Rocky is without a doubt one of the greatest films of all time. The 1976 film written by Sylvester Stallone who is also the main star of the film introduced film audiences to one of the most beloved cinema characters of the 20th Century, Rocky Balboa. The greatness of the film is further attested by the set of Oscars that it won at the 1976 Academy Awards. These included the awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Editing.
Rocky is surely a cinematic masterpiece. Flawless writing coupled with excellent cinematography and superb editing and makes the film one of the best that Hollywood has ever produced. The cast of the film led by the majestic Sylvester Stallone do full justice to the script and it’s a pity that none of them won an Oscar given their superb performances.
The film’s director is John Avildsen, who is also known for directing another movie with a relatively similar plot and this “Saving the Tiger”. In Rocky, Sylvester Stallone stars as Rocky Balboa, an uneducated but kind debt collector in Philadelphia. Rocky is also an occasional club fighter who has resigned himself to a life of simplicity that is debt collection and occasional boxing. However, his world is turned upside down when he is given a one in a million chance to challenge a fictional World Boxing champion, Carl Weathers (played by Apollo Creed) for the world title. Talia Shire (famous for playing the hapless Corleone sister in the Godfather) plays Rocky’s love interest, Adrian. Burt Young plays Adrian’s mean and extremely violent brother Paulie while Burgess Meredith plays Mickey Goldmill, Rocky’s trainer.
Rocky is quite different from other films because it does not essentially attempt to dazzle the audience with a brand new or original plot. In fact, some reviewers have dismissed the plot of the film as a cliché. The thing that makes the film amazing is that it involves the audience on an elemental level. It is essentially a story about heroism and realizing one’s potential and grabbing the opportunity that comes along one’s way. This is surely something that we can all relate to. In a nutshell, the film involves the audience on an emotional level unlike many films which tend to incorporate a lot of twist and events therefore leaving most of the audience emotionally detached.
The lighting and cinematography in Rocky are exemplary done. The film’s cinematographer was James Crabe and his dazzling work speaks for itself in this film. The scenes particularly those of the Philadelphia night time are brilliantly captured. Sculptural lighting is visible throughout the entire film. There is also the use of stylized color schemes as well as hard lighting done at interesting focal lengths and angles.
Another distinct element of Rocky is that the film utilizes its own musical score. The main music composer of the film is Bill Conti who composed the epic theme song of the film “Gonna Fly Now”. Although the song failed to win an Oscar for Best Original soundtrack, it however topped several charts including the Billboard Hot 100. Apart from this theme song, the rest of the soundtrack is characterized by some other great pieces. For instance “Take You Back” sang by Frank Stallone (Sylvester Stallone’s brother) sets out the film’s tome while horns from “Philadelphia Morning” gets the audience in a physical mood that removes any form of boredness.
In conclusion, Rocky is surely an exemplary classical film that everyone should make a point of watching. It is unlike other Hollywood films in that its inner meaning is one that almost everyone can relate with. Sylvester Stallone and John Avildsen really outdid themselves with this one.
Works Cited
Rocky. Dir. John G. Avildsen. Perf. Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers. 1976. United States, 1976. Film.
Mintz, Steven, and Randy Roberts. Hollywood's America: Twentieth-century America Through Film. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010. Print.
