Sometimes when I watch movies, I imagine what it took the actors to get into their character in the best way possible. I found out that some go through thorough and painful training, diet restrictions, studies, observations, historical research, and even to a rare extent, personal isolation. All of that so they could become the perfect representation of their character; something or someone they might have never been, in many cases.
That was my thought when I watched Creed and saw how the lead actor carried the role. I wasn't sure if he had prior experience in something like that, which formed the main plot. Creed is a sports drama film directed by Ryan Coogler. It stars Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Creed, Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa, Tessa Thompson as Bianca Taylor, Phylicia Rashad as Mary Anne Creed, Tony Bellew as "Pretty" Ricky Conlan, and Graham McTavish as Tommy Holiday.
The movie follows the rise of Adonis Creed into the world of professional boxing; the training, fights, struggles, and effort to live up to the name he bears－Creed. His father, the deceased former and renowned heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed had him in an extramarital affair. Adonis didn't initially have his life that way; walking his father's path and legacy. Held in a youth detention centre, Apollo’s widow, Mary Anne Creed visited and offered to take him in.
Adonis decided to walk the path of professional boxing. Not necessarily on his father's legacy, which was a part of him he had kept hidden until a defeated opponent's side in a non-professional bout leaked it. Adonis had sought the help of his father's rival-turned-friend in his boxing days, Rocky Balboa, a former heavyweight champion in his own right. Hesitant at first, Rocky obliged and trained Adonis, on the journey of a new Creed legacy.
The movie happens to be the seventh instalment in the Rocky franchise, and serves as a spin-off/sequel to Rocky Balboa (2006). Well, that's another story. This movie is also the beginning of the Creed franchise. Touching a bit on the past from the previous instalment, it connects viewers to the origins and what brought about Creed. The film wasn't an isolated and totally independent plot. It picks from the past instalment and adds to it.
That made it more interesting and engaging. We see some parallels in Adonis’ professional fight with that of Apollo, which was well executed. It wasn't much of an influx of the past or a disconnection from it. That connected well and gave enough to interact with and flow with the film. The storyline was engaging. The writers did well, connecting with the past instalment and storyline in an interesting way.
Watching the training and fights of Adonis, especially as the franchise progressed was what made me consider if Michael B. Jordan had to go through some real-life training and thorough efforts to fully come into character. I don't know if they used doubles for some of the technical scenes and all that. Some actors prefer to do their thing. I'm guessing it wasn't so with him. Nevertheless, he was exceptional in the delivery of that role.
Sylvester Stallone was wonderful in his role too as Rocky. As an old coach training Adonis, he delivered a good performance. There's also Tessa Thompson, playing Bianca, the up-and-coming singer and songwriter experiencing hearing loss in its progressive stage, who Adonis fell in love with. She was good in her role. The actors brought good performances, like Tony Bellew, an English former professional boxer.
As a fan of sports, and boxing, or not even, the movie leaves you interested in the plot and storyline. It goes beyond just the boxing ring and everything about that. This is why even viewers who don't share an interest in sports or the particular one here would find it enjoyable, entertaining and inspiring. As the first instalment in its own franchise, it left me wanting to see what happens in the following ones, especially with how it ended. Creed is a good watch.
Thank you for reading!
Rating: 85/100
