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‘Creed’ Live From Philly With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan

February 19, 2024 · Creed (2015) · Action · Drama · Sport · 1:46:00 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

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Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill SimmonsDiscusses multiple scenes including the opening with little Adonis, the Andre Ward car key scene, and Donnie meeting Rocky at Adrian's restaurant, but doesn't settle on one definitive pick▶ 30:09
Sean FennesseyAgrees with the opening scene discussion, noting the hammer moment and title reveal▶ 31:18
Van LathanSupports the opening scene with little Adonis, emphasizing how crucial it is for the movie and mentions the fist unclenching moment▶ 31:03

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill SimmonsRocky was lying when he told Donnie that Apollo won their private fight - Rocky actually won but lied to spare the feelings of Apollo's son▶ 35:27
Chris RyanExpressed uncertainty about who won and questioned whether Rocky's mentorship was founded on lies▶ 35:30
Van LathanApollo probably won the private fight against Rocky▶ 36:22

What's Aged the Best

Bill SimmonsThe 24-7 documentary segments, media touches, Coogler's camera work, Wood Harris as Duke's son, Stallone being 69 (same age as Burgess Meredith in Rocky), Bianca as a well-written sports movie girlfriend, and Tony Bellew as Pretty Ricky Conlan▶ 55:29
Chris RyanThe fights, especially the Leo 'The Lion' fight▶ 1:00:15
Sean FennesseyIrwin Winkler and Chartoff taking a chance on 29-year-old Ryan Coogler to make an Apollo Creed son movie▶ 1:00:21
Van LathanEmotionally manipulating women has aged the best▶ 54:00

Great Shot Gordo Award

Bill SimmonsThe ATVs in slow motion and the walkout▶ 1:03:22
Chris RyanThe Leo the Lion one-er tracking shot throughout the first fight and the first intro shot of Creed in Tijuana taping up his hands▶ 1:03:09

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill SimmonsWhen Rocky turns on Donnie for like three minutes and says 'we're not a real family'▶ 1:05:54

What's Aged the Worst

Bill SimmonsQuestions whether boxing's relevance has aged poorly, wondering if a 2024 remake would focus on MMA instead▶ 1:16:39
Sean FennesseyBoxing's cultural prominence - agrees it's as small as it's been in 100 years▶ 1:16:23
Van LathanBoxing's cultural relevance - it's aged poorly since Rocky came out, though maybe on a small upswing recently. The heavyweight champion used to be the most popular athlete in the world.▶ 1:16:17

Is There a Better Title?

Bill SimmonsNo, there is not a better title▶ 1:18:51

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill SimmonsThis is the best reboot of a movie franchise ever▶ 1:22:02
Chris RyanThere's no retribution storyline for Wheeler after Conlon breaks his jaw and steals his shot at the title▶ 1:19:04
Sean FennesseyCreed should have won at the end, and Rocky should have won at the end of the original Rocky▶ 1:21:25
Van LathanRocky and Apollo had a sexual relationship after their third fight▶ 1:19:47

Casting What-Ifs

Bill SimmonsMeryl StreepStates there haven't been enough casting what-ifs revealed yet for this movie, mentions Meryl Streep was supposedly up for Bianca but calls reliability into question, explains Felicia Rashad casting due to original actress passing away▶ 1:23:21

Dion Waiters Award

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill SimmonsSeries of trivia facts including Philadelphia filming locations (Victor's Cafe, Mighty Mix Gym, Max cheesesteak place), Donnie's shirt homage to Rocky 1, Stallone wanting MBJ in flag trunks, Pauly's gravestone dates, MBJ gaining 24 pounds of muscle, and Tony Bellew winning WBC Cruiserweight title 8 months after the movie▶ 1:27:35

Apex Mountain

Bill SimmonsMichael B. JordanYes for MBJ (Michael B. Jordan) - 'Coming out of Creed, it's like he could make any movie he wants'; No for Ryan Coogler, Tessa Thompson, Stallone; Yes for Tony Blue (winning the title); Yes for HBO 24-7▶ 1:29:02
Chris RyanTony BellewYes for 'Johns' in cinema history; Yes for Tony Blue since he'd never heard of him outside this movie▶ 1:29:39
Sean FennesseyTessa ThompsonNo for Tessa Thompson - 'Not this' and 'Not her best work'▶ 1:29:21
Van LathanBlack PantherBlack Panther as alternative for MBJ; Valkyrie for Tessa Thompson; This is Apex Mountain for Creed movies and for real boxers in movies▶ 1:29:10

