Katherine and I are watching the Academy Award-winning films from 1969 to the present, in chronological order. Yesterday, after a lull for the first season of 24 (which took 24 hours to watch, natch), we watched Rocky (1976). It may be hard to believe, but I've never seen Rocky. I was 19 years old the year it came out and I'm 53 now. I'm familiar with the film, obviously. I've heard the expression "Yo, Adrian!" many times. I thought Adrian was Rocky's manager. You can imagine my surprise when it turned out to be his love interest (played by Talia Shire). I'm also familiar with the theme music and the scene in which Rocky Balboa prances like a goofball atop the steps of some government building.
On a scale of one to 10, I give the film a six. It did nothing for me. The plot is simplistic; the acting was mediocre; and the ending was positively awful. I had to ask Katherine whether Rocky won the match. She said he didn't, so I take her word for it. Why would the screenwriter (Sylvester Stallone!) leave viewers wondering how it ended? It's mind-boggling. In case you're wondering, I have no interest in seeing any of the other 32 Rocky films. What's your take on Rocky? Can you explain why it won Best Picture? Were there no good films in 1976?
Next up: Annie Hall (1977).
Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D. 