Written and Directed by Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station)
Starring:
Michael B.
Jordan (Chronicle)
Sylvester
Stallone (Demolition Man)
Philadelphia
(Rocky)
Tessa Thompson
Creed was a
cinematic fist pump ushering in a rebirth to the Rocky franchise with a
new, capable lead in Michael B. Jordan's Adonis Johnson/Creed. With the
framework of a generic underdog story and the brand name to market it, Ryan
Coogler's work boasts life-sized characters
highlighted by an ingeniously wielded camera.
Sadly, while the movie failed to
include even a single note from Scott Stapp's band, it thankfully made amends
with the first major fight scene. Filmed as a singled tracking shot, the fight
was captivating, breathtaking, and gorgeously brutal. When you realize what’s
happening, blinking becomes an annoyance. The shot is a challenge to quick-cut
fight scenes everywhere.
The core training montage shows up as
expected but Coogler refuses to be lazy about it. He infuses the montage with
all the right styles in all the right places, including the holy grail of
montage techniques, slow motion. There is also a carefully used atmosphere at
play. The montage swirls the city of Philadelphia around Adonis. The people,
the gyms, and the worn out streets blended serenely. It's a stylish segment
that elicits inspiration, excitement, and awe. All the right montage
emotions.
Finally, the seemingly straight
forward final fight was filmed rather remarkably. Coogler's team plays with
unexpected angles, the camera moves fluidly and creatively, and the lighting is
never neglected. It's a conclusion that feels earned and is thoroughly entertaining.
This is no doubt in the top three for
the franchise and may be a top five all-time boxing movie. One thing's for
sure, though, if I've recently seen this film, do not try to fight me.
2015
Rankdown .
1.
Mad Max: Fury Road***
4.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl*
5.
Creed****
6.
Ant-Man***
7.
Furious 7***
8.
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation***
10.
Jurassic World***
11.
Predestination**
12.
Avengers: Age of Ultron****
13.
Shaun the Sheep*
14.
Inside Out**
16.
Pitch Perfect 2
17.
Sicario*
19.
Dope
20.
Straight Outta Compton
21.
The Final Girls*
22.
Paddington*
23.
What We Do In the Shadows
24.
Terminator:
Genisys*
25.
Black Mass
26.
The Water Diviner
27.
The Night Before
28.
Ex Machina
29.
Jupiter Ascending
30.
Spectre
31.
American Ultra
32.
Crimson Peak
33.
Slow West
34.
Chappie
35.
Everest
36.
The Gift
37.
Fantastic Four
38.
Pixels*
39.
Inherent Vice
40.
Mortdecai
(*denoted rewatchability)
