'Creed'
The Ringer's Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and K. Austin Collins and The New York Times' Wesley Morris head to Philly to sprint up and down the Rocky steps and revisit 2015's instant boxing classic 'Creed,' starring Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone and directed by Ryan Coogler.
Cast
Michael B. Jordan as Adonis 'Donnie' Creed
Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa
Tessa Thompson as Bianca
Phylicia Rashad as Mary Anne Creed
Tony Bellew as Pretty Ricky Conlan
Wood Harris as Tony 'Little Duke' Burton
Ritchie Coster as Leo's Dad
Directed by: Ryan Coogler
Written by: Ryan Coogler, Aaron Covington
Cinematography by: Maryse Alberti
Music by: Ludwig Goransson
Notes
- The most remarkable thing about the film is that Stallone did not write, direct, or star as the lead – he let Coogler take the steering wheel.
- Coogler was approximately 28 years old when making 'Creed', only his second feature after Fruitvale Station.
- Box office: $174 million; 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.
- Stallone was nominated for Best Supporting Actor but lost to Mark Rylance for Bridge of Spies. His Golden Globe acceptance speech (where he failed to thank Coogler) may have cost him Oscar votes.
- Coogler's mother had died of cancer, making the cancer storyline deeply personal. During filming, Stallone lost his son. The scene with a photo of Paulie and Stallone's son was extremely emotional.
- MBJ gained 24 pounds of muscle, working out 2-3 times a day, 6 days a week.
- MBJ actually got punched in the face during filming – the crew peer-pressured him into taking a real hit for slow-mo authenticity.
- Stallone specifically requested that MBJ wear the Apollo Creed flag trunks from 'Rocky' I, III, and IV.
- Coogler's first three films (Fruitvale Station, 'Creed', Black Panther) compared to Spielberg's early run (Sugarland Express, 'Jaws', Close Encounters).
- Scenes filmed at the Victor Cafe in 'Philadelphia' (Adrian's Restaurant in the film).
- Tony Bellew, who played 'Pretty Ricky' Conlan, is a real boxer.
Categories
- Bill: the ATV training sequence with Meek Mill music – 'the urban 2015 version of Gonna Fly Now.'
- Wesley and Cam: the two-round boxing match filmed in one continuous shot – Wesley calls it 'the best boxing scene I've ever seen in my life.'
- Also discussed: the 11th and 12th rounds of the final fight, the ending at the 'Philadelphia' steps.
- The music/soundtrack (Meek Mill).
- The scene where Adonis visits 'Rocky' and brings up the third fight with Apollo – a hardcore 'Rocky' fan Easter egg.
- The 24/7-style HBO segment with Pretty Ricky.
- The 'Philadelphia' authenticity.
- The ending at the steps.
- The movie is 12-13 minutes too long.
- The Conlan storyline feels compressed/rushed.
- Rocky's lymphoma battle and recovery feels too quick.
- Bianca's artistry/music hasn't aged perfectly.
Couldn't find any – Coogler, MBJ, and Stallone were locked in from the start. Tessa Thompson was the only role where they auditioned multiple people.
- Bill's winner: Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon – the PTI guys doing a fictional Apollo Creed conversation segment.
- Cam's vote: Richie Coster (Leo's dad).
- Wesley's pick: Phylicia Rashad – particularly her reaction during the fight, watching from home with wine.
- Ryan Coogler: yes – this launched him to Black Panther.
- Michael B. Jordan: discussed extensively. This or Black Panther could be his apex.
- MBJ career arc: Wallace on The Wire, Vince Howard on 'Friday Night Lights', Fantastic Four disaster, then 'Creed' saved his trajectory.
- The timeline of Apollo fathering Adonis is questionable – Apollo died in 1985, so Adonis would need to be at least 29 in 2015.
- Creed's swollen left eye in the 12th round is positioned too low (makeup issue).
- Pretty Ricky Conlan doesn't look in shape enough for a light heavyweight champion.
- The 'Baby Creed' confrontation scene before Bianca's concert feels fake.
'I gotta prove it wasn't a mistake.'
Ryan Coogler – unanimous. He made an impossible movie work in a hundred ways it could have gone wrong; he revived Stallone's career AND the 'Rocky' franchise; this led directly to Black Panther.