Creed

The Rocky movies have had a long and timeless career of bringing peoples’ emotions into the ring and beating the hell out of them. Despite technically being a spin-off, Creed is no different. Expertly directed by Ryan Coogler, Creed is just as worthy to take over the heavy weight boxing superstar franchise as its protagonist Adonis Creed is to take up the mantle of champ from not only the aged Rocky Balboa, but from the memory of his deceased father Apollo Creed.

Creed succeeds in much the same way the original Rocky film did in that not a single second or word is wasted. There isn’t a scrap of fat anywhere. It’s a lean, mean, tight movie that constantly pulls back in on the driving force of Adonis’s saga: creed. Belief. But it isn’t just a simple “believe in yourself” cat poster ideal that Adonis strives towards. This film goes so much deeper than that, exploring the psyche of a young man desperate to grow, succeed, and break past his own self-doubts.

Of course this isn’t just Michael B. Jordan’s show, Sylvester Stallone also returns as a world-weary Rocky Balboa who has his own fight to take on as he steps into the role of mentor for his late rival’s son. I’m happy to see that if he actually tries, Stallone can still be a phenomenal performer and he does indeed knock it right out the park. No joke, this might just be strongest Rocky performance ever put to film. A real palpable melancholy permeates every one of Balboa’s actions and words. His time has come and pass, and now it’s someone else’s time. Jordan and Stallone work very well off each other and I eagerly await them furthering the relationship in whatever sequel they have planned.

Creed is a perfect execution of the passing of the torch that I hope others learn from as we edge further into an era of legacy. 

 Score: A+