Monday, September 24, 2012
Rocky (1975)
“Rocky”
is near religion to me. No, it is religion. I grew up in
Philly, and Rocky Balboa, played by Sylvester Stallone, was our god.
These were not just “movies” to us kids back then. They were documents of
our home. Rocky was one of us. Enough sentimentality, onto the film itself: Rocky
is 30, piss poor, working for a “second rate
loan shark” in Kensington, boxing on the side to make a couple bucks. He hates his
life. Then he’s plucked from his rut to box Heavyweight Champ Apollo
Creed for a set-up, bullshit New Year’s Day 1976 fight to marks the U.S.’s 200th
anniversary. The fight is fixed. Rocky does not stand a chance, and knows it. He cares not. He wants to prove to himself, his shy pet shop girlfriend Adrian
(Talia Shire), and anyone who is ignorant of where Kensington is, that he
matters, that he can go the distance, as he says. It’s hilarious that
conservatives see “Rocky” as their film, when in fact this story is about the people left out of the American dream, pushed and punched around a boxing ring
in a match where the rich always win. Always. One of my favorites. A+
Labels:
1975,
American dream,
boxing,
classic,
conservative,
favorite,
Kensington,
Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia,
Rocky,
Sylvester Stallone,
Talia Shire
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