Creed (2016)

"Time takes everybody out; time's undefeated."

Sylvester Stallone looks pretty good for a man that's about 135 years old. 

Wait, he's 69? Oh Sly... Well, here's Rocky 7. 

Young boxer Adonis Johnson, son of the great Apollo Creed, seeks out guidance and training from the former World Heavyweight Champion, and rival of his father, Rocky Balboa.

'Creed' was one of those movies that just snuck up on me out of nowhere. One minute I had no idea, the next thing we have another Rocky movie just like that.

I'd heard some pretty good reviews for 'Creed' and, seeing as I'm a massive fan of the 'Rocky' franchise on a whole, I was curious to see what I was in for having only seen the trailer once.

Straight from the get go, this doesn't exactly feel like a Rocky movie. It's modern and it's new and it makes a point of getting that vibe nailed from the start. 

The film follows a similar story to the first Rocky film. Stripped back, you have the underdog with potential that has to train to over come the odds. There is the added layer and dynamic of having Apollo Creed's son as the lead but in essence it's taking us back to where it all began. 

The story itself is simple, how far can you really stray in a Rocky movie, however that's not what is important. It is in the themes and the characters that it develops and explores that makes it so compelling. The film is centred around Adonis Johnson, son of Apollo Creed, played by Michael B. Jordan and he has a lot of potential to be a great young actor. I first saw him in 'Fruitvale Station' last year and marked him as one to watch. In 'Creed', he is physically built to destroy with his chiselled physique and quick jabs but what is all the more compelling is the idea that he is constantly fighting in the shadow of his father. An idea that is present in the last Rocky film. It is interesting to watch him battle with his own reputation and self worth and the pressure that his fathers name has on those elements. Michael B. Jordan gives a solid performance as the underdog but the biggest surprise for me was Sylvester Stallone. It's his performance that essentially steals the show. His predicament and his story were always going to be the more interesting of the two to watch but it is his handling of it alongside writer/director Ryan Coogler's direction that makes it so arresting. 

For the first time ever, I've come out of a movie with Sylvester Stallone in it and thought he gave a great performance, perhaps even the best performance of the film. He's been in some great movies but, let's face it, he's no Anthony Hopkins. In 'Creed' he gives a sincere, mature, complex and measured performance as an older and more fragile Rocky Balboa. He sinks back into that role so comfortably, he's the same old rocky but, at the same time, he's evolved as a character. He's got the same charm and charisma but with a more melancholic tone. We go to some deep places with him along the way and you genuinely feel moved at points. You sometimes get the feeling that he's not even trying to act anymore, he's in the moment as that character and he's all the better for it. He's reflective not just as a character but as an actor as well, you get the sense in certain scenes that he's looking back on his own life and legacy and I think this performance secures Stallone's legacy far better than 'The Expendables' ever could. Plus, you can understand him in this film which is always a bonus.

It feels modern and exciting. It takes some risks and tries new things in an attempt to reinvigorate the franchise. One scene in particular that I loved was one of Adonis' first fights, it is an extremely long shot that takes you into the ring and into the fight without cutting. You get swept away into a whirlwind and you get a visceral feel for what it could be like in the ring, standing toe to toe with a monster of a fighter wanting to smash your face in. It takes on a few different styles like this and it pays off.

All of these details give you a more in-depth look at the boxing circuit and the life of those involved which was engaging and thought-provoking. 

The film itself isn't a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination but it is a genuinely enjoyable film that will move you and entertain you. It's one of my favourite entries into the Rocky franchise since the original three and has given what is a relatively stale franchise a new lease of life. It now has the scope to carry on the series (if that's the way they are going) without the pressures of keeping it within the traditional template that the Rocky franchise has trademarked and, unfortunately, beaten to death. More importantly, having Sylvester Stallone passing on the torch to Michael B. Jordan is the end of an era and feels like a fitting and respectful end to his reign. I don't think we should expect to see Rocky limping into the ring with a walking stick to battle for the title when he's in his 90's, we'll save that for 'The Expendables 9'.

