CREED

US, 2015, 133 Minutes, Colour.
Michael B.Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, Tony Bellew,Graham McTavish?.
Directed by Ryan Coogler.

Those who saw the original Rocky film might scarcely believe that it is almost 40 years since it was released, was extraordinarily popular, won the Oscar for best film. Sylvester Stallone invested a lot of in this character, not only in performance, but writing the screenplay and writing sequels and directing some of them? He even made a comeback in 2006 with Rocky Balboa.

Somebody had the bright idea – and, box-office wise, it is a bright idea – to imagine that Apollo Creed, Carl Weathers in the original films, had an illegitimate son who found out who his father was and wanted to become a boxer, had successful fights under the radar in Mexico, had grown up after his time in juvenile detention to become a successful businessman. But, he wants to give up all this in order to box, to make his own way in the tradition of his father, but using his mother’s name to avoid capitalising on his father’s reputation. He is played by Michael B.Jordan who was the star of the director, Ryan Coogler’s social drama, Fruitvale Station.

So, off he goes to Philadelphia to track down Rocky – Sylvester Stallone at 69. He finds him in his restaurant, but Rocky feels that he is old and cannot consent to train the young man. But, his memories come back, remembering Apollo Creed and his death, but also remembering Adrian his wife and Paulie his trainer, even going to the cemetery to sit with them at their graves and read the news to them. And so, of course, he does decide to train the young man, and there are plenty of vigorous training sequences – vigorous for Adonis Creed, calling himself Donnie Johnson, from his mother’s name, not so vigorous for Rocky himself.

Rocky is not as healthy as he might have imagined and, remembering the death of Adrian and the ineffectiveness of chemotherapy, he decides against it until Adonis challenges him to fight and win with him.

The screenplay, of course, works in a romance, featuring Tessa Thompson as a singer in a club whose loud music in her apartment disturbs Adonis but, when he sees and hears her singing, falls for her and she for him. They get on well together, though there is a falling out when Adonis, angry at Rockies illness, loses his temper with one of her support band members and it looks as if there may might be a serious break.

A Rocky film would not be a Rocky film without a final 12 round boxing battle. This time it is in England, in Liverpool, with the world heavyweight champion, “Pretty” Ricky Conlon. Adonis is the underdog but, by the 12th around, even non-boxing fans will be on his side.

Of course, the screenplay is open to a sequel, to Creed 2 – and initial box office results should be strong enough to persuade Hollywood to make the sequel.

1. The popularity of Rocky films? The tradition of the sequels? In the 1970s to the 21st century?

2. An inventive story, Rocky and his ageing, coaching? The new generation?

3. Philadelphia setting, familiar from the earlier films, the restaurant, the gyms, interiors, the boxing rings? Los Angeles and juvenile detention? Liverpool, the press conference, the boxing stadium? The feel of the boxing film?

4. The musical score, the new songs, the echoes of the Rocky themes?

5. The title, memories of Apollo Creed? His interaction with Rocky? Adonis, in juvenile detention, the background of his father and illegitimacy, his fighting, life, Apollo’s wife to visit, her offer, becoming his mother, and Adonis growing up?

6. Donnie, his education, his good job, the Mexican fights, the wins? His desire to box, the memory of his father? His motivations, his job promotion, resignation? Leaving his mother, leaving LA?

7. Going to Philadelphia, going to the restaurant, meeting Rocky, the introduction, discussion, his request for training? Going to the gym, the detailed sequences of his training? The trainer and his son, practice, bouts? The clientele of the gym, the trainers?

8. Sylvester Stallone reprising the role of Rocky, 40 years since the initial film, the spirit of Rocky, the sequels, with Apollo Creed, Creed’s death? Rocky and his age, his sadness at the death of Adrian and Paulie, going to the cemetery, reading the paper to them? His interest in Adonis, his memories, go to Donnie, offering to coach, the scenes of training, his sitting and reading the paper…?

9. Rocky’s collapse, the diagnosis, in hospital, not wanting chemotherapy, memories of Adrian’s chemotherapy and death? Not telling people, the brochures in his pocket, Donnie finding them, urging him to fight his cancer? The deal for both of them trying to win?

10. The English phone call, the deal, “Pretty” Ricky Conlon and his reputation, wanted by the police, breaking the jaw of his opponent at the press
conference, his manager and the discussions, the buildup to the press conference with Donnie, his taunting him? Rocky keeping the peace?

11. Donnie, his apartment, not going by his name, the nickname Hollywood, the loud music, meeting Bianca, going to the club, hearing her singing, wanting to take her out, the talk, her progressive deafness, bonding and sharing, the support group at the club, Donnie losing his temper, fighting, his anger and Bianca’s reaction?

12. The clash with Rocky, the reconciliation? His win in the fight, the discussions on television about his status, illegitimacy, his father?

13. Going to England, the press conference, in the dressing room, the preparations, rocky and his advice, the 12 rounds, the experience of the fight, Rocky watching and encouraging, Bianca watching, the commentators? His mother watching on TV?

14. The final round, the points, Conlon winning, the moral victory for Adonis, Conlon encouraging him to be his successor as champion?

15. The finale, the famous Philadelphia steps, Rocky’s past running up, now climbing slowly, with Adonis, looking back to the past, looking to the future?