comment #1

storymark says ...

You slag on Nighthawks, and praise Judge freakin' Dredd??

Please go back to hysteronic political posts.

comment #2

George Prager says ...

I eagerly await MIchael Dudikoff's Irving Thalberg Award acceptance speech.

comment #3

dp4m says ...

Jeff -- nothing you can say will erase in my mind the belief that Rocky IV helped to end the Cold War. So he deserves every accolade possible for that!

comment #4

Richardson says ...

The man played two cinematic icons. I can count on at most two hands the number of people of whom that is true.

He's a very, very limited actor, but I honestly don't think there are many actors who play inconsolable, incoherent grief better than Stallone.

And no discussion of Stallone's career would be complete without posting a link to the Orange Julius sketch, funnier than you can ever imagine Stallone being on purpose.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2280429196019562172&ei=RtqYSPHnAZDCqAPB6NnHDA&q=Stallone%20SNL&vt=lf&hl=en

comment #5

Richardson says ...

Almost forgot; you left 'Death Race 2000' off your list of Stallone movies which are generally regarded as better-than-crap.

comment #6

NDH says ...

I've always enjoyed DEMOLITION MAN. Especially with lines like:

"You're gonna regret this the rest of your life... both seconds of it."

comment #7

115thDreamer says ...

Hey, I'm not going to defend the man's overall resume, but Jeff, you mention 'Copland' as one of the quality projects he's been in, but say he's never gone the less-is-more route - I'd argue that he did go that route in 'Copland', and was pretty effective. I know I felt sympathy for his character, and was certainly rooting for him.

Also, thanks to Richardson for bringing up his SNL episode (from 1997) - I still remember that sketch..."this computer over here really kicks ass....so will that be cash or charge?" Classic.

comment #8

Richardson says ...

NDH - when I was younger, I *loved* 'Demolition Man'. Now I think it's not quite funny enough to be a great parody, and the action is too silly to be a great action movie, but it's still a helluva lot more fun to watch than 'Judge Dredd'.

comment #9

Filmsnob says ...

Cliffhanger is a great guilty pleasure.

comment #10

rr3333 says ...

Next thing you know, Arnold will become so respected, he'll become a governor!

comment #11

T. S. Idiot says ...

Sly's best performance is in BANANAS.

comment #12

BurmaShave says ...

storymark says ...

You slag on Nighthawks, and praise Judge freakin' Dredd??

Literally what I was going to say. Also DEMOLITION MAN is pretty awesome. Jeffrey Wells, you have been fined one credit.

comment #13

Deathtongue_Groupie says ...

I'll second storymark on Nighthawks, one of the 80's most underrated films. Of course, released today Jeff would totally spoil that ending, which I remember critics going out of their way to preserve. Every time I went to a dance club in NYC I wanted to yell "Wulfga!!!!" across the floor to some Eurotrash I could then chase through the subways.

comment #14

actionman says ...

Dredd was GOD AWFUL. A horrendous waste of time and money.

Cliffhanger was a lot of asinine fun. I can still remember seeing it opening day and being scared shitless during that opening sequence, which is probably the best directed action scene that Harlin ever put on screen. Though I do have a soft spot for The Long Kiss Goodnight.

Have never been a huge Stallone fan but he's certainly created two iconic characters, so he gets some Americana credit for that.

The latest Rambo movie was so over-the-top that I was laughing out loud while watching it. The violence in the film was just absurdly hysterical. Somehow, I doubt that was his directorial intention.

comment #15

btwnproductions says ...

Of the 40 movies Stallone has appeared in since ROCKY, I like eight (what the hell, nine, throw in THE SPECIALIST, a guilty pleasure). Zurich's kind of an effete place, Sly might help toughen it up a bit.

comment #16

Jake says ...

Stallone's filmography relies heavily on nostalgia and camp appeal. If you take away Rocky/Rambo, it's actually a little shocking to realize how spotty it becomes.

I would argue that he made three 'good' films in the 90's: Cliffhanger, Demolition Man, and Cop Land. (Even though the first two haven't aged all that well.)

Nighthawks is also a pretty solid effort. It's not a classic, but at least Stallone was still trying to act at this point. Once Rambo hit, he basically grunted his way through the rest of the decade.

comment #17

The InSneider says ...

