Review – Creed

In Creed, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan), son of legendary boxer Apollo Creed (played by Carl Weathers in the original Rocky movies), tries to break free from his father’s shadow while also using what he knows as a fighter and about his father to guide him to greatness. You can say the movie itself is fighting a similar battle.  Creed is trying to be its own special movie and reinvent the Rocky series, yet not without keeping some of the motifs and emotions that made the Rocky movies the classics that they are, which ultimately leads Creed to greatness.

Adonis Creed leaves his luxurious life in Los Angeles to move to Philadelphia to become a full-time boxer much to the dismay of his mother (Phylicia Rashad).  When he gets there, he immediately befriends Apollo’s most famed opponent and friend Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), who is out of the boxing game and runs a restaurant named Adrian’s.  Adonis persuades Rocky to train him to become a great fighter while also trying to break free from his father’s name.

Creed is writer/director Ryan Coogler’s second feature film after the masterful Fruitvale Station (2013), and it proves that he is an incredibly talented and great filmmaker.  It is quite a feat to take such a historic franchise that so many people love and reinvent it into a movie this good.  This is a Rocky movie in every way, yet made with Coogler’s grittiness and keen eye for visuals.  You can tell Coogler has done his research with boxing movies, with shots and scenes that are similar to the original Rocky (1976), Raging Bull (1980), and The Fighter (2010).  The most impressive scene in Creed is an expertly crafted, nearly six minute boxing match in which the camera effortlessly flows throughout the ring, capturing the hits, the emotion, and intensity of every character.  This is a scene that could only be executed by someone of great skill, and Coogler proves that he has that and that he is a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood.

Michael B. Jordan is ferocious as Adonis.  Adonis struggles the whole movie trying to find his true identity and home.  He grew up in group homes until he found a stable life with his mother.  He isn’t a nine-to-five worker, he’s a fighter, but wants to do it on his own terms.  He doesn’t want to just be known as Apollo’s son, he wants to build his own destiny and his own name.  Jordan brings the fire of Adonis, giving a fully realized performance of an angry, arrogant, scared kid trying to find his place.  It is yet another great performance from one of the great young talents in Hollywood.  Sylvester Stallone is outstanding, giving arguably the best performance of his career reprising Rocky.  Though he does bring the classic Rocky one-liners and attitude, this Rocky isn’t the same one we are used to.  He’s old, tired, and lonely, and Sly brings surprising emotional range that I have never seen from him before.  It is an excellent, and dare I say, awards worthy performance from a Hollywood legend.

Creed is a powerhouse.  A rousing, soulful, brilliant film with perfect performances and top-notch filmmaking.  This is a worthy entrance to the Rocky franchise and a film that could be the start to new franchise.  It will bring you to the edge of your seat while also pulling at the heart strings and making you laugh.  Creed is one of the best movies of 2015.

MY RATING – 4/4

Are you going to see Creed this week?  If so, let me know what you think of the film by commenting below, hitting me up on Twitter @kevflix or on my Facebook page, Kevflix.