Aside from being good at Adonis Creed, Michael B. Jordan proves he has what it takes to be an excellent director with this first run behind the camera.
• Also read: “Creed III”: Michael B. Jordan, for the love of risk
“Creed” in French is an individual’s creed, principles, and ethics, a word that fits (boxing, to simplify a pun) like a glove with the characters of Adonis Creed and Michael B. Jordan.
Adonis ends the fighting in this new story from Keegan Coogler and Zach Baylin. Now retired, he dedicates himself to his wife Bianca (Tessa Thompson) and their young daughter Amara (Mila Davis-Kent), as well as looking after his gym, where promising boxer Felix Chavez (Jose Benavidez) trains. So Adonis lives his life quietly until the day Damien Anderson (Jonathan Majors) reappears. The two men have known each other for decades, growing up together until Damien ended up behind bars. Yes, the old friends have scores to settle, yes they will when they step into the ring, and yes, it’s all pretty damn predictable.
The qualities of “Creed III” lie elsewhere. Especially in the realization and the choice of the IMAX format, perfect for this sport and the ring. The three boxing matches are extremely well filmed with plenty of sensible slow motion and lighting that shows off the protagonists’ muscles. Obviously Michael B. Jordan has studied everything before he screams “action”, his plans are sure, precise, even lyrical at times.
Then we sense that the filmmaker is careful to respect his characters and his actors. Thus, the sign language used by the gorgeous and feisty Mila Davis-Kent and her family is “translated” through subtitles rather than the usual voiceovers or additional dialogue. The “social commentary” aspect is certainly diffuse, but nonetheless present in the reasons Damien ended up in prison and the reasons Adonis escaped the same fate.
And if there’s nothing original about this whole story – it’s still the ninth feature film in the “Rocky” franchise – we appreciate the technical mastery Michael B. Jordan has shown in making it and we’re already looking forward to his next one Offer as a filmmaker.