Jeff, have you gone mental? Copland is the very definition of less is more. And did you really call Judge Dredd decent? Get a grip, man! And since when is Cliffhanger on par with Rhinestone? Whaaaaa??

comment #18

bmcintire says ...

They're a little slow, but I also enjoyed F.I.S.T. and PARADISE ALLEY. Of course, they were right around the time of ROCKY, so they predate his plunge into the gruntfest that was the ' 80s.

comment #19

Richardson says ...

"Stallone's filmography relies heavily on nostalgia and camp appeal."

Especially the latter. The great thing about Stallone is that he has so many movies that are awesome-bad. You can't watch 'Over The Top' and not laugh at it. The 'Rocky' movies, other than the bookends, have *amazing* camp appeal (though 'Rocky III' also has some genuinely great scenes). When he's good, which is rare, it can be great. But when he's bad, he can be amazing.

comment #20

markj says ...

Demolition Man is great fun. "You're on TV!!"

Bit harsh on Stallone Jeff. Considering the handicaps he overcame he deserves credit for the script to Rocky alone. And Rocky Balboa and the new Rambo were highly entertaining pieces of work. Seems churlish to deny him a little recognition.

comment #21

Joel says ...

Cliffhanger is great. I mean, it's bad, but it's also great. I love that film and all of its cheesiness.

I also enjoyed Tango & Cash and Over the Top. Stallone never aimed very high, but he did make some enjoyable films over the years. He also made some awful ones.

comment #22

actionman says ...

Copland is definitely the best piece of acting he's ever done. Easily.

comment #23

corey3rd says ...

Chuck Norris better get the award next year.

comment #24

Jake says ...

"But when he's bad, he can be amazing."

Very true. You generally don't watch a Stallone film and think, "Meh, that was bad." It's generally more like, "I can't believe someone actually made this!"

comment #25

BurmaShave says ...

And he should, for CODE OF SILENCE alone.

comment #26

DarthCorleone says ...

Just echoing what has already been said, but count me also as someone who did think that Sly achieved that "less is more" thing in spades with Cop Land. And, yeah...Judge Dredd? One of the good ones? It's unwatchable. I also derive some camp value from Demolition Man and Over The Top, but I'm not sure I'd attribute my appreciation of either one of those too much to Stallone. I also thought Assassins was o.k.

comment #27

Mr. Buckles says ...

In CLIFFHANGER, I felt bad when Sly had to cut that young lady's rope in the beginning. That must of sucked, a bad day at the mountain.

That said, it was much worse for Chris O'Donnell when he had to cut the line of his dear ol da in VERTICAL LIMIT.

Way worse to send your dad to his death than some girl you don't even know well that Michael Rooker happens to be dating this week.

comment #28

hcat says ...

I always liked him in Assasins, his early nineties resurgance was the best period of his career.

But no one other than a cable channel should be giving him a lifetime acheivement award.

comment #29

Howlingman says ...

... Zurich has a film festival?

comment #30

storymark says ...

I totally forgot Assassins. I kinda liked that one.

comment #31

tommysunshine says ...

Perhaps when he has a moment, Gaydos might like to explain himself.

comment #32

Ghost072 says ...

Agree on Nighthawks, one of his best films. Never actually saw Judge Dredd, because I knew it would piss me off (loved the comic back in the day).

comment #33

NC Gary says ...

The last 40 minutes of ROCKY II are incredible. Probably his most underrated film.

comment #34

huntermdaniels says ...

that's a pretty good number...for baseball. But I think you undersell the value of some of his films. Demolition Man has a really clever idea that is executed wonderfully. Okay, so the 1990's were rough on him and the 00's were even worse. So what? He has still done pretty interesting work for a guy with such limited range. And he's doing work now that is better than what he did back in the day, so give him a break. How many artists have a second act that is at all interesting? How many?

They just announced Rambo V has financing and Sly is back writing and directing it. I for one can't wait.

Of course, what will they call it? I mean it went First Blood, Rambo First Blood Part II, Rambo III, Rambo. The titles make no sense...might as well just go with Rambo 5.

comment #35

huntermdaniels says ...

edit: early 00's.

comment #36

lipranzer says ...

