Rocky (1976)
Rocky is a fictional Drama starring and written by Sylvester Stallone and directed by John G Avildsen. The film can technically fall into the action genre, but the deeper themes and character conflict firmly stamp this film into the page of Drama. Rocky won the 1976 Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best film editing, as well as best actor in a leading role (Stallone) [maybe I am wrong here - it did win the Oscar for Best Picture; however, Stallone was nominated but did not win] and best director (Avildsen).
Jack, Is your image meant to be ironic?
The film is set in the city of Philadelphia during the bicentennial year of 1976. The film's setting is used a a plot device that allows Rocky to turn his life around and develop as a character.
Rocky Balboa is more or less seen by his peers as a bum. He makes his money fighting at a local boxing club and working as muscle for a loan shark. Rocky attempts to act as an example to the local youth of what not to be, made clear when he yells at a teenage girl for hanging with the wrong crowd of kids. This shows that Rocky is aware of his "bum" status, [not necessary here - it is a dependent clause that follows] and does not seem to be making any effort to improve himself. Rocky is supposed to be a film that promotes the notion of an "American Dream", the idea that in America, anybody can pull themselves up by the bootstraps and achieve success. Rocky [the character] only does this to a point.
Rocky seems to enjoy the status quo. He is a compassionate person, who appears to be trapped in monotony by his own doing. That story is told by his boxing coach, Mickey (Burgess Meredith). When Rocky finds his locker has been taken by new young blood at the gym, he confronts his coach. When confronted, Rocky is told that he is old news. We learn that Rocky had potential and that his job with the loan shark had derailed his future in boxing.
The fact that Rocky seems content to maintain the status quo, making just enough to get by, seems to challenge the notion that Rocky is a prime example of the American Dream.
It is not until Rocky is picked from a hat by Apollo Creed, the heavyweight champion, for a showcase match, that Rocky picks himself up. While it is true that the opportunity does present a wake up call for Rocky to turn his life around, there were several other opportunities for Rocky to do so prior in the film, especially when criticized by his coach.
Rocky, on the surface, appears to be a tale of a man turning his life around and going the distance. The film can also been seen as the tale of an average Joe who is dragged into the limelight by circumstance, and must quickly turn his life around in the face of humiliation on a national stage.
All of this aside, the film is fantastic. Rocky is new classic that is not only dramatic, but inspiring. Rocky is a complex character with an interesting agenda. The film has an iconic soundtrack, and is very much deserving of all of its awards.
Jack, Is your image meant to be ironic?
The film is set in the city of Philadelphia during the bicentennial year of 1976. The film's setting is used a a plot device that allows Rocky to turn his life around and develop as a character.
Rocky Balboa is more or less seen by his peers as a bum. He makes his money fighting at a local boxing club and working as muscle for a loan shark. Rocky attempts to act as an example to the local youth of what not to be, made clear when he yells at a teenage girl for hanging with the wrong crowd of kids. This shows that Rocky is aware of his "bum" status, [not necessary here - it is a dependent clause that follows] and does not seem to be making any effort to improve himself. Rocky is supposed to be a film that promotes the notion of an "American Dream", the idea that in America, anybody can pull themselves up by the bootstraps and achieve success. Rocky [the character] only does this to a point.
Rocky seems to enjoy the status quo. He is a compassionate person, who appears to be trapped in monotony by his own doing. That story is told by his boxing coach, Mickey (Burgess Meredith). When Rocky finds his locker has been taken by new young blood at the gym, he confronts his coach. When confronted, Rocky is told that he is old news. We learn that Rocky had potential and that his job with the loan shark had derailed his future in boxing.
The fact that Rocky seems content to maintain the status quo, making just enough to get by, seems to challenge the notion that Rocky is a prime example of the American Dream.
It is not until Rocky is picked from a hat by Apollo Creed, the heavyweight champion, for a showcase match, that Rocky picks himself up. While it is true that the opportunity does present a wake up call for Rocky to turn his life around, there were several other opportunities for Rocky to do so prior in the film, especially when criticized by his coach.
Rocky, on the surface, appears to be a tale of a man turning his life around and going the distance. The film can also been seen as the tale of an average Joe who is dragged into the limelight by circumstance, and must quickly turn his life around in the face of humiliation on a national stage.
All of this aside, the film is fantastic. Rocky is new classic that is not only dramatic, but inspiring. Rocky is a complex character with an interesting agenda. The film has an iconic soundtrack, and is very much deserving of all of its awards.
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