A down-and-out boxer gets a chance to fight the Heavyweight Champion Of The World in this quiet, character-driven sports drama. Surprisingly dialogue-heavy for a supposed sports film and saving most of the action for the ending, Rocky's heartfelt screenplay written by star Sylvester Stallone harkens back to crowd-pleasing underdog films of a much less pessimistic time, with the remarkably moving scene where Rocky finally accepts help from his former trainer Mickey, played by an irascible, fiery Burgess Meredith, as a standout moment. It's pretty easy to see why a triumphant, feel-good film about a small-time fighter getting a shot at the big time won for Best Picture over the more cynical nominees All The President's Men, Network, and Taxi Driver, but after the passage of time it's arguable it probably shouldn't have.
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