#18 Rocky (1976)

It seems that certain movies put certain cities on the map, and I really think that this movie put Philadelphia on the map for me.  If I ever visit I will certainly visit the stairs featured in Rocky.  I also believe that this was the first real sports movie hit (granted, I wasn't born yet when it was released). Disney owes a great deal to this movie. (I'm looking at you Remember the Titans).

SYNOPSIS
A young boxer tries to make ends meet by being a loan shark debt collector whilst trying to court the girl of his dreams.  Eventually he is given a chance of a lifetime to fight the heavyweight champion of the world as a publicity stunt by said champion.  The boundaries of the human drive are then tested in the fight of a lifetime.

REVIEW
The acting is so subtle and easily Stallone's best performance ever.  Everyone else in the movie, and I mean EVERYONE, gives an Oscar-worthy performance.

The writing is especially good when you realize it was Stallone himself who wrote it.

The cinematography is especially beautiful, and I would say is the best of its decade.  The lighting, the angles, everything is just gorgeous.

The music is fun too, but isn't epic.  It's very low budget, which is fine for the film.

TRIVIA

• The film is an allegory of Stallone's career as an actor.  In particular he shows how hard it is for Rocky to make it as a boxer representing how hard it was for him to make it as an actor.
• He refused to sell the script unless he starred in it as well.
• Stallone quit smoking in order to make this film, because he kept running out of breath. 
• Each of the 4 rounds witnessed in the film were shot IN THEIR ENTIRETY twice: once with the steady cam operator in the audience and once with him in the ring. 
• Rocky is a Southpaw, which makes him the coolest boxer ever. 

CONCLUSION

One of the best sports movies ever.  The best boxing movie ever.  The best Stallone movie ever.  Great film. I can't recommend it enough.  5/5 stars.