I always disliked Paulie, hes a baby, jealous prick, arrogant and ignorant, But just the first 20 minutes of this movie I hated Paulie for what he did. *beep* he pissed me off especially in the lawyers office crying/yelling to Adrian and how he tries to act all tough and big to Rocky. Lmao yeah im bitching just had to let it out there lol
Paulie was always a lonely bitter lowlife prick, jealous of Rocky, maybe more jealous of his sister Adrian since she's happily married with a champ. Third wheelers living in your place can always turn your life around.
He had a pretty steady job so your statement is invalid. And Burt young is definitely a better actor as well I've actually seen him in on the roles where he was quite effective.
I still think Paulie, despite all his faults, is likable because when it comes down to it he really does care about Rocky and Adrian. He's a slob, he's selfish, he's ignorant, possibly racist ("I don't like these people" in Rocky III about the black people in Apollo's gym) and outright creepy and violent at times, but Young's excellent performance elevates what would otherwise be an irredeemable character into someone you find funny and sympathetic. Scenes throughout the series where he defends Rocky at his own expense against Thunderlips and Tommy Gunn as well as verbally on other occasions, sits by Adrian in the hospital, and makes some hilarious remarks ("Maybe some day you can punch out your Pop. What? It's fittest of the survival... " still gives me the giggles even today) keep the character from being too deplorable in my view.
Yes, Paulie is partially responsible for their bankruptcy but it's not like he did it on purpose, he was swindled due to his ignorance and having a problem with accountability he naturally refused to accept the blame for everything despite his guilt, but it's not like he did any of it deliberately to hurt anyone. He has some of the best lines in the series, and his love/hate relationship with Rocky is so much better than the standard "best buddies" crap you often see in films - these guys are human beings, with shortcomings and weaknesses, and Paulie is a great device to show Rocky's good nature, how he tolerates and respects him even though most people wouldn't (which Paulie even comments on while tearing up before Rocky fights Drago in IV). Underneath Paulie is just a lonely, insecure guy who struggles with his own identity; you know he's an insensitive prick, but you also know that when the chips were down he'd stand by Rocky no matter what.
"Yes, Paulie is partially responsible for their bankruptcy"
No, he wasn't responsible, not even partially.
"but it's not like he did it on purpose, he was swindled due to his ignorance"
Which is why he wasn't responsible in any way. The only thing Paulie did was relay a message to Rocky from Rocky's accountant. The only way Paulie could be responsible is if it was his job to ensure that legal papers were on the up and up before Rocky signed them. That obviously wasn't his job because that's a job for a lawyer, not a meat packing plant worker.
I think that no matter what you think about Paulie and what he's done over the past five movies, he completely redeems himself at the end of "Rocky V." When Tommy comes to challenge Rocky and completely decimate whatever little dignity Rocky still had, who is it that stands up for Rocky? Not Andy, or any of the other drunks Rocky hangs around with. It's Paulie and Paulie alone. And rightfully so.
And let's not ignore the fact that Paulie takes a blow to the head from the Heavyweight Champion of the World... and shakes it off like a champ. Paulie's a jerk with a heart of gold and Rocky knows that.
I think that no matter what you think about Paulie and what he's done over the past five movies, he completely redeems himself at the end of "Rocky V." When Tommy comes to challenge Rocky and completely decimate whatever little dignity Rocky still had, who is it that stands up for Rocky? Not Andy, or any of the other drunks Rocky hangs around with. It's Paulie and Paulie alone. And rightfully so.
And let's not ignore the fact that Paulie takes a blow to the head from the Heavyweight Champion of the World... and shakes it off like a champ. Paulie's a jerk with a heart of gold and Rocky knows that.
Exactly, you nailed it, I loved that scene and it shows Paulie's heart. What I also loved is immediately after how Rocky immediately stands up for Paulie and shows that no matter how much he loved Tommy and didn't want to fight him, sticking up for Paulie superseded all that.
"You have the right to remain silent, so shut the *beep* up!"
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Thanks for defending him, save me the trouble. People often label Paulie as a bum, but in the original Rocky Rocky was more of a bum than Paulie, Paulie had a legit job whilst Rocky partook in criminal activity. Why Paulie wanted to Follow in Rocky's footsteps as a loanshark I will never know.
Yes. Paulie had flaws like any human being. Yet, Paulie was the one who stood up for Rocky to Tommy in this film. Tommy knocked him on his ass and Paulie got up like it was nothing.
Paulie is just one of those characters that is going to have his fair share of haters and his fair share of lovers. He was a complicated man but he had a good heart, he's someone who likely got picked last (or not picked at all) on the basketball team.
If you watch the first film, Paulie was actually THE major antagonist of the story... much more than Apollo. Apollo simply represented Rocky's goal. Paulie represented the obstacles for Rocky to achieve that goal.
So... you can't just rewrite Paulie, eliminating all his antagonizing characteristics.
Stallone knew he wanted Rocky to start over in part V, back to his roots like the first film, and so the character of Paulie represented the obvious way to help make that happen. ..having him make some bone-headed screw-up.
Did you ever notice the framed photograph from the first ROCKY movie, that shows Paulie in a naval uniform (never knew if it was there as a joke or not)
Yeah, Paulie's kind of a scumbag, and not the least bit likable, but his little confrontation with Tommy in the bar is one of the very few times I actually respected him.
RockyBalboaV YouTube can be annyoing with the copyright *beep* Is there a possibilty you can upload the Director's Cut to Piratebay or some other torrents site? I've never seen anything else that the 2 deleted scenes that are on youtube.
Rocky: Paulie sets Rocky up with his sister Adrian, finds out they've slept together and comes home drunk with a baseball bat to terrorize them both and ruin his own house.
Rocky II: Paulie utilizes Rocky's newfound success to strongarm him into getting a small-time loan shark into giving him Rocky's old job as an enforcer, despite being a fat, middle-aged alcoholic with authority issues who walks with a stagger.
Rocky III: Paulie gets drunk and throws a bottle of Whiskey at a Rocky pinball machine in the first ten minutes, then picks a fight with Rocky on the grounds that Rocky is "Holding him back."
Rocky IV: Paulie receives a high-tech sex robot from Rocky for his birthday, who also assumedly cooks and cleans for him despite Paulie never being seen outside of Rocky's mansion before getting an all-expense paid trip to Russia.
Rocky V: Paulie grants power of attorney over the entirety of Rocky's financial holdings to a scumbag lawyer who's never seen on screen before the movie begins (while Rocky is suffering from severe brain damage) and forces the entire family to move back into their old neighborhood, near penniless.
Rocky Balboa: Paulie tags along with Rocky as he visits Adrian's grave and the demolished site of their first date, angrily and repeatedly yelling at Rocky because he's cold and it's late and he wants to go home.