Go ahead and admit it. When you think of Rocky Balboa, that “Gonna Fly Now” music pops into your head. Either that, or your internal voice yells “Yo, Adrian!” And if somehow it’s neither of those, you surely picture bounding up the stairs outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The 50-year anniversary of the surprise blockbuster ROCKY (1976) is upon us, and to mark the occasion, author Mike Sielski serves up a well-researched dive detailing how the film came together and how Sylvester Stallone viewed this as a personal project that would make or break his career.
Quite surprisingly, Mr. Sielski pays tribute to more than the box office success of the film. This is a true tip of the cap to the city of Philadelphia, an exploration of the behind-the-scenes challenges of getting a movie made on a tight budget, and the commitment required by a young, struggling actor/screenwriter who (almost) no one was familiar with. Regarding that last point, in no way is this a love fest or worshipping of Stallone. Sly’s dedication to the project is certainly appreciated, but the warts and his true nature are also exposed.
ROCKY redefined ‘underdog’ films, yet this book is much more than a celebration of an unexpected box office hit or a profile of young Sylvester Stallone … although it has a bit of those things as well. The remarkable research conducted by Sielski includes fascinating stories about the city of Philadelphia; director John Avildsen; composer Bill Conti; Stallone’s training and screenwriting; casting co-stars Talia Shire, Burgess Meredith, and Carl Weathers; Steadicam inventor Garrett Brown; Butkus the dog; the surprising inspiration for the titular character; constant budgetary concerns; and the Oscar night confrontation between producer Irwin Winkler and NETWORK screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky.
The book’s release is timed to the 50th anniversary of the original movie, and so is Peter Farrelly’s new movie, I PLAY ROCKY, which is focused on Stallone’s mission to get the film made. It seems there is no shortage of ways to acknowledge fifty years of Rocky Balboa, so grab a raw-egg power drink, read the book, and watch the movies.
Mike Sielski’s book is available on AMAZON
Posted by David Ferguson 
Greetings again from the darkness. Well, it’s my first ‘Diabetes Comedy’ to review, and I truly had no idea what to expect. Was it going to be a ‘woe is me’ downer that served up a few punchlines? Was it going to be a heavy guilt trip for those of us who are clueless about the disease? So, I’m happy to report that it’s neither of those, and instead it’s a humorous and personal look at everyday life for an almost twenty-five-year-old woman who deals with the not-so-small burden of keeping herself alive. Granted, that may not sound like the foundation for giggles, yet the film offers plenty.
You surely know Dame Judi Dench from her illustrious and highly decorated acting career on stage and on screen. With this memoir, we learn so much more about her life and career, and the personality that makes her one we’d love to have a drink with. Not your typical memoir, this one is in the format of an interview conducted by Brendan O’Hea, and it’s broken up into specific topics of discussion. O’Hea is a theater director and actor, and he and ‘Jude’ are longtime friends and colleagues, making for mostly warm conversation.
Greetings again from the darkness. Solitude and uncertainty are poor bedfellows, leading to issues with rational thought and behavior patterns. Writer-director Scott Tinkham and co-director Michael Woloson explore this through a setting that may or may not be apocalyptic. An unspecified conflict is occurring ‘out there’, and whatever it is, it leaves a couple of folks disoriented and compromised … unsure of who they are and how they arrived.
Greetings again from the darkness. With his first feature film in eight years, award-winning filmmaker (and novelist) Lee Chang-Dong and co-writer Jungmi Oh have delivered an excellent character study that is South Korea’s official submission for the Best International Film Oscar. If the rom-com sounding title doesn’t deter some viewers, it’s likely the complexity, along with a runtime pushing three hours, may keep some folks away … which would be a shame since so many human emotions and traits are on display.
Greetings again from the darkness. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act guaranteed certain rights for those with disabilities. It fell under the purview of the Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) department, later renamed Health and Human Services. In 1977, HEW was led by Joseph Califano, and his initial refusal to sign off inspired a group headed by activist Judy Heumann (polio put her in a wheelchair) to begin what’s now known as the ‘504 sit-in’. The film comes from writer-director Sian Heder (Oscar winner for CODA, 2021) and co-writer Rebekah Taussig, and is based on “Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist” (2020), written by Judith Heumann and Kristen Joiner.
Greetings again from the darkness. Residents of the senior center in Aurora, Ontario can now provide quite an answer if they are ever asked the question, “What’s better than Bingo?”. Seriously, when filmmaker Sean Cisterna (THE LONG RIDER doc, 2022) pitches the idea of forming a film crew from this group in order to produce a short horror film entitled, “The Rug”, we are as skeptical as the residents. Most readily admit they aren’t fans of horror films, but something magical happens when they begin taking on the roles of production design, sound, practical effects, props, wardrobe, camera operator, and first assistant director.
Greetings again from the darkness. For anyone who grew up watching the gritty, street-smart films of the 1970’s, this one from actor-turned-writer/director Noah Segan will feel like it’s one you missed back in the day. From the characters to the plot to the music to the ending, this one feels so familiar, while also taking us on a tour of the boroughs that make up New York.
Greetings again from the darkness. Most everyone has experienced the traumatic signs of Alzheimer’s or dementia in a loved one or friend. It’s heartbreaking to watch someone you care about fade away in front of you. Writer-director Lance Hammer (BALLAST, 2008) finds a new way to open our eyes to these situations. It’s still heartbreaking, yet he’s also managed to make it thought-provoking in a ‘what would you do’ kind of way.
Greetings again from the darkness. Every family has a history, and some families are part of history. Such is the case for writer Thomas Mann, who along with his daughter Erika and son Klaus, are the subjects for this latest from the amazing writer-director Pawel Pawlikowski (COLD WAR, 2018; IDA, 2013) and co-writer Henk Handloegten (GOOD BYE LENIN!, 2003). In my movie viewing experience over the years, I’ve found most movies from Poland to be well made and a bit of a downer. This one fits both descriptions, and I’d add well-acted.
