CREED III

US, 2023, 116 minutes, Colour.

Michael B.Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Wood Harris, Mila Davis-Kent, Phylicia Rashard

Directed by Michael B Jordan.

Creed III already. We now have a Creed franchise. And, of course, we remember that this is the continuation of the Rocky franchise, in fact, the ninth film. There is an acknowledgement of this in some remarks during this film about Rocky and the battle with Apollo Creed. And Sylvester Stallone himself receives credits, as a producer, and “based on characters created by”. And, we remember that in the first Creed film, Rocky was Adonis Creed’s trainer.

With the background established, how does the present film go? A thumbnail review would read: what the audience expected, what the audience gets.

By now, Adonis, Donnie, Creed has established himself as world champion. And, as played by Michael B.Jordan, a very sympathetic character whom we have cheered on. Some years have passed, his running a gym, successful, wealthy, living in a mansion, sponsoring for big companies (a huge billboard with him wearing Ralph Lauren clothes – Ralph Lauren supplying his wardrobe for the film!), Happily living with his composer, music-producing wife, Bianca (Tessa Thompson appearing again) and their little daughter, Amara, sweetness and light but also packing a heavy punch, her father’s daughter. She is hearing-impaired so there is a lot of signing as parents communicate with her and she responds to them.

There is a flashback near the beginning, Donnie as a 16-year-old, getting out of his mother’s house at night, accompanying his friend Dame, to an underground boxing bout, Dame winning the Golden Globes competition by knockout. But, before returning home, he is confronted by a figure from the past and punches him out. The sequence will be later explained and amplified with its consequences.

But, in the present, all is well except that his mother (TV veteran Phylicia Rashad), has had a stroke and her health precarious despite her determination.

Then, one day, Dame reappears after 18 years in prison, Donnie not immediately recognising him. There are the tensions from the past, Dame in prison, Donnie escaping and despite Dame writing letters, no response from Donnie. So, some scenes of re-establishing contact, visits to his home, a social at a record label party…

But, Dame has not lost his ambitions, wanting a tilt at world heavyweight champion, challenging Felix, Hispanic boxer, urge upon by determined mother, who trains with Donnie and Duke (Wood Harris). So, then we know where the film is going, what we expect and what we get.

Lots of collages of training after Dame wins the world title, confronting Donnie, and, the preparations for the final confrontation. And, since Donnie is in Los Angeles and not in Philadelphia like Rocky, he runs up the Hollywood Hills, above the Hollywood sign and bellows loudly.

Jonathan Majors is Dame – coming just after his persuasive turn as Kang in Ant Mand and the Wasp: Quantumania.

So, this is definitely a film for boxing fans, with some human interest throughout as well as the dramatic challenge. The climax, is again of course, the final confrontation, filmed realistically, sometimes surreally with the auditorium empty, the boxing ring seeming to float on clouds.

Where to? How can they invent Creed IV, after this episode ends with a humane touch and possible reconciliations.

1. Heritage of the Rocky franchise? Now the Creed franchise? This film presupposing its predecessors, characters, story, boxing, Championships?
2. The Los Angeles setting, the city, the poor neighbourhoods, the contrast with mansions, the gym, auditoriums for championships? The surroundings of Los Angeles? The musical score?
3. Audience interest in Adonis Creed? Son of Apollo Creed? The background of his mother and her relationship, separation, forgiveness? As a teenager, his friendship with Dame, getting out of the house, carrying the gloves, the Golden Gloves fight, the confrontation with Leon, the back history of violence, bashing Leon, the audience later seeing Dame with the gun, the arrest, Donnie fleeing?
4. The transition, Donnie and his achievement, world champion, running his gym, the collaboration with Duke, the sparring at the gym, Felix, tough, his mother urging him on, Donnie’s new life? Wealth? Comfortable?
5. Bianca, the years of marriage, devotion to Donnie, her work as a record producer, the scenes of composition, supported by Donnie, the love for their daughter, hearing impaired, the sign language, the affection, Donnie and the tea party, Amara and the fight at school, bullied, Bianca’s reaction, Donnie’s reaction to urge her to fight to defend herself?
6. The arrival of Dame, 18 years in jail, Donnie not recognising him, the past history, going for something to eat, Donnie offering money, Dame’s reaction, his past career, skill as a boxer, knockouts, his wanting to have a chance at a world title? Donnie’s hesitation? Duke and advising against it?
7. Dame, going into training, the severity of the training? Donnie and his help, Bianca and her friendship, his visiting the house? At the Label Party? The preparation for the bout?
8. Drago, to fight with Felix, his injuries and the attack, Felix wanting to fight, the discussions about Dame, his mother, the press conference, the agreement?
9. The fight, the crowds, Dame and his aggression, Felix fighting back, Donnie and the reaction during the fight, the knockout? Dame and his achievement?
10. Donnie going to see Dame, his crowd, his reaction against Donnie, bringing up the past, 18 years of envy of Donnie’s life and career? His future?
11. Donnie, the dilemma, the decision to fight, going on the TV program, Dame phoning in, the announcement?
12. The background of the Rocky style, this training scenes, to the top of the Hollywood Hills, the Hollywood sign, his shout?
13. The fight, the crowds, Donnie in white, Dame in black, his assertiveness? The drama of the fight, the surreal scene, the ring on the clouds, the empty auditorium, the passing of the bouts, round 12, the drama, the advice, Donnie and his past achievement, tactics, knocking Dame down?
14. The triumph, Donnie’s world champion again, going to the room, talking with Dame, apologies all round, a kind of reconciliation?
15. Donnie with his family, with Ama in the ring, the future?