Saw it today, what a fantastic continuation of the Rocky legacy. Ryan Coogler's script is filled with heart, emotion, honesty, warmth and humour, and his direction is dynamic and exciting.
This is Sylvester Stallone's 'Unforgiven', Rocky says to Donnie in the film to pour all the hurt and all the pain into the round it's mirrored his performance, Sly pours nearly 40 years in the game and of playing Rocky into the character here. We find Rocky as the same lovable and wiser than he seems salt of the earth pug we've always known him to be, but there's a sadness and directionless weariness to him that changes the night Donnie walks into Adrian's.
The dynamic between the two is fantastic, filled with a heart and sense of humour which drives the entire movie, Jordan plays Donnie with an upbeat drive, rather than being the cliche angry young man, instead his anger fuels his determination. The training scenes with them feel authentic and are energetically captured by Coogler, but it's the emotional scenes that are the money.
Jordan holds his own well with a real rawness, but Stallone shines as Rocky's fears and sadness pour out, Coogler gives him the lines like arrows and Sly hit's bullseye after bullseye, whether it's delivering sage everyman wisdom, motivational speeches or heartfelt honesty, he judges it all pitch perfectly.
Not be lost in the shuffle is Tessa Thompson's artsy but real Bianca, she's a match for Donnie and their romance is understated and nicely played. There's a lot more I can see happening with her in a sequel.
The boxing in the film is ferociously captured, the camerawork is dynamic and throws you right into the middle of every uppercut and jab, the impact feels like it shudders the screen. The single take fight is an impressive achievement but so is the structure and editing of the main event between Creed and Conlan, Coogler fusing the fight with powerful corner scenes between Rocky and Donnie as Rock tries to motivate his young protege.
On the surface the story is very much like Rocky, but the film is really more about family and a need to belong and have purpose in life. Rocky shows Donnie how to be the man he wants to be and Donnie gives Rocky a purpose to keep on fighting, this is highlighted so nicely in a dinner scene with Rocky, Donnie and Bianca, and that is Coggler's skill, he delivers the big dramatic moments in and out of the ring, but it's the smaller scenes like Rocky visiting the graves of Adrian and Paulie or Bianca convincing Donnie to take the Creed name, right to the final scene of the film that showcases a deft hand.
9.5/10