Review of Creed (2015) by Harry W — 09 Apr 2016

Since Sylvester Stallone is my hero and I')ve liked every single Rocky Movie ever made, the idea of the man returning to his roots in Creed was not a film I could ever miss.

Creed is both a Rocky film and it isn't. Directed by Ryan Coogler, the creator of the independent film Fruitvale Station (2013), it is his own original take on the Rocky narrative. Serving as a sequel to the original Rocky saga (1976-2006), Creed picks up as an untold story about the illegitimate child of the deceased Apollo Creed discovering his roots as a boxer and pursuing them. Yet as well as being a sequel, Creed is very much a remake because it essentially follows the exact same narrative structure. It's a pre-established underdog formula that was created by Rocky and has been replicated in countless films such as The Karate Kid (1984) and 8 Mile (2002). As a result, there is a feeling of clear familiarity in Creed which makes it a largely predictable feature and may bother viewers. This comes with the same slow pace that the original Rocky followed. However, Ryan Coogler hones the familiar narrative and makes it his own. Capturing the same style of grit John G. Avildsen used to make Rocky such an iconic feature, Ryan Coogler does the same with a firm grip on how to make it work in the contemporary age. He offers the same edgy nature that made Fruitvale Station such an iconic film and does it on a relatively small budget, relying on genuine narrative and tenacious direction rather than visuals and training montages.

With a clear love for the material, Ryan Coogler makes an extremely powerful sports film out of Creed. The same way that Adonis ""Donnie" Johnson Creed desires to make a legacy of his own but follow his fathe's footsteps as a Creed man, Ryan Coogler pursues a path which makes a worthy entry into the Rocky franchise yet a strong standalone film at the same time. The entire story is extremely inspiring, centered around a likable protagonist rich with heart and soul. Sacrificing his stable job in a securities firm to pursue his love of boxing, Adonis "Donnie"? Johnson Creed throws himself headfirst into his dream without looking back. Over time, he trains to be a magnificent fighter throughout a series of real training exercises. Among these is a montage sequence as there has to be, though it pursues the path of being more legitimate than cheesy. From there, Ryan Coogler works to build up some excellent fight scenes. Captured with precise cinematography and intense editing, the boxing matches in Creed are done excellently. The cast hit each other as hard as they can with a refusal to use stunt doubles, and the cinematography captures this perfectly. The editing can be quick when it needs to speed up the intensity, but it also makes use of some long shots to display the strength of technique in the punches. The first major fight in the film occurs in a single take against the backdrop of a green screen that just slips under the radar, showing the brilliance of the visual technique in this all. The sound effects hit a high point during these scenes.

And the same visual style that captures these fights captures the on-location Philadelphia scenery very nicely. Though there is a grim colour scheme in all this which depicts the natural state of the location, there is also a small ray of light to reflect the inspiration that begins to progress. The natural state of dirt that dominates the streets of Philadelphia is part of the beauty in Creed for its realism and nostalgia, so Creed always maintains visual grace.

However, the sporting aspect of Creed is merely one of the many aspects that make up the film. Ryan Coogler clearly recognizes that at heart, Rocky was a drama about a working class man given a shot at life. Ryan Coogler appreciates the classic enough to value its greatest themes and he works to bring them into the modern day with Creed. However, what's most impressive is how he balances them between the main characters Adonis âDonnieâ? Johnson Creed and Rocky Balboa. Donnie is realising his true identity and pursuing what he loves while fighting his inner demons along the way, while Rocky is passing down his wisdom while dealing with his mortality. The developing relationship between the two shows Donnie being raised by the father he never had and Rocky training the son he never had, and the raw emotional honesty in their dialogue is brilliant. The occasional comic banter between the two manages to lighten the mood at times and bring laughter into the experience. However, it doesn't decrease the credibility of the film. At its most powerful moments, Creed is such a touching film for the sadness and positivity of its themes and messages that it is hard not to cry. For me, I ended up crying a total of four times, surpassing the records set by Rocky Balboa (2006) or Warrior (2011). There is such beauty in the film inside and out of its sporting moments, simply because it is a beautiful character drama. And the grace of Ludwig Goransson's musical score helps to bring out the mood by touching upon familiar works of Bill Conti while also working to stand on its own two feet.

