I think the other 3 heavyweight contenders were the better films, but we're talking 3 A+ classics versus a solid A classic. In my opinion, Rocky benefited from coming on the heels of the first half of a decade that contained a ton of great, but extremely cynical, films. Network and Taxi Driver fall solidly into that genre, and while ATPM was nowhere near as brutal it was on the tail end of a run of political conspiracy thrillers that didn't exactly make you feel good about the old United States of America. When the smoke cleared, Rocky was far removed from the dark vibe of the other films (except the relative lightweight Bound for Glory) up for Best Picture. Whether Stallone or even audiences knew it or not, they were starving for a change of mood. Star Wars delivered that in spades the next year. Later, ET rode a similar mood shift wave. I think Rocky is a terrific film, but considering other factors like novelty, screenwriting, and so forth, I'd have given the nod to either Network or Taxi Driver.
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[deleted]
5 years ago
Dumb post really. Reaching for every excuse why Rocky won best picture.
Rocky won because it’s one of the greatest ever made. Story, musical score, directing, atmosphere etc.
I’m convinced it won by two scenes alone. When Rocky is walking around the Spectrum and the promoter asks why he’s there. Rocky replies the poster is wrong about the colors he’s wearing. Promoter Jurgens replies that it doesn’t really matter I’m sure you’re gonna give them a great show. All along Rocky just wanted to go the distance because he didn’t think he even had a shot, but that night he started to believe he had a chance until Jurgens appears and chops him down. The next scene he’s crawls into bed with Adrian and says all I want to do is go the distance. Chilling how insecure and unsure he was at that moment because someone told him he’s just an act and will be gone tomorrow
Next scene when Rocky is down for the count in the 14th round and Mickey is yelling at him to stay down. The music Going the Distance is playing in the background, Adrian is watching from the distance wishing it was over and agonizing over the beating Rocky is taking, Rocky gets up off the mat and motions Apollo to let’s go this ain’t over with yet. The scene gave us what the human spirit is made of and finally the love from Mickey and Adrian that he craved all his life
Taxi driver never gave us that
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ccr1633 (1415)
5 years ago
"Dumb post really. Reaching for every excuse why Rocky won best picture."
Nah. I think you're just ignorant about mood shifts and the nature of American cinema in the early-mid 1970s. Rocky evoking certain audience sentiments that the other Best Picture candidates didn't is not a slam dunk argument for why it should have won. Did Rocky have any startlingly prescient predictions about American news media like Network did? Nope. Network therefore should have won Best Picture.
What's that? You don't buy that argument? It's because it's a stupid argument.
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[deleted]
5 years ago
And the sad part about you touting Network, it’s a forgotten picture for most people unless you’re a cinema buff. Really, is Network iconic? Nope but almost everyone knows who Rocky is and continue to watch repeatedly. Was there a 40th anniversary showing across the country for Network? Nope, but there was for Rocky. Network was a fine film but very unimportant. I think we’re done here.
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BooBooCat (652)
4 years ago
I have to side with EZRider on that one. Actually... on the fact that Rocky is a better film!
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