Rocky
This movie has such a big heart, you forget how tender it is.
Character building at its finest. Every actor brings so much heart and soul and humanity into their characters that no matter how flawed or awkward they are, you love them anyways. From Rocky’s simple-mindedness, to Adrian’s shell, to Paulie’s selfishness, to Micky’s unfair treatment of Rocky, everyone isn’t perfect and is given such down-to-earth qualities and lines. Each actor brings such love and care for these characters that by the time the fight is about to arrive, you realize you’ve fallen in love with them too.
For a series that sometimes leans into the over dramatic, it’s wonderful to see a movie so restrained and humble like it’s titular character. No matter how small or quiet this movie can get, it never once loses sight of its larger-than-life qualities and ideals. From the swelling music of Bill Conti, to the simplicity of its shot design (I particularly love the moment when Rocky stares at his own big poster, surrounded by hundreds of chairs, while the poster of Apollo Creed looms over his shoulder), and the precise detail of the production design (Rocky’s apartment tells you everything you need to know about him and the way that he lives), everything is treated with such care and restraint that by the time the final bell rings, you’re ready to just let all the emotions that have been boiling for the last two hours spill out, eager to scream alongside Rocky for Adrian.
This is one of the most beautifully written pieces of film I’ve seen.
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