Richie-67-485852
One of the best movies out there with our favorite actors to boot awaits any viewer who wants to spend some quality time in the entertainment world and also be introduced to a real story about real people too. There is so much reality going on here it is refreshing to see it. Rocky is not perfect but juvenile delinquent, convict and a dishonorably charged military person. He is dysfunctional, carries lots of mom and dad issues and basically is a mixed up ignorant lost soul. That's why he captures our hearts because there is a little bit of us in his life. Anyone could have got caught up in all that and many did. Here we see the grace of God giving a person a chance to form a different ending with his life other than what the dark forces intended. Imagine if this guy was brought correctly. One of the greatest inspirations stories around. Remember, next time things have you down and it all looks bad, somebody up there...
DKosty123
When I was growing up, Rocky Grazino had a brand of sausage in our local grocery store. I did not know the story behind the face on the package. It took me a long time to see it.After watching this film, it appears Sylvester Stallone stole his story for Rocky from this real life Rocky. He proved how bad Hollywood marketing was in the 1950's as if this one had been titled Rocky, it would have made more money.The real Rocky G endorsed this as a pretty much accurate account of his life. I am not sure if James Dean would have done a better job than Paul Newman does here. Dean died in a car accident a few months before this was filmed.This one does have a lot of the same props as Stallone's effort but in this case there is more realism. This real Rocky from New York City was a hero to kids and fans alike. He got involved with scandal and he grew up in a rough gang neighborhood. He is portrayed as a high strung but honest worker who deserves a lot of respect. This movie gives him that. At least Stallone's Rocky punched hanging beef. Grazianos sausage is not in evidence here.
AaronCapenBanner
Robert Wise directed this biographical account of Rocky Graziano, from his troubled youth as petty thief and hoodlum that led to his imprisonment, to his later release, where his big plans were intercepted by his prompt drafting into the army, where he proves just as undisciplined, and goes AWOL. He later uses his fighting skills in the boxing ring, where he finally finds the long sought-after success he has wanted, even finding love with a woman named Norma(Pier Angeli) Until one day when Rocky's past comes back to threaten him, and jeopardize his career...Paul Newman is fine as Rocky, with solid direction and interesting story of a not always likable lead character.
Rodrigo Amaro
"Somebody Up There Likes Me" is the second film Paul Newman starred as leading actor and the first to become a hit making him a great movie star. Here he plays the legendary boxer Rocky Graziano in his long and very difficult journey to be a recognized boxer. The movie begins showing his tough childhood in Bronx where he participated in robberies, and then went to prison because of his long list of crimes. After he went out of prison, he is drafted by the U.S. Army, but runs away. His luck seems to change when he discover that he can get fast money winning boxing fights. His first friend is Irving Cohen (Everett Sloane, the eternal Mr. Bernstein from "Citizen Kane"), who became his coach, arranging more and more fights to the young talented man. Just like Rocky Balboa who finds Adrienne, suddenly Graziano finds his first love, a young Jewish girl called Norma (Pier Angeli), who like him very much but can't stand his boxing.But the biggest challenge to Rocky isn't in the fighting but it's something more deep. A guy (Robert Loggia) that he met in prison reappears and then makes an offer to the boxer: he must lose a important fight. Why? Because his past on robbery and in the Army may be revealed to the public that really likes this guy. Rocky's always battling with himself trying to understand why bad things happens to him over and over again. OK, you might find the plot very obvious, something that you've seen before, but it has it's good moments and some originality. Newman's performance is a great asset to the film. He is conflicted, lost, sympathetic, angry and yet the audience always like him. Even that the boxing scenes doesn't work so well like in "Raging Bull" it's still worth watching the story of a man who's been beaten too much but don't give up so easily. Pier Angeli, Everett Sloane, Sal Mineo (Rocky's friend), Eileen Heckart and Robert Loggia (in his film debut) are very good in strong supporting roles. Pay attention to Steve McQueen participation as Fidel, one of the members of the gang in the beginning of the movie. Well directed by Robert Wise. 10/10
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