In 2011 on American TV was shown the documentary project "The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance", timed to the 35th anniversary of the film "Rocky" - the legendary film about a boxer-loser who clings to the chance to change his life for the better. The original "Rocky" was not only commercially successful, but also received several prestigious awards (including "Oscar" in the nomination "Best Picture"), giving the green light to subsequent sequels (the last of which was released in 2006). I must admit that it was a good gift for fans of this boxing franchise, which at that time numbered 6 films - to get a film-narrative about how each part of the saga was created (although it is worth noting that about half of the screen time is occupied by the history of the creation of the first "Rocky").
In addition to the key characters of the franchise (scriptwriter, director and starring Sylvester Stallone, director John Avildsen, producers Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler, composer Bill Conti, actors Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Talia Shire, Dolph Lundgren, Tony Burton, Milo Ventimiglia) the project was attended by those who had nothing to do with the creation of the saga. Such people include journalist Jeanne Wolf, reporter Sam Rubin, or critic of the magazine about boxing Todd Gilchrist. Moreover, for an unknown reason, an interview with the performer of the role of Adrian Talia Shire for 1997 was inserted into the film specifically. Perhaps the actress could not take part, and maybe did not want to take part at all. She was still alive at the time of the TV show. But as for some participants of the film, participation in this film was one of the last in their lives.
The red thread follows in the course of the film's narrative the idea that on-screen left-handed boxer Rocky Balboa from Philadelphia is the real alter ego of Sylvester Stallone. It’s not that they both look the same, or the same age. Creating his hero on paper, the screenwriter Stallone put a piece of himself into it, giving Rocky elements of his own biography. And so in the first film, looking at life in the slums of the uneducated collector of the Italian Stallion, you have to relate him to the “literary father”. Stallone. A man who made ends meet in the early 1970s (unlike Rocky, he had a wife and a son). Later, the way Stallone’s life changed in the 70s and 90s was reflected in Rocky’s life in the film series. And all those ups and downs of Hollywood star Stallone, had to demonstrate and Balboa. Even if you take the very idea of creating part 6, then the actor himself (who had a period of oblivion after a series of commercially failed films) and the ex-world champion (for whom it was extremely important to enter the ring for the last time to cope with the internal crisis) were equally at stake. Well, as history has shown, it was worth it. Commercial success and positive criticism allowed Stallone to “reset” his career (and 2 years later he literally returned to the clip of the heroes of the militants, starring in the fourth part of “Rambo”). As for the Rocky franchise, 9 years after its logical conclusion, Rocky Balboa will again appear on the screens. Only now as a supporting character in the franchise-spin-off Creed. This is a completely different story...
10 out of 10