HISTORY IN THE MAKING (Rocky (DVD))

Member Name: jojopillo

Product:	Rocky (DVD)
Date:	08/04/09 (252 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: PLOT, SCRIPT, ACTING ETC ETC......

Disadvantages: NONE AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED

This is a review of the film only.

My word, this is one heck of an undertaking, I must be mad! How can I possibly sum up a movie of such epic proportions as this? Well, I'm going to attempt it.

This is a film about the fictitious character Rocky Balboa, an Italian-American amateur boxer living in quite a poor part of Philadelphia, USA.

With an almost fanfare-like intro the now iconic Rocky music plays and opens with the word ROCKY moving across the screen. The date is 25th November 1975 and we see Rocky boxing in a downtown Philadelphia club. You can almost feel the sweaty, smoky atmosphere and Rocky is badly out of breath and quite unfit by the look of things. When the bell sounds for the end of the round Rocky retreats to the corner and is told that he's fighting like a bum. After the bell sounds again the two fighters laboriously endeavour to get the better of each other, but it's more like scuffling than boxing. Rocky's opponent, 'Spider Rico', pins him against the ropes and head buts him. It's only at this point that Rocky loses his temper, and when he loses his temper we see the real aggression and determination he is capable of. His onslaught is too much for Spider Rico to take and the victory is awarded to Rocky. On his way back to the locker room he cadges a cigarette from a member of the crowd. We then see him take from his locker his dressing gown with the immortal phrase, 'The Italian Stallion' emblazoned on the back. He is then paid just $40 for his efforts and is told he may be able to fight again in two weeks.

Now, the reason I have described this opening scene in such depth is because it so perfectly and concisely gives the viewer an instant insight into the world of this ordinary seeming character. Rocky has heart. He has determination. He has spirit. But not all of these qualities flow from him easily, and it takes something for him to be jolted from his almost lumbering, slumbering demeanour. He believes he never had the luck or the breaks he deserved and now almost goes through his life with little purpose, resigned to his ways and never thinking he will amount to anything.

Each day on his way home from the gym or bar he calls in at the local pet shop to see Adrian, a very shy, bespectacled girl (the sister of his friend Paulie) who works there and tries to make small talk, all the while wanting to ask her out. Rocky tries his best to make Adrian laugh by inventing a joke for her every day, and it's during this scene that you start to get a feel for some of Rocky's more loveable traits; his charm, his vulnerable side, his shyness and likeability. This scene wonderfully captures the awkwardness between these two characters, and yet there is that hint of the tiniest of sparks evident.

Paulie is a very sour, self-pitying man who works in the local meat factory and can be found the rest of the time drowning his sorrows at the local bar, The Lucky Seven. It's at this bar that we first see Apollo Creed, world heavyweight champion, via the black and white TV in the corner of the bar, where Apollo is shown with his wife and entourage being followed by reporters in the run up to his latest fight. The barman indicates to Rocky what a show-off Creed is but Rocky tells him that he actually admires Apollo, as he took his shot when it came to him.
Rocky, while in the Lucky Seven with Paulie one night, mentions that he would like to take Paulie's sister out. So Paulie suggests that Rocky comes round to his house the following night (Thanksgiving). We see Paulie treating his sister with contempt, constantly putting her down and making her feel worthless. She scurries off and locks herself in her room and Rocky tries to persuade her - talking to her through the door - to come out and to take no notice of Paulie.

Adrian finally emerges and goes out with Rocky where takes her to the local ice-skating rink, only to find it closed, with only the maintenance man to be seen. He gives the maintenance man some money for ten minutes on the ice and he and Adrian take the first tentative steps in their new found relationship.

Apollo Creed, his trainer, his manager and the fight promoter are all in his office after just receiving news that Apollo's latest opponent is injured and can't fight. For one reason or another there is a lack of any top opponents for him to fight so Apollo comes up with the idea of giving a small time local fighter a shot at the title and whilst looking through a book of amateur fighters comes across 'The Italian Stallion' and decides that this is the man he should fight.

Rocky trains at the local gym, which is owned by the diminutive but inimitable Mickey, a 76 year old ex-boxer who has devoted his whole life to the sport. Rocky comes to the gym one day only to discover that he can't open his locker, the same locker he has had for six years. All his possessions have now been moved into a bag hanging on the wall (commonly known as 'skid row'). When he confronts Mickey about it, Mickey tells Rocky that the locker has been given to a young hopeful. Rocky wants to know why and Mickey tells him that he had a talent but wasted it to become, 'a leg-breaker to some cheap second-rate loan shark'
'It's a living', retorts Rocky.
'It's a waste of life', counters Mickey.
The loan shark Mickey was referring to is Mr. Gazzo, the local gangster who Rocky works for by threatening late-payers on his behalf.
Mickey, next time he sees Rocky, mentions that someone had been looking for him and gives Rocky a business card from Apollo Creed's management. 'Probably looking for sparring partners for Creed', says Rocky.
When Rocky arrives at the offices detailed on the card, he soon realises that it's not just a sparring partner Creed is after, and the promoter begins to outline Apollo's plan to Rocky. You can see Rocky's shock and awe at the realisation that he is to share the ring with such a legend, and at first is somewhat unsure as to whether accept the challenge.

