Fist pumping awesomeness.

Rating: 8/10 (3 December 2015)

Not as edgy as fellow 2015 boxing flick Southpaw, but tonally more consistent and featuring an equally brilliant central performance, this Rocky spin off delivers the sort of fist pumping sports drama you would expect. Following Adonis "son of Apollo" Creed as he channels his anger into a boxing career, there's little variation from the tried-and-tested cinematic sporting formula, but it's executed with such flair and intensity that barely matters. Taking on both writing and helming duties, Ryan Coogler's technically marvellous direction finds fresh ways to capture both the drama and the action, dispelling any thoughts that his fantastic debut Fruitvale Station was a one-off. The training montages are traditional yet electric, the emotional beats are occasionally a little too melodramatic yet still pack a wallop, and the showdowns in the ring are ferocious and exhilarating. There's a truly awe-inspiring mid-film fight that is shot in one, long continuous take (aided by some cleverly hidden edits), which stands up as a genuine contender for the best sequence of the year. Bulked up and bringing the emotional heft, Michael B. Jordan puts Fantastic Four far in his review mirror with a compelling portrayal of a man attempting to step out from underneath another's shadow in order to craft his own legacy. Sylvester Stallone shakes off the cobwebs to return for the seventh time as the Italian Stallion, thankfully toning down his usual overwrought acting to offer a subtler supporting turn as Adonis' mentor and surrogate father. Serving up a hugely satisfying slice of sporting drama, both Coogler and Jordan demonstrate they are young Hollywood players to keep a close eye on.