I'm another fan of NIGHTHAWKS. Plus, of course, it's one of the few big screen appearances of my then celebrity crush Lindsay Wagner (like I was the only one). I also have to admit OSCAR, after a terrible opening, was pretty funny, and Stallone was a big reason (though he wasn't the only one; Marisa Tomei, Tim Curry, and especially Chazz Palminteri are all funny as well).

But I agree in general. I give credit to Stallone for the two I mentioned above, as well as the first ROCKY, COPLAND, and ANTZ, and I count F.I.S.T. and VICTORY as interesting failures, but otherwise? Bleah. I actually watched FIRST BLOOD for the first time recently, and it was so incoherent and ridiculous, and it was embarassing to watch Brian Dennehy, an actor I like, playing nothing more than a straw man.

comment #37

actionman says ...

yeah, Assassins was a lot of stylish fun

comment #38

Richardson says ...

NC Gary - I could never get over the one-two ridiculousness of Rocky going into the fight with no training after spending weeks at Adrian's side *and* both of them knocking each other down. It has one of my favorite campy Rocky scenes, in the hospital room, where the dialogue is literally:
Rocky: If you don't want me to fight, I won't fight.
Adrian: The only thing I want you to do, Rock... is win!
cut to: Mickey, in the corner
Mickey: Well, what're we waiting for?!

The fight itself is great, and there's some good stuff in the first half that is reminscent of the first.

comment #39

Christian Licorice says ...

I have news for everyone - every actor has some major turkeys on their resume.

When the AFI salutes Paul Newman shortly, I will be sure to remember When Time Ran Out, Quintet, Harry & Son, and the list goes on...

Pacino's Oscar wasnt really for Scent of a Woman, it was because the Academy voters remember Bobby Deerfield, Cruising and Author, Author (and lets not forget those immortal Pacino titles that came after the oscar e.g. 88 Minutes, The Recruit and the list goes on).

Deniro? you dont really need me to go there do you?

Meryl Streep - Falling In Love (nice segue); oh and She Devil (yes just love that one).

As for Stallone, the man has made some flicks that provided entertainment value for me; for that, he has earned my loyalty and good will (even though Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot is indefensible).

But really lets all shut the fuck up and remember there is NO ONE who doesnt have some loser, I-did-it-solely-for-the-paycheck flicks

comment #40

dangovich says ...

You could look at Stallone's career as a classic Faustian bargain: talent squandered for high-paying jobs in shit movies. Maybe Stallone wanted to be rich more than he wanted to make great movies.

On the other hand, you could also say he accomplished a lot for a palooka with limited range as an actor. And when he let his ego go in Copland, he really delivered a fine performance.

Either way, you have to admit the guy had a truly unique persona.

comment #41

LYT says ...

Any time a festival gives a star a "lifetime achievement" award, it's B.S. as an actual award -- they need a celebrity to show up, they find out who's available, then give them an award so they'll come. And Stallone's a big celebrity.

comment #42

T. S. Idiot says ...

"Any time a festival gives a star a 'lifetime achievement" award, it's B.S. as an actual award -- they need a celebrity to show up, they find out who's available, then give them an award so they'll come."

Remember Jack Palance on talk shows in the 70s telling how some minor European film festival gave him a lifetime achievement award. Once he got there, he discovered twenty or so had turned down this honor.

comment #43

D.Z. says ...

Jeff, if it makes you feel better, Sly also won a Razzie for "Worst Actor of the Century". [Swiped from Wikipedia.]

comment #44

MovieBob says ...

You're missing the point: After ALL of those bad movies, the guy is still around, still stable, still working and genuinely well-regarded in the industry with very little tabloid scandal is his backstory and very few people with anything but kind words to say about him. THAT'S a lifetime achievement.

comment #45

berkguru says ...

For Rocky alone, he deserves any and every award in my book.

Leave it to Wells - a bystander who has never generated anything with 1/100th of the emotion and meaning - to try to tear him down.

The shame with Stallone is that the genius he generated was so sporadic. But it is undeniable.

comment #46

Pablo Villaça says ...

