Review of Rocky (1976) by Brian R — 29 Aug 2018

Cinema lovers all over have seen this great picture. About a down on his luck boxer who gets a shot by chance to fight the World's #1 boxer. The underdog boxer is Rocky played brilliantly by Sylvester Stallone who in a way mirrors Brando from "On The Waterfront".

He walks down the mean streets of Philedelphia with a fedora hat and leather jacket, carrying a handball while jabbing around like a boxer and talking non stop but deep inside he's strictly a loner with barely much to survive on.

Rocky works for a loan shark (Rocky already reminds me of Charlie in Scorsese's Mean Streets) and an amature boxer. This guy is basically at the bottom of the bararells the lowest of the lows and it's tearing up his self esteem and self confidence very badly.

That is until he meets a pretty girl who works at the pet shop named Adrianne. She is played wonderfully by Talia Shaire. Adrienne, a shy girl, has absolutely no confidence or self esteem. The only thing that keeps her alive would be the pet shop and later on Rocky.

Her brother Paulie (Brilliant performance by Burt Young) says dispicable things to her like calling her a loser. What a way to make someone feel like a real pos...Rocky sees her at the shop and really takes a likein to her and eventually they do go out to an ice rink as one of the film's most memorable scenes.

The picture also deals with boxing and how promoters exploit amatures in order to make more money. Rocky knows this and feels he is being exploited but nonetheless agrees. What the promoters don't know yet is that Rocky will train his guts out to be equal to the #1 boxer Apollo Creed.

The boxing scenes didn't really bother me. Sure they are outside the ring and im sure some viewers may have a disliking for that type of framing but you still understand what's going on and Stallone and Weathers make their duels look very believable.

The music by Bill Conti really gives the movie a major lift and I still smile when I hear that theme song "Gonna Fly Now" and emotional sadness when I hear the piano ballad plays when Rocky walks alone.

Burgess Meredith as Rocky's trainer Mickey is also great who plays more like a father figure to the young boxer "Women weakens legs!". John G Avildsen has made a great film and Stallone has written a brilliant script that touches many issues but imo the heart of the story goes to Rocky and Adrianne.

It's amazing how those two blossom and overcome their own self worth and self esteem. "Rocky" is a movie that goes for the heart and soul.