I just finished watching Rocky Balboa, written and directed by Sylvester Stallone.
WOW.
That’s really all I can say about it. The strength in the movie lies in that it fully understands and appreciates that a 60-year old boxer would not logically be able to stand toe-to-toe with a boxer in his prime, and yet pushes you to hope. Hope, redemption, and heart seem to be the key themes associated with the movie, and it’s Stallone’s beautifully underplayed and fragile performance that sells it so well.
Whereas we’re used to seeing Rocky fight opponents that are out of his league physically, we’re drawn into the prospect that this time, it’s his own age and body that prove to be his biggest opponents. With that all said though, this isn’t a regular Rocky movie in that you’re expected to learn to love him just through his arduous physical training. The first hour or more is solely spent on careful character study of Rocky’s condition and environment. Milo Ventimiglia does a great job as well as Rocky Jr., as does Geraldine Hughes, who plays Marie, a friend to Rocky.
I’ll have to admit, the music, at points, was a bit heavy-handed. I could sense that Stallone really wanted you to get emotional and perhaps a bit misty-eyed. But if that’s all that can be said as a negative for this film which had me at points getting… emotional, on the edge of my seat, and laughing, it should be trivial, at best.
To be totally honest, this is easily the best work Stallone has done, and he should’ve been nominated for an Oscar for it (which, incidentally, is tonight). You’ll also note that I haven’t put much in the way of plot summary together, partially because it’s so readily available online to view (here’s an example) and I thought hey, I’d put my own thoughts of the film on my site.
Ultimately, I just have to say- watch it as soon as you get the chance.