It has its moment of pure and unadulterated cheesiness that only a Rocky film could get away with but that's all part of the fun. You couldn't have a Rocky film without fulfilling the quota of traditions but it doesn't rely on them like a lot of remakes have done recently. 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' was the perfect example of this. Relying purely on nostalgia and past merits rather than taking the story, the characters and the series in a different direction. It doesn't need to be 100% new, 'Creed' proves this with it's subtle nods to the original but it strides on ahead and carves its own path. You can satisfy the nostalgic memories and still make a film that feels fresh. You have to evolve characters and try new things to keep a franchise alive rather than flogging an already dead horse. 

Overall, 'Creed' took me by surprise. It's fresh yet familiar, it's mature yet youthful and it's sombre but entertaining. The constant mirroring of Stallone and Jordan is a joy to watch. Sylvester Stallone gives the performance of his career and there is a lot of hope for Michael B. Jordan. It's no masterpiece but it's a solid entry into the Rocky franchise and still manages to stand on it's own as a film in its own right.

I have a new found respect for Sylvester Stallone after this, it took a lot after seeing him sell his soul for a loaf of Warburtons bread...

The Revenant (2016)

"As long as you can still grab a breath, you fight. 

You breathe... keep breathing."

Leo takes on a bear...

After being mauled by a bear and left for dead by his own hunting team, Hugh Glass must fight for survival. 

Well, I eventually got my Cineworld card back up and running and I finally got to see 'The Revenant' after months of waiting. Really, like months...

'The Revenant' is gritty, realistic and hard hitting. It's a painful film to watch and is an experience that was meant for cinema. 

It is a very masculine film lead by men with a raw, almost animalistic, edge to it. It feels primal and visceral and really makes the violence and the pain all too real. 

Based loosely on a true story, I was curious to see what the film had to offer. Partly because of the rumours that have been circulating about how harsh the filmmaking process had been on the cast and crew and, after seeing the film, it's easy to see why. Just about everything you see is real and most of the effects are done in-camera which helps the film immensely. You believe it because you are genuinely seeing it, when DiCaprio is wading into an icy river, he is actually wading into an icy river. You just couldn't have made this film without that commitment to realism, the actors feel it and so do you. The hardcore shooting style emphasises the reality of the situations that the characters find themselves in and raises the stakes tenfold. 

Director Alejandro González Iñárritu, alongside a phenomenal team, creates a world that feels grown rather than built. Everything they create and build looks natural, as if it's been there for years. From the costumes to the art department, it all blends together in perfect harmony to make you forget you are watching a film as the drama takes hold and the fight to survive begins. 

Of all the years that DiCaprio has been nominated for an Oscar, this is the only year where I wholeheartedly think he should win Best Actor. With his commitment to the role, his badass beard and the performance he gives, he deserves that recognition. You feel every moment with him and through his eyes you are pulled into his damaged psyche. He claws to life by his fingernails and, with his broken body, he crawls through hell in the process.

Tom Hardy also gives a stand-out performance as the cold-hearted John Fitzgerald. His performance, although different to DiCaprio's, is still transformative. He has scenes that would make any actor worth their salt quiver but he takes it in his stride. 

The cinematography by the great Emmanuel Lubezki ('Children of Men', 'Gravity', 'Tree of Life') is something to behold. Each landscape could be a painting and the long and violently choreographed set pieces are a work of art in their own way. Not only is it a beautiful film to look at but the way it is shot really drags you into the world they are creating. 

My only issue with the film is that it does feel a little overly long. It has some fast paced storytelling in parts but really slows down in other sections. Not that a slow pace is a negative, it just elongates what is already a really long film. 

The film walks a thin line between art and entertainment and, for me anyway, it strikes the perfect balance. It keeps us on the edge of our seats while making us think with the themes and ideas that it is throwing our way. It battles with man vs nature, revenge and a whole list of other large and destructive themes. It is rare that Hollywood produces a large budget film of this calibre without giving up the passion and integrity of the project. It's not a sequel or part of a franchise, it stands on it's own two feet and I'd love to see more films like this.

