Review of Rocky (1976) by Johnathon W — 24 Nov 2018

Classic boxing film that stills remains the standard of the franchise and the genre in general. Sylvester Stallone gave his breakout performance (along with the screenplay) as Rocky Balboa, a simple man that just wanted to prove he wasn't some bum off the streets.

Of course, the supporting cast is excellent, with Talia Shire angelic as Adriana, the love of Rocky's life who lights up as their relationship grows and Carl Weathers as the charismatic Apollo Creed.

The scene stealer, though, is that late, great Burgess Meredith as Micky, Rocky's trainer who also sees a shot at finally making something of himself (his plea to Rocky to let him manage him is heartbreaking).

Behind the camera, director John G. Avidsen's adapts Stallone's simple but effective script, giving it a real gritty look (the scenes of Rocky working as a loan shark enforcer fully display this).

Despite the then limited budget, the production value is still top notch with a real sense of Philadelphia (thanks to production manager's Llyod Kaufman's excellent location scouting), while Bill Conti's score remains a classic (and a must for any exercise playlist).

A true classic and one of the finest boxing films ever made.