First of all, I LIKE Stallone and I think he's underestimated as an actor. His performances in Rocky, First Blood and Copland are proofs the guy can act.

Second of all, I think Cliffhanger is a very good action film.

And, third: Stallone has a very good sense of humor when it comes to all the bombs he's made over the years:
http://www.dailymotion.com/slythebest/video/x55ks2_saturday-night-livecar-accident-vos_fun

comment #47

moorish says ...

Not to say that Sly deserves any sort of award, but Demolition Man is great fun, love that flick.

Cliffhanger has its moments, too.

Judge Dredd was terrible, effectively ruined the character.

comment #48

Deathtongue_Groupie says ...

As to the "they run through a list and decide who will show up" approach, I can personally vouch for watching it in action.

There was this left-leaning civil rights group (redundant I guess) which had their fund raiser coming up. They then went through a list of celebs they could get in San Francisco to show up if they gave them some sort of "Blank of the Year" award. I sat there and eavesdropped as they decided to give this made-up award to Robin Williams. Yet, keep in mind this is how the game is played to get the deep pocket donors to show up and as long as the cause is legit & gets the bulk of the money, who cares?

comment #49

lonniechung says ...

Stallone is a bad actor and a worse director. The best thing anyone can say about him usually contains the phrase "guilty pleasure." Rocky is overrated and Copland feels like a missed opportunity. The best I can say is that his beard looked good in Nighthawks. Jeff, please give me some perspective - how well-regarded is this Zurich fest?

comment #50

hcat says ...

Christian Licorice did you just compare Stallone to Paul Newman????

Stallone has done a lot with his limited ability, and I might be the only one around here who thinks the academy actually made the right decision in handing Rocky the oscar that year, but Newman is a GOD. Yes Newman made some terrible films but his highs were far higher and even his routine fare outshines the best that Stallone is capable of.

I am glad that someone mentioned Victory, remember liking that movie quite a bit back when Stallone was still seen as an actor with promise.

And I agree that the measure of a movie star is not that they have had flops but that they can recover from them.

comment #51

Richardson says ...

"and I might be the only one around here who thinks the academy actually made the right decision in handing Rocky the oscar that year"

Nope; I don't know how it was at the time, but 'Rocky' holds up much better today than 'Network', and I like it more than 'Taxi Driver' (which never had a shot at winning Best Picture). I think Stallone deserved Screenplay also; 'Network' is too much tell not enough show for me.

comment #52

Christian Licorice says ...

hcat - I just wanted to use your God as an example of how even the so-called best of folks can have some "titanic godawfuls" (to quote Jeffrey) on their resume. I just hate people ragging on Stallone. I for one have enjoyed a great many of his films.

I like Newman's best as much as I like Stallone's best even though they are two completely different things. In fact, given a choice, Rocky III or The Verdict, I would probably take Rocky III every time.

First Blood Part 2 or The Color of Money? probably take First Blood (but this is more because I have an aversion to Tom Cruise)

to go to the other end of the spectrum - Cobra or The Towering Inferno? probably go with Cobra every time.

When Time Ran Out or Stop or My Mom Will Shoot - ok I will take the Newman flick here (it really is a hilariously entertaining movie).

comment #53

hcat says ...

Yes even the best have titanic godawfuls, and to be honest I have not seen a Stallone movie that was as bad as Newman and Altman's 'Quintet'. But Newman was an actual actor, Cool Hand Luke, The Hustler, The Long Hot Summer, Hud. Nothing Stallone did including Rocky approaches those. Compare him to Eddie Murphy, Burt Reynolds, Tom Cruise or even Harrison Ford but Newman is a whole different Animal.

This brings another question to mind, is an actor every really gone? I have no problem with him being back but I thought we had seen the end of Stallone on the big screen. Mickey Rourke is clawing his way back and Eric Roberts is getting work. Does any career ever stay dead in hollywood?

comment #54

Gaydos says ...

tommysunshine (#31): As I pointed out in the piece, "As is so often the case with American pop culture figures, it was the French who first took serious stock of Stallone's oeuvre and granted him an honorary Cesar Award for career achievement in 1992."

Glad to see a story from 16 years ago still has legs!