2015 was the year of the Rebootquel. You had the not so great Terminator: Genisys and Jurassic World, the nostalgia-heavy fun of Star Wars: The Force Awakens… and then you have the undeniable greatness of Mad Max: Fury Road and Creed.
Both Fury Road and Creed did the impossible. They came out with a healthy dose of skepticism attached to them. And both blew away critics and fans, and now sit firmly atop their respective franchises as arguably the best films or tied with earlier films as best.
Creed is a modern masterpiece. Much like Stallone managed to tap into a character who touched and connected and related with audiences alike in it’s time with Rocky - Ryan Coogler does the same thing for a whole new generation of movie goers with the character of Adonis Creed.
The “I’ve got to prove it - I’m not a mistake” moment still brings a tear to my eye. A perfectly realistic and concise moment that sums up Donnie’s motivation more than any other moment in the entire franchise for Rocky. It’s a personal reason for his fighting, and it’s summed up beautifully here.
Michael B. Jordan does the impossible in taking over the central “role” of the Rocky franchise, and manages to enter it in its seventh film - and leaves this entry wanting more. He follows the footsteps of past characters and breaths fresh new life into the world.
Finally - as Rocky enters a new position with this film as a supporting character, we can once again look at Stallone where he was and is in his career. Largely no longer a leading man, he’s accepted being a part of an ensemble (The Expendables franchise), and cameos (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2). He’s a star and a legend who’s comfortable elevating others. Rocky has found his reason for being in Donnie. Stallone has found his motivation for continuing the franchise by giving a platform to storytellers like Coogler and Jordan.
A near perfect, if not perfect, film.