True Championship Material

Rating: 9/10 (19 December 2015)

Reviewed by: Dare Devil Kid (DDK)
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
"Creed" brings the "Rocky" franchise off the mat for a surprisingly effective seventh round that extends the boxer's saga in interesting new directions while staying true to its classic predecessors' roots. After "Rocky" and its immediate sequel, this is the best film of the series, and worthy of the championship belt. Director Ryan Coogler ("Fruitvale Station") infuses his film with a genuine passion and un-ironic attachment to the original's best qualities, particularly its delicate balancing act between anguish and triumph.
The surest sign that Coogler has honored his source material is that "Creed" is populist cinema through and through. His achievement is that he gives his audience exactly what they want and makes it feel like a gift rather than a bribe. But Coogler manages to soar beyond simply making an entertaining boxing movie by infusing "Creed" with a chief detail that makes it so good: perspective. The smartest thing Sylvester Stallone did was to not write and/or direct this film. Ryan Coogler brings a fresh set of eyes to the project. "Creed" works both as part of a larger franchise and on its own massively entertaining terms - it's a loving look to the past and a confident glance towards the future, and most importantly, a triumphant return to form for the "Rocky" franchise that kept losing its way further and further since the third entry.
Sylvester Stallone gives a spectacular performance in the film as he returns to his iconic role of Rocky Balboa. Stallone acts as both a mentor and hero to Adonis, delivering a heartwrenching and emotional performance that's should certainly snag him an Academy Award nomination, and had it not been for Idris Elba's bone-chilling, spellbinding act in this year's "Beasts of No Nation", he might have won the damn thing, too. Still, after all these years, Stallone has finally turned to a dramatic role rather than adding another action hero credit to his sterling repertoire, and pulls it off with stunning aplomb that would leave even his most ardent fans gobsmacked. Jordan is perfect in the boxing scenes, and plays off Stallone admirably in the dramatic and emotional ones; their chemistry and relationship is the film's high point, even more than the triumph and tenacity of the pugilist's character.
"Creed" rises above its well-worn premise and delivers a film that's at once stylish, engaging, and ultimately moving. The gritty direction, sensational performances from Jordan and Stallone, and surprising depth packs a combination of punches that make the film both brilliant and entertaining.