CREED III
2023 | Dir. Michael B. Jordan | 116 Minutes
2023 | Dir. Michael B. Jordan | 116 Minutes
"So, how does it feel, having somebody else sing your song?"
Adonis Creed's idyllic life in retirement is disrupted when Damien, a figure from Donnie's troubled past, demands a shot at the championship title. Feeling a sense of obligation to assist the desperate Dame, Donnie gives him the opportunity but soon regrets his decision when Dame's heinous methods are revealed. With his own reputation and the integrity of the sport of boxing itself on the line, Donnie steps into the ring once again to defend his legacy and set his wayward friend straight.
With Creed III, leading man Michael B. Jordan makes his directorial debut delivering arguably the best installment of the trilogy. Jordan places interpersonal drama front and center, letting the feud between Donnie and Dame drive the narrative more than the featured boxing matches. The story naturally builds on the thematic threads of the previous chapters, as an older and wiser Donnie balances family and career while facing his repressed inner demons. Flipping franchise formula on its head, the character of Dame plays like a twisted take on Rocky Balboa, a fighter who is perhaps past his prime but with the drive of a true contender, though what sets him apart is his desperation that leads him to do absolutely anything necessary to win, up to and including utilizing underhanded tactics. Perhaps the most intelligent aspect of the narrative, it overtly challenges the mentality of a fighter, ultimately emphasizing conflict resolution through discussion rather than through violence.
Shot entirely on IMAX cameras, the scale of the picture is truly massive, and Jordan makes the most of the vast visual real estate particularly in the ring. The boxing sequences are choreographed and paced with an abundance of style. Skillfully mixing extreme close-ups and slow motion into the intense fights, these moments effectively illustrate the split-second strategic thinking that occurs in the minds of the combatants. Taking a giant creative swing, the proceedings become outright surreal during the climatic match, when the audience in the background literally disappears and the boxing ring transforms into a prison cell as the two fighters trade blows with no sense of time until the viewer is suddenly brought back to reality for the final round.
Michael B. Jordan is better than ever, giving a measured performance that does an excellent job of showing Donnie's growth as a character. As Dame, Jonathan Majors is simply fantastic, playing a nuanced opponent with motivations that are understandable, fully bringing to life a complex character that is easy to like but also easy to despise. Returning as Bianca, Tessa Thompson's is incredibly engaging as Donnie's supportive spouse and emotional compass, particularly captivating when challenging Donnie's refusal to discuss his past and his default combative mindset. Mila Davis-Kent shines as the adorable Amara Creed, exuding genuine charisma while also delivering exceptional representation for the deaf community. Phylicia Rashad is heartbreaking as the aging Mary Anne, sharing the most touching moments of the picture with Jordan's Donnie. The supporting cast also features Thaddeus J. Mixson and Spence Moore II as young Donnie and Dame in flashbacks, Jose Benavidez as Donnie’s chosen successor boxing champ Felix Chavez, Selenis Leyva as Chavez's fierce mother Laura, Wood Harris as weary series regular Little Duke, Florian Munteanu reprising the part of Viktor Drago from Creed II, and Tony Bellew returning as Ricky Conlan from Creed for one last fight.
Breaking from series formula in intriguing ways, Michael B. Jordan's Creed III elevates the saga of Donnie to new creative and emotional heights. The film is both an excellent sports picture, capturing the action with distinct visual flair, and a deeply affecting drama about nurturing family, preserving friendship, and realizing the limits of personal accountability. Consistent with the best pictures of the franchise, it delivers big crowd-pleasing entertainment with a whole lot of heart.
FRAGMENTS
- Though the absence of Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa is felt, and Stallone's public misgivings about producer Irwin Winkler over the rights to the Rocky character he created casts a shadow on the whole franchise, it allows Michael B. Jordan to take complete ownership of the film, firmly establishing that this very much is Donnie's story going forward
- Though the absence of Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa is felt, and Stallone's public misgivings about producer Irwin Winkler over the rights to the Rocky character he created casts a shadow on the whole franchise, it allows Michael B. Jordan to take complete ownership of the film, firmly establishing that this very much is Donnie's story going forward
- Jordan is open about his anime fandom and the influence it has on his filmmaking, and it shows: from the posters in young Donnie's bedroom to the way the fights are visualized
- Joseph Shirley's score for this film is appropriately epic and has its own musical identity, only sparingly referencing Ludwig Göransson's themes for Donnie and Drago from Creed and Creed II, and Bill Conti's "The Final Bell" from Rocky
- Of all of the appearances from real life sports commentators in this series, Stephen A. Smith's appearance in this film is by far my favorite
MCU CONNECTIONS
- Wood Harris (Officer Gale in Ant-Man)
MCU CONNECTIONS
- Wood Harris (Officer Gale in Ant-Man)
- Tessa Thompson (Valkyrie in Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Endgame, Thor: Love and Thunder, and The Marvels)
- Michael B. Jordan (N'Jadaka/Erik "Killmonger" Stevens in Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)
- Jonathan Majors (Kang in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania)