Overall, 'The Revenant' is a fantastic piece of filmmaking with great performances and a raw and unflinching story. It is beautiful yet horrific and will sweep you away in its cinematic grandeur.

I don't know what else Leonardo Di Caprio could have done in 'The Revenant' to secure him an Oscar win. Maybe if he fought a live bear it would increase his chances... After seeing him in this film, I think he'd put up a good fight.

The Omen (1976)

"Look at me, Damien!

It's all for you."

Mysterious deaths surround the American Ambassador as he begins to suspect that his own son may be the anti-christ.

Happy New Year!

A relaxing break, starting a new job, and some issues renewing my Cineworld card means that, despite it being the second Tuesday of the year, this is my first blog of 2016! However, that hasn't stopped me watching! 

The original 'The Omen' is a film that has always been in my peripherals but, for one reason or another, has constantly eluded me. I'm positive that I saw it when I was young and I definitely remember the wimpy 2006 remake when it came out so I figured it was about time to revisit the horror classic. 

What followed was all I expected and more. 

'The Omen' takes us back to a golden age of horror. Blood and gore wasn't relied on, jump scares were minimal and slow burn horror was at its peak. We are softly introduced to our story with a stillborn child being replaced by another newborn baby, whose mother coincidentally died in childbirth. As the plot thickens, we discover that there is more to this young child than meets the eye...

It reminds me somewhat of a lovechild of 'Rosemary's Baby' and 'The Exorcist'. It manages to combine the slow burn of 'Rosemary's Baby' with the dramatic and shocking horror of 'The Exorcist'. It is theatrical, over the top, fantastic filmmaking and stays with you long after you've seen it.

What I loved about 'The Omen' was its attention to detail and its raw storytelling. Despite the slow opening to the film, it has a no holds barred approach that can shock and awe you. There is a constant contrast in tone and pace that always keeps you guessing while hanging you right on the edge of your seat. This unpredictability adds a sense of overarching dread that you just can't shake. It hangs over the film like a disease and makes for a really uncomfortably tense experience... In a good way.

The fact that Gregory Peck is at the helm of this horror beast lends a certain credibility to the film and the story itself. It is a hugely theatrical and almost pantomime idea and plot but it is acted and directed in a believable and realistic way to really bring home the horror. Peck brings a certain charm and charisma to the character that could be lost in another actor. This commitment to bringing a human and believable edge to what could have been a farcical film in other hands makes it all the more effective. 

Harvey Stephens, who plays the evil child Damien, is perfect in the role. He's got just enough personality to counteract the absolutely evil scenarios that he creates. Not only that but he's a spooky little dude, if he was my son I'd assume the worst too.

The extremely dramatic and haunting score by Jerry Goldsmith becomes a character in itself as it personifies the evil in the film through music. 

The whole film has dated but not in a terrible way. Sure, the fashion is very retro and the style of the shooting sometimes feels out of date but, at it's core, it elevates itself from the ageing process through the ideas and themes it explores. We examine evil itself, religion, nature vs nurture and a whole host of other timeless and important concepts.

Something that I don't often talk about in my reviews is the editing. Being an editor myself, I believe that if its good editing then you shouldn't even notice it. However, there are films where it warrants a mention and 'The Omen' is one of those films. From the pace to the style, it seamlessly blends contrasting ideas and scenes to a whirlwind finale. The quick cutting flare after a slow and steady scene throws us off balance and really makes for some exciting cutting. Excuse my geekiness.

Overall, 'The Omen' is a classic for a reason and I regret not having seen it for all these years. If you're in the mood for some good old fashioned horror then don't bother with the remake and go straight to where it all began... With the number of the beast.

Now, which should I see first... 'The Hateful Eight' or 'The Revenant'.