THIS is actually episode six in the “Rocky” series that Sylvester Stallone created in 1971 and the first in the series for which he didn’t write the screenplay.
That task fell to young (still in his twenties) director Ryan Coogler whose “Fruitvale Junction” in 2013 delivered a vigorous observation of being young and Afro-American.
Rocky remains central to the series, now long since widowed, his only son dead, owner of a cosy-looking Italian restaurant in Philadelphia. But the star of “Creed” is Michael B Jordan in his third feature under Coogler’s direction, playing Adonis, orphaned love-child of Apollo Creed, Rocky’s opponent in the boxing ring for four “Rocky” films.
Adonis in his teens is an uncontrolled and violent kid awaiting trial when good fortune arrives in the form of Apollo’s widow (Phylicia Rashad) who takes him into her home and raises him into a personable young adult in whom his father’s fighting gene is strong.
Adonis asks Rocky to coach him. That relationship develops along an unsurprising path toward a bout with the US champion light-heavyweight leading to a challenge from “Pretty” Ricky Conlon, played convincingly by real-life ABA heavyweight champion, Briton Tony Bellew.
The film works well on all of its story levels – father-son relationship between Rocky and Adonis, gentle romance between Adonis and aspiring singer Bianca (Tessa Thompson), Rocky’s confrontation with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and the climactic 12-rounder in Liverpool between Adonis and Conlon. The actors playing the principal roles do a fine job. The gymnasium sequences are informative and often comical. Despite my aversion to blood sports, I found myself admiring the way that “Creed” demonstrates the attributes that a great boxer must master – speed, power, agility, courage and above all determination.
At Palace Electric, Hoyts and Limelight
The post Review / ‘Creed’ (M) *** and a half appeared first on Canberra CityNews.