Movie Review: Creed III Is A Masterpiece On Survivors Guilt
When we think of survivor´s guilt, it is often proposed as something dramatic and near fatal like, the only person to survive a car crash of seven people. Yet, survivors guilt is also about success, and the realization that you climbed to the top while those you knew and even supported you stayed at the bottom. Creed III is about survivors guilt, and how it can be the very thing used to manipulate you to reach the bottom again.
By all means, Creed III feels like a character piece. While the other films, yes, focused on Adonis Creed´s rise as a man, father, and heavyweight champion, with Michael B Jordan’s direction and Ryan Coogler´s production, the story feels more immersive and intimate into his psyche and un-mended heart. Without Rocky (Sly Stallone), the only link we have to his legacy is Adonis, which makes audiences latch on to him for both comfort and curiosity. Yet, who is he beyond Rocky and even his loving family, with once again the fab Tessa Thompson (Bianca Creed) returning as Adonis’s loving wife and mother to his daughter, the adorable Mila Davis Kent as Amara. What we find is a solid family unit, that despite life’s hiccups, are strong enough to stick together….. but was Creed always so loyal?
Jonathan Majors just freakin sweeps this film as Damian Anderson. NO CRUMBS LEFT! He embodies the bitterness and brilliance of someone left to slither at the bottom for someone else, Creed, to rise. A childhood friend of Creed´s, back when he was causing more mischief than knockouts, Majors enter the scene like a debt collector; using cunning words and sweeter tones to manipulate Creed into giving him what he believes is his due. After all, it was a night that changed both their lives, putting in jail for decades and Creed on the path to redemption. Yet, both wonder what could have been of them had life done a remarkable switch. The result is a movie filled with guttural fight sequences and simmering tension that emboldens and impassions every literal and figurative punch with something we all have …. a what if?
The way Damian beats Adonis is how we all wish we could destroy our intrusive thoughts and regrets. After all, survivor´s guilt is a what if, a toxic imagining of what would have happened to you if things had never gotten better or worse, and Damian has his own version for all the wrong reasons, he survived and paid the price for someone living very expensively now. Michael B Jordan and Jonathan Majors are mesmerizing because they are two people mentally and emotionally imprisoned, by a what if, and Creed III about how they do and do not free themselves from such a crux.
Guilt is debatable as something necessary to moving you forward. Some believe it pushes you to better yourself, others say it is useless, and a few believe it is the very weapon we use to push others to better us. All are observed in Creed III, which it makes it one of the best and most vulnerable films to start the 2023 movie circuit. Quite frankly, are Oscars are due for this movie. Creed III comes out March 2.
