With)