Rocky I
John Landis
English 1010
Greg Souza
10/22/2012
Many films often carry only one stylistic element, either focusing on a character’s growth, which is commonly portrayed in classical Hollywood cinema, focusing on the complexity of a character and the effects of setting, which is commonly portrayed in Art cinema, or focusing on the realistic daily struggles of a person, which is commonly portrayed in Neorealist cinema. Rocky I however combines these three traditions in order to make an engaging, lifelike film. Rocky I exemplifies an engaging, goal oriented character, a realistic setting, as the entire film is shot on site in the city of Philadelphia, and a genuine display of real world hardships. This film uniquely combines the traditions of classical Hollywood, Neorealism, and Art into one piece that allows viewers to experience a highly engaging and very relatable film. Beginning with a goal oriented character in Rocky Balboa, the Classical Hollywood underdog story takes shape. Throughout the entire film viewers are exposed to the tradition of Art cinema, with a great portrayal of the tough, not so welcoming streets of inner city Philadelphia and complex characters, such as Rocky and his girlfriend Adrian. This element displays the mental struggles of Rocky and gives us insight to his background. Viewers are also exposed to Neorealist cinema, with a display of the everyday hardships that a local Philadelphia man faces as he struggles to find work as well as a purpose to his life. This element displays the physical struggles that Rocky goes through each day. The combination of the traditions of Classical Hollywood, Art, and Neorealist cinema tie together to produce an enjoyable underdog story with realistic scenes and a genuine display of real life hardships. This marriage of stylistic elements allows for a more genuine and engaging story, as it makes for a story that could in fact take place in the real world, as opposed to a story that carries only one
English 1010
Greg Souza
10/22/2012
Many films often carry only one stylistic element, either focusing on a character’s growth, which is commonly portrayed in classical Hollywood cinema, focusing on the complexity of a character and the effects of setting, which is commonly portrayed in Art cinema, or focusing on the realistic daily struggles of a person, which is commonly portrayed in Neorealist cinema. Rocky I however combines these three traditions in order to make an engaging, lifelike film. Rocky I exemplifies an engaging, goal oriented character, a realistic setting, as the entire film is shot on site in the city of Philadelphia, and a genuine display of real world hardships. This film uniquely combines the traditions of classical Hollywood, Neorealism, and Art into one piece that allows viewers to experience a highly engaging and very relatable film. Beginning with a goal oriented character in Rocky Balboa, the Classical Hollywood underdog story takes shape. Throughout the entire film viewers are exposed to the tradition of Art cinema, with a great portrayal of the tough, not so welcoming streets of inner city Philadelphia and complex characters, such as Rocky and his girlfriend Adrian. This element displays the mental struggles of Rocky and gives us insight to his background. Viewers are also exposed to Neorealist cinema, with a display of the everyday hardships that a local Philadelphia man faces as he struggles to find work as well as a purpose to his life. This element displays the physical struggles that Rocky goes through each day. The combination of the traditions of Classical Hollywood, Art, and Neorealist cinema tie together to produce an enjoyable underdog story with realistic scenes and a genuine display of real life hardships. This marriage of stylistic elements allows for a more genuine and engaging story, as it makes for a story that could in fact take place in the real world, as opposed to a story that carries only one
Cited: Pramaggiore, Maria, and Tom Wallis. "Social Context and Film Style: National, International, and Transnational Cinema." Film: A Critical Introduction. Boston: Pearson Allyn and Bacon, 2011. 343- 362. Print. Rocky I. By Sylvester Stallone. Dir. John G. Avildsen. Perf. Sylvester Stallone. 1976. DVD.