An underdog film, actor, and character all win here!

Rating: Null/10 (24 September 2001)

In the mid 1970's Sylvester Stallone was a married man with limited acting experience, no money in the bank, and only an idea for a story which in many ways was semi-autobiographical. Despite being broke, with a baby on the way, Stallone shopped his story of a pug club fighter given the opportunity of a lifetime to fight for the heavyweight championship of the world. It was a loose story based on Chuck Wepner's fight with Muhammed Ali. But it was also about perseverance, opportunity, and then raw guts...all of which Stallone exhibited by rejecting a $400,000 offer for the script that would have had another actor play the role Stallone said was his...that of Rocky Balboa.
Finally with assurances in hand that he would play Balboa the film was made, but it was low budget. None the less this film took critics and the movie public by storm. Men and women fell in love with the bullish southpaw club fighter from Philly, the Italian Stallion, and people flocked to theatres. With some outstanding support from Talia Shire (Adrienne), Burt Young (Paulie), and the late great Burgess Meredith as Mick this film took the Academy Award for Best Picture. I believe only two factors prevented Stallone from winning the Best Actor award that year. The untimely death, and great performance, of Peter Finch in Network and, to a probably lesser degree, a simmering resentment toward this relative newcomer (Stallone) to the Hollywood superstar club. Sometimes the Academy will reward a new fresh face and sometimes the underlying message is "earn our respect". This was probably Stallone's best opportunity to be awarded the prestigious gold statue as his future films were in the super-heroic, action character segment which can do, and did do, great at the box office but does not often resonate with the academy.
Someday I believe the academy will present Stallone a lifetime achievement award in recognition of years of contribution to the movie making community and an acknowledgment of his international appeal.