SiftPop

by Jacob Kinman, Contributing Writer

Boxing movies are a part of a great tradition in the history of cinema, from riveting works of fiction like Million Dollar Baby, Cinderella Man, or Raging Bull, or, perhaps one of the best documentaries ever made on the subject, When We Were Kings. The most famous example, of course, is Rocky, which spanned five sequels, and another series depicting the rise of Adonis “Donnie” Creed, son of Rocky’s former opponent, Apollo Creed. The latest installment in the Creed franchise, Creed III, carries on the tradition in a great way. 

The film is the directorial debut of Michael B. Jordan, who also stars as the titular Creed. The screenplay was written by Zach Baylin and Keenan Coogler, brother of Creed director Ryan Coogler, who gets a story and producing credit this time around. Following the events of Creed II, the fighter has now retired from boxing and manages other fighters alongside Duke (Wood Harris), while also balancing his family life with his wife Bianca (Tessa Thompson) and their daughter Amara (Mila Davis-Kent), and also caring for his ailing mother Mary Anne (Phylicia Rashad). After leaving the gym one day, Adonis is met by an old friend, former Golden Gloves champion Damian Anderson (Jonathan Majors), who has just been released from prison and wants another shot at boxing. Donnie is reluctant at first, but ultimately Damian has his moment to make his return to the ring. After Damian wins and becomes heavyweight champion, he publicly claims that Donnie turned his back on him after he went to prison. Donnie realizes he must challenge Damian for the title in order to bring him back down. 

I was initially concerned that Creed III would be lacking something without Sylvester Stallone being involved, but as I came to find out, Jonathan Majors greatly makes up for any absence of Rocky. His portrayal of Damian is so raw, unsettling, even unhinged at times. He has such an expressive and interesting face that really lends to his incredible acting abilities. He is so adept at showing that resentment and anger Damian has come to know after what he’s been through. Jordan, Thompson, Rashad, and Davis-Kent also put in great performances. The great thing about the Amara and Bianca characters is how effortlessly their hearing loss is featured. It exists on its own, not for its own sake; that is what true representation should look like. Amara, as well as both her parents, use sign language throughout the movie, in a way that seems natural and meaningful. 

The film ends up being a little formulaic, but not to its detriment. Like the first two films, there is a fight around the middle to set up the fight at the end; both sequences are amazing.  Majors unleashes so much fury in the ring in both fights that it seems like he’s out of control at certain points. The final fight scene takes place at Dodger Stadium, and is one of the coolest depictions of a boxing match I’ve ever seen. Jordan really shows his stuff in this scene; there’s a point where Creed and Damian appear to be in the ring by themselves, in their own realm, left to battle in their own arena that is their past, and all the baggage that comes with that. 

Jordan does a fantastic job in his directorial debut. He cares so deeply about the character, and he brings so much effort to both acting and directing. This feels like a shift in the franchise, like Creed is breaking away from Rocky. The character will always be a part of who Creed is and how he became a champion, but he is now building his own legacy for the next generation. Also, can we just put Majors in everything? This movie would have been good without him, but he made it great. 

Creed III continues to deliver for the Rocky franchise. 

Score: 8/10

Creed III is currently playing in theaters

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