Rocky

Rocky

Starring Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burgess Meredith, Carl Weathers

Directed by Joe Avildsen

The Story:
In Philadelphia, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) is a small-time boxer who doesn't really have any friends or family, apart from his turtles.  He lives a solitary life, and awkwardly flirts with equally awkward pet shop worker Adrian (Talia Shire), whose brother Paulie (Burt Young) is one of Rocky's only friends.

When heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) decides to host a big boxing bout between himself and a local unknown, he chooses Rocky due to his nickname - The Italian Stallion - and Rocky agrees to fight him.  He begins training with Mickey (Burgess Meredith), and begins a relationship with Adrian, as he faces his own inner demons to become a better fighter - and person.

The Spectacular:
There's very few films in the history of cinema that has withstood the test of time, and "Rocky" is one of them.  Not relying on spectacular effects, the film has a limitless quality because it focuses on the endurance of the human spirit, and how a feisty underdog can overcome the odds and do something unimaginable.

Sylvester Stallone wrote the screenplay and tried to sell it to different production companies, but none of them wanted it because they wanted to enlist a known actor to play the role of Rocky, whereas Stallone (who until "Rocky" was very unknown) would only sell the story if he could play the role himself.  Now it's impossible to think of anyone else owning the iconic character, as Stallone's own story parallels that of Rocky's in several substantial ways - most notably both men having uphill climbs to success, and facing several setbacks along the way.

The remainder of the cast were also (mostly) relative unknowns, but each one gave their own iconic performances.  Talia Shire plays Adrian in a role that wouldn't be given to anyone today, because she's an extremely shy, awkward woman who's never had a boyfriend before, and is too "plain Jane" to really attract an audience today.  She gives Adrian a heart-and-soul depth that blossoms like a flower - unsure, timid, and quiet at first, but as the film progresses she finds her own self and opens up in amazing ways.

Equally, Burt Young balances a lot of emotions as Adrian's brother and Rocky's friend Paulie.  He's a drunk who's jealous of Rocky's growing fame, and also fearful of loosing his sister, but also manages to push them both away while he longs to draw them closer.  It's a wonderful performance to see.

Burgess Meredith plays the memorable Mickey, who serves as Rocky's trainer before the big fight, and gives his own gruff performance that he was best known for.  Also, Carl Weathers gives a great performance as Apollo Creed, but he's not really given much to work with in the film - after all, it is Rocky's story to tell.

The setting has become as memorable as the character, and showcases both the beauty and downtrodden sides of Philadelphia with equal measure.  We see the beautiful Museum of Art, and also see Rocky's very run-down apartment (which would now look like one of those murder scene set pieces you'd find on a murder documentary) - but the spirit of Philadelphia is in every shot, and audiences get a newfound respect for the classic city.

The music serves as the quintessential aspect of the film, delivered by the likes of Harry Warren Tetrick, William McCaughey, Lyle Burbridge, and Bud Alper, and remains as illustrious as it was back then.  The film's most memorable scene (as well as all of cinema) is Rocky's climb up the Art Museum steps (one that millions of tourists re-enact every year) has that pulse-pounding, fist raising music that accompanies it, making it a powerful moment in cinema.

The final fight between Rocky and Apollo may seem cliche and typical nowadays, but the entirety of the fight was a visual masterpiece for its time (and even holds strong today).  For a bout that wasn't supposed to last the first round, the fight continued through several rounds, with both men at times coming out on top, and we see the spectacular makeup effects on both men as they land blows and duke it out in the ring like the titans that they are.

"Rocky" was nominated for a whopping ten Academy Award nominations, and won three, including Best Director, Best Film Editing, and Best Picture of the Year.  It's no wonder why it's remained a staple of sports cinema, as it was revolutionary in its simplicity, in that it doesn't offer any exciting twists, but rather serves as witnessing our own hopes and dreams through the eyes of an underdog that no one ever believed in.


The Subpar:
The film could've focused more on Apollo Creed, but we get to see more of him in the subsequent sequels.

The ending could've had a bit more to it, but it was still a very appropriate ending, especially since the film spawned a franchise.


The Summary:
Holding firm over forty years later, "Rocky" managed to withstand the test of time thanks to a spectacular, memorable performance by Sylvester Stallone, providing a solid story that beats true in the hearts of underdogs everywhere, and gives us a spectacular look into the life of the ultimate comeback kid.


The Score: A+