Though the film is fuelled with rich humanity in the screenplay and direction, it's really the brilliance of the cast that makes it accessible to viewers.

Michael B. Jordan delivers one of his most powerhouse roles to date. Continuously on the rise, Michael B. Jordan is an extremely talented young actor who steps up to his greatest challenge since Fruitvale Station. His recent career has been arguably most notable for his work with director Josh Trank for the entertaining Chronicle (2012) and the abysmal The Fantastic Four (2015). Being the most entertaining cast member in both those films, Michael B. Jordan steps out of the teenage nature of the characters he portrayed in these films to return to the gritty nature of an adult role for Creed. He still brings over elements of a young man who has a lot of growing to do, but Creed is his most adult role to date and pushes him to the limits both physically and psychologically. In the case of the former, Michael B. Jordan goes the distance with every punch, every duck, every small physical exercise he has to commit in the film. Considering that he did all his own stunt, the remorseless dedication is incredibly admirable. And in terms of capturing the character, Michael B. Jordan emits some of the spiritual traits Rocky Balboa carried for decades but also a greater sense of vulnerability. This is highlighted by the chemistry he develops with Tessa Thompson, particularly in one scene where she shuts the door on him and he breaks down, telling her how much he needs her. The contrast between the merciless ferocity in his punches and the gentle humanity in the role truly captures the extent of Michael B. Jordan's exceptional skills as an actor. Michael B. Jordan's onscreen bond with Sylvester Stallone shows him genuinely learning from the veteran actor in the same way his character does, and so their chemistry is a treasured asset to Creed.

Sylvester Stallone delivers a performance like never before in Creed. Having always been my hero, Creed presents the man an opportunity to surprise even me. Sylvester Stallone constantly chooses to portray roles that challenge him to fight. If you consider that he just finished making The Expendables trilogy (2010-2014) where the entire concept is about him continuing to fight in old age, it's clear where his priorities have sat. In Creed, he finally backs down. He doesn't pick up a gun or punch anyone, choosing not to hide behind his muscles this time. As a result, he delivers what could be his most honest performance. Capturing the vulnerabilities of Rocky, his acceptance of his age and the melancholy of his lonely existence yet still maintaining the same burning heart that propelled him through countless fights, Sylvester Stallone's performance doesn't follow his prior efforts all that much. It is far closer to Burgess Meredith's Academy Award nominated performance as Mickey Goldmill, most notably in the later parts of the film where Rocky dons a similar beanie to Rocky. Sylvester Stallone honours everybody with his performance: the fans and creators of the original film, the director who brought the character back into the spotlight and everybody lucky enough to watch his performance. He captures an introverted nature through less movements in his limbs and a more restrained line delivery, a powerful contrast to his glory days of relentlessly fast punching. Rocky Balboa is a man who can't ever be beat, but in reality there is nobody capable of avoiding death. Accepting his fate and burdened by all the loss he has suffered, Sylvester Stallone captures the state of Rocky Balboa by limiting his emotional output but ensuring he is always deeply ingrained in the character. Frankly, it's a remarkable feat for him to understand the character with so much depth and it just shows that in all six preceding films he never lost sight of Rocky's values. Sylvester Stallone's performance in Creed has finally earned him the recognition he deserves: acclaim from critics, a Golden Globe award and the status as frontrunner for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Frankly, it's about time people started appreciating his efforts as I have.

Tessa Thompson also delivers a touching effort. Playing the Adrian Pennino of this story, Tessa Thompson reveals a sense of mystique to be her most prominent flair. She has a sense of artistic passion about her which gives a structure to her character's certainty in pursuing what she loves, contrasting the lack of grip Donnie has on his life and creating a strong chemistry brought on by the contrasting strides of the characters. Tessa Thompson has a very likeable nature about her, one which is welcoming and seductive without being overtly simplistic or sexualised, maintaining a similar character to Adrian Pennino yet a completely different personality.

Creed may replicate the Rocky formula a little too closely for some, but Ryan Coogler's raw passion for the material brings out refreshing life in the legacy for Sylvester Stallone's timeless classic with enough brilliant acting and emotional power to standalone as a touching and inspirational sports drama of its own right.