Upon hearing the news, Mickey goes around to Rocky's apartment to persuade him to let him manage Rocky for the fight. Rocky is full of resentment and asks Mickey how come it's only now that he wants to know him. Mickey uses his 'old-man' routine but Rocky doesn't relent and as Mickey is leaving he starts ranting about how he's never been round to his house in all the years he's known him. A few minutes later he runs after Mickey and makes his peace with him.

Rocky now starts his training in earnest and becomes a bit of a local celebrity with people cheering him on as he runs through the city on his early morning training route, a route that finishes at the top of the steps to Philadelphia city hall. On returning from his run he calls in to see Paulie at the meat factory and when Paulie upsets him he starts to punch the meat that hangs nearby in the freezer. Next time Rocky calls to see Paulie at the factory, Paulie has lined up a local reporter to be there and they get Rocky to punch the meat again, this time for the camera, and reports it as an unorthodox way in which to train. Apollo's trainer is watching this footage on the local news and, being slightly concerned, tries to warn Apollo, who is so confident he doesn't listen.

Rocky and Adrian are now going steady and Rocky is training hard for the big fight. In one scene we see Rocky getting out of bed and breaking six eggs into a glass and drinking them in one go (eeeewww! The things these actors do for realism!) We see Mickey training Rocky in some very unusual ways and fine tuning every aspect of his game. You can see the physical difference and fitness Rocky has achieved during this time. But how will he cope on the big night?

To me, this movie is legendary in cinematic history. Everything about it, the script, the acting, the direction and production, the film score, all in one movie. Pure genius!
This was Sylvester Stallone's brainchild, written by him and hawked around many a movie studio before it was finally accepted. They were strongly urging that a leading actor of the time should play Rocky but Stallone insisted that he must play Rocky. And now, looking back, I just couldn't imagine anyone else playing the part.

The movie is not all action, which is what we've come to expect of Mr. Stallone, instead we see a slow build up to the simple, yet intricate life of our hero. The poverty which is captured in the scenery of the movie is quite stark and Rocky's neighbourhood seems to be quite typical of a lower working class environment. These images are well portrayed and you soon get a feel of the life that Mr Balboa has to endure.

The relationship between Rocky and Adrian is well told and has a certain innocence about it. Both characters lack confidence in various areas; Rocky's lack of academic ability and Adrian's self-perceived lack of good looks. Two things, I think, that make them such a good, loving couple.

The way in which Mickey and Rocky's bond is evident is through Rocky's admiration of Mickey. To Rocky, Mickey is like the father he never had and constantly (although not consciously, I think) yearns for his approval. Mickey is a very hard-nosed character but just occasionally we see the softer side to his nature, and this is what is so endearing about this character. Burgess Meredith, who plays Mickey so well, makes him such a believable character that, for all his foibles, you can't help but like him. I think Sylvester Stallone must have had a real-life admiration for this man as you can see the love he has for him throughout the film.
Some of Mickey's lines are fabulously delivered, for example, when referring to the boxer he gave Rocky's locker to, he says, 'He's a climber, and you know what you are kid? You're a tomato, and I aint running no goddamn soup kitchen!' - Fantastic!!

The overall blending of dialogue, scenery and storyline are perfectly brought together with one of the most memorable film scores of all time, written by Bill Conti. The atmosphere generated by this powerful score brings the films part together as a whole and was deservedly nominated for an Oscar at the 1977 Academy Awards.

The fight scenes at the end of the film capture so well that 1970's era of the Heavyweight Boxing Champion, when Idols such as Mohamed Ali seemingly ruled the world. The scenes are so realistic, you can almost feel the pain the two fighters are going through and once again the music gives it all a lifelike atmosphere. I'd be surprised if this music didn't raise goose bumps and give you chill at this point.

Rocky is about the underdog getting a chance and taking the opportunity when it arises. The acting is first class, in fact Sylvester Stallone, Burgess Meredith, Talia Shire and Burt Young were all nominated for Oscars that year! It is one of the best films to come out of the 70's, and that is one heck of an achievement considering its contenders.

The movie deservedly won the Oscar for Best Picture that year and Sylvester Stallone joined a very elite group, being only the third person to be nominated for best actor and writer in the same year (the other two were Charlie Chaplin and Orson Welles)

Main Characters
*************

Rocky Balboa - Sylvester Stallone
Adrianna 'Adrian' Pennino - Talia Shire
Mickey Goldmill - Burgess Meredith
Paulie Pennino - Burt Young
Apollo Creed - Carl Weathers

Also we find small parts for Stallone's Father, Frank Stallone (as a timekeeper) and Brother, Frank Stallone Jr. (as a street-corner singer)

Directed by John G Avildsen
Produced by Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler

The film was released in USA in late 1976 and in the UK on the 1st January 1977.

Running time is 119 minutes

Certificate PG

Summary: ICONIC FILM OF ITS TIME!