There is a scene in John G.
Avildsen’s Rocky in which the titular character, played by Sylvester Stallone, watches himself on TV being relentlessly mocked by Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) and his crew.
By his side are his girlfriend, Adrian (Talia Shire), and his so-called friend Paulie (Burt Young).
When asked if he wasn’t bothered by the treatment Creed and his staff dispensed him, Rocky claims to be totally okay with it.
A couple of shots later, however, now alone with Adrian, he confesses that he was indeed hurt by the way he was treated.
It’s quite an unassuming scene, with awkward pacing and stunted dialogue.
It is also incredibly touching and heartbreaking in its honesty.
More than anything, however, it is a scene that perfectly sums up Rocky, a movie with layers upon layers of hidden depth that stay as close to the surface as its protagonist’s soft spots,
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