Creed III
Released March 3, 2023
Directed by Michael B. Jordan
* Very Mild Spoilers *
Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut and the third film in the Creed series (also the 9th instalment of the Rocky franchise). With all the history, legacy, and baggage behind the production of this film, I had concerns. A first time director, the absence of Stallone as Rocky Balboa, and the loss of composer Ludwig Goransson, who was so critical to carrying on and modernizing the iconic musical atmosphere of the series.
Those concerns were almost entirely put to rest. All I could think during that climactic final round is ... Michael B. Jordan is a visionary! For a first time director to keep things fresh while still honouring the near 50 year history of Rocky is a testament to his talent. I am impressed.
The Creed series is about stepping out of the shadow of your predecessors, carving out your own legacy, and overcoming the demons from your past. Creed III does this better than any of the previous instalments by freeing itself from the reliance on Rocky Balboa. I was worried at first but it’s time to focus on Adonis and the movie is all the better for it. I am still hopeful but not particularly optimistic that Stallone will get a proper send off in one of the inevitable sequels. For now though Creed stands tall on its own.
After dwelling on his mentor and father's pasts we now finally get an antagonist that has a personal tie to Adonis himself, Damian “Diamond” Anderson, played by Jonathan Majors. I can not praise this performance enough. He is nuanced, terrifying and sympathetic. Once again a masterclass in the power of subtlety by Majors. That said, the character was not perfect and could have benefited if his "villainy" was either built up more carefully or just left out. Damian is still sympathetic but there are a few moments that feel out of place with the character’s arc.
The transition into the third act was also a bit underdeveloped. This is the shortest of the Creed films and it could have used that extra time. There was so much amazing set up and the climax was brilliant but it needed a little bit more narrative glue before the inevitable training montage and final fight.
Tessa Thompson’s Bianca has been a stand out since the first movie and this character has consistently been one of the best performances of her career. The ageless Phylicia Rashad returns as Mary-Anne “Mama” Creed and is once again a powerhouse. Adonis’ daughter Amara, played by newcomer Mila David-Kent, is an endearing embodiment of Adonis’ future and a light to contrast Damian.
Michael B. Jordan’s acting is as fantastic as he has ever been, which is especially noteable given the challenges of taking on both roles of lead actor and director. The character goes through a lot and his emotional scenes hit just as hard as his punches in the ring.
Jordan does not hold anything back as a director either, presenting scenes that are bold, intense, and animated…I mean that almost literally. Jordan is an anime fan and there are shots ripped straight from the pages of a manga. As a Dragonball fan, I was almost jumping out of my seat seeing iconic battles recreated in decadent slow motion IMAX glory. The first Creed used uninterrupted "long takes” for all three of the big fights and it did not feel like a gimmick. The same applies to the slow motion here, it's used sparingly and to great effect. This is solid, kinetic, and dynamic boxing action.
There is one point in the final fight where the crowd disappears and we see the ring transform into a jail cell. Not subtle but a bold choice that made the fight stand out. Action scenes aside the visual storytelling is amazing. One shot stood out to me where Adonis and Damian are divided by a wall and both look in the other’s direction to foreshadow the coming showdown. Perfect.
The boxing ring comes to life through the fantastic sound design. You are right there with every bone crunching hit, lumbering drop to the canvas, and angry cathartic yell. Unfortunately, my local IMAX theatre has had audio sync issues for the last 6+ months, so it was especially disappointing that I couldn’t properly experience what was clearly an amazing audio mix.
Ludwig Goransson did not return to compose the music this time. Instead the soundtrack is a curated collection of original hip hop tracks produced by J. Cole’s Dreamville. It goes hard and fits perfectly with the tone, setting, and theme of Adonis' story.
Creed is about overcoming the demons of your past and growing beyond the heroes that carried you to where you are. This story pushes Adonis to embrace the legacy he has made for himself and "let go of whatever was, and walk into what is." Creed III presents this better than either of it’s predecessors, and earns Adonis his own place as a legend. Michael B. Jordan also deserves that same praise and recognition. I can’t wait to see what he does next, both with Creed and directing other projects.
8/10 - In a market saturated with reboots and sequels (or a combination of both) Creed as a series is a rare treat that shows exactly how a legacy sequel should be done. Not as powerful as the first film, but better than the formulaic Creed II. I didn’t think I would want more, but now I absolutely do!
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