The new Rocky: Creed.

By Spencer Gaffin

“You see this guy staring back at you? That’s your toughest opponent.” -Rocky Balboa

Most people have heard of Rocky. And Rocky II. And Rocky III and IV. (We can forget about the other ones). Even if you haven’t seen it, you know the iconic score, or might have heard your friends or parents reference a scene. But many Rocky fans haven’t heard about Creed, a sequel following the journey of Adonis, the son of Rocky’s rival. I absolutely love this movie. It’s more than just a sequel, it stands on its own as a wonderfully written and executed film. Creed is the story of Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan), the illegitimate son of Apollo Creed, who struggles to make a name for himself in the shadow of his father, regarded as one of the best boxers of all time. He moves from Los Angeles to Philadelphia to seek the help of his father’s old rival, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone).

Creed is mostly shot using a handheld camera, which some would question the use of for such a big Hollywood movie, but I think it’s excellently done. It’s not shaky to the extreme of films like District 9 (2009), but it makes the film stand out from over produced blockbusters and gives the movie a sense of realism and makes it seem natural. But the standout cinematography of the film is the one-shot take of Adonis’ fight against Leo “The Lion” Sporino (Gabe Rosado). The director, Ryan Coogler, used a stedicam to film the entire fight (four minutes and thirty seconds) in one continuous shot, which took over a dozen tries.

The fantastic cinematography is helped by the amazing choreography of the boxing itself, which is done using a cast of real professional fighters, including current world champion Andre Ward. Michael B. Jordan, the only non-professional boxer, trained daily for months to prepare for the role of Adonis Creed. The boxing is so real that Jordan was actually knocked out while filming the last fight against Ricky Conlan (Tony Bellew). The dedication to accuracy is part of what makes Creed stand out as such a realistic and relevant film.

One of the most important parts of Creed is the cultural relevance and the themes of the film. Creed chooses to show important and simple parts of black culture that add to the realism, like Adonis braiding Bianca’s dreadlocks, or the motorcycles ridden by the local Philadelphia kids. These small details are what separates the film from others. It’s also separated by the themes touched on throughout the movie. Adonis struggles with taking on the name of Creed with his father’s accomplishments heavy on his shoulders. But his desire to prove himself catapults him through the boxing world and into the spotlight. The film also touches on the very real debate of boxing as a way to make a name for yourself and overcome the life you were born into. Adonis is told that he doesn’t deserve to be where he is because of the silver spoon he was born with. “These boys come in here, they gotta fight for life. This is how they survive.” -Little Duke (Wood Harris). Why would Adonis choose a fighter’s life when he doesn’t have to?

Another sense of realism is added by the mise-en-scène of Creed. The backdrop of Philadelphia is used to add a feel of gritty urbanism to the film while giving a nod to the original Rocky movies, also set in Philadelphia. The city’s skyline. The restaurant. The famous stairs. Mickey’s gym from the first Rocky film. The kids riding dirtbikes up and down the streets. All of these things help give Creed a very urban and modern feel while also paying tribute to the prior Rocky films.

Creed also excellently uses the technique of patterns described in the text. In the final fight with Conlan, Adonis is knocked out. The scene takes on an ABABABAB pattern of Adonis laying on the ground, and then switching to the important parts of his life in a quick back and forth pattern. The camera slowly pans in as Adonis’ life literally flashes before his eyes. The pattern is broken with a shot of Adonis’ father, Apollo. Adonis suddenly regains consciousness and he remembers what he’s fighting for.