Best Picture 1976

Through six sequels and a great deal of parody, it is hard to see Rocky for what it is' a small scale story about a man content to live a meager existance, suddenly being faced with a chance to accept his by gone talent and potential. Writing within his means, struggling actor Sylvester Stallone wrote himself the perfect part to showcase his talent. But, where a great number of writer/actors fail in regard, is that this film is void of vanity. There feels a real need to tell this story and the character and story are most important here. Not the performance. It is not written first and foremost as a showcase.

The film also works in a way that makes the slew of sequals that followed understandable. It presents the underdog as a damaged but charming and loveable guy that we truly root for and it sets up iconic lines and moments that are very hard to deny. But, the success of this film in comparison to what followed is that the iconic moments and characters are presented in a realistic and immaculately designed environment that is completely lost or overlooked in what came next.

Other films nominated in 1966

All the President's Men
Bound for Glory
Network
Taxi Driver

Worthy winner?
No - Despite the triumphs of the film it should not have beaten All the President's Men, Network or Taxi Driver. All three of these films are more impressive technically, emotively and in terms of ambition.