Sequel/Prequel/Limited Series/Remake

Bill SimmonsI'm in (supporting the limited series idea)▶ 1:38:13
Sean FennesseyThis is a movie that had a sequel. Two sequels. And more to come▶ 1:38:14
Van LathanWhole limited series▶ 1:38:02

Just One Oscar

Bill SimmonsRyan CooglerInitially suggested Stallone, then Coogler, ultimately agreed with Sean's argument for Coogler▶ 1:38:24
Sean FennesseyRyan CooglerCoogler for directing - argued the movie had only 10% chance of being good in anyone else's hands▶ 1:38:31

Is This Movie Better With

Chris RyanWayne Jenkins present during the original training in the backyard▶ 1:39:05

Best Double Feature

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill SimmonsDon't let someone make you feel like you were a mistake▶ 1:43:32

Who Won the Movie

Movies Referenced (42)

Title (year)LinksMentionsMentioned byFirst
Philadelphia (1993)IMDb ↗Lb ↗11Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 1:42
Rocky Balboa (2006)IMDb ↗Lb ↗7Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 7:25
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)IMDb ↗Lb ↗7Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 6:42
Black Panther (2018)IMDb ↗Lb ↗6Van Lathan, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan▶ 22:15
The Ring (2002)IMDb ↗Lb ↗6Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Van Lathan▶ 26:07
Batman (1989)IMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill Simmons▶ 1:22:51
Identity (2003)IMDb ↗Lb ↗4Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 18:25
Top Gun (1986)IMDb ↗Lb ↗4Van Lathan, Chris Ryan▶ 8:42
2012 (2009)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons▶ 34:32
Rocky V (1990)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons▶ 6:59
Rushmore (1998)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 1:30:21
Twilight (2008)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Van Lathan, Sean Fennessey▶ 58:09

Directors Referenced (1)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Shawn FitzgibbonIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Manchester by the Sea▶ 13:31

Actors Referenced (63)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Sylvester StalloneIMDb ↗Lb ↗24Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van LathanRocky, Rocky IV, Creed▶ 7:40
Tone TrumpIMDb ↗Lb ↗12Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Sean FennesseyCreed▶ 41:00
Wood HarrisIMDb ↗Lb ↗11Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van LathanRemember the Titans, Ant-Man▶ 52:48
Jim LampleyIMDb ↗Lb ↗10Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Van LathanSouthpaw, Creed, Blades of Glory▶ 28:10
Pretty RickyIMDb ↗Lb ↗10Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Van Lathan▶ 33:09
Don JohnsonIMDb ↗Lb ↗9Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris RyanDjango Unchained▶ 1:32:33
Tony RomoIMDb ↗Lb ↗8Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan▶ 1:02:13
Tijuana RicksIMDb ↗Lb ↗7Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Sean Fennessey▶ 38:53
Liev SchreiberIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris RyanSpotlight, The Manchurian Candidate▶ 51:48
Max KellermanIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Sean Fennessey, Bill SimmonsCreed, Creed II, Rocky Balboa▶ 53:10
Justin TimberlakeIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons, Van LathanThe Social Network▶ 34:26
Kurt CobainIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyBlack Widow, The Batman▶ 34:12

Writers Referenced (4)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Ryan CooglerIMDb ↗Lb ↗20Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Van LathanBlack Panther, Creed▶ 7:44
Damien ChazelleIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean FennesseyWhiplash, La La Land, First Man▶ 24:08
Danny McBrideIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris RyanUnderworld▶ 1:25:12
Tom ClancyIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsThe Hunt for Red October, The Sum of All Fears, Clear and Present Danger▶ 23:14

Cinematographers Referenced (2)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Gordon WillisIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsThe Godfather Part II▶ 1:03:26
Michael GrantlandIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Van LathanThe Other Guys▶ 6:04