Author: Craig

Sly Part of The Punch Bunch

Craig / / 2002, Celebs

Ernest “Jazzman” Resendes checked in with a scoop that the March 2002 issue of Total Film contains an article entitled “The Punch Bunch” by Ceri Thomas. The piece looks at “a long line of thespians who spent months wheezing around stinky gyms perfecting their slugging skills.” The actors include Wil Smith, Robert Deniro, Denzel Washington, Errol Flyn , Daniel Day-Lewis and of course Sly. The Rocky article is short but contains quotes from Sly and John Alvidsen.

Thanks again to Jazzman for keeping us informed!

Craig Zablo (March 23, 2002)

Sly Interview in March Impact

Craig / / 2002, D-Tox, Eye See You

Two StalloneZoners (Paul Corr and Ernest Resendes) checked in with a tip about a Sly interview in the March 2002 issue of Impact magazine. Sly refers to “D-Tox” as a “dark horrifying movie… a descent into hell… your worst nightmare.” Sly further indicates that he believes that “D-Tox” will be released in the states and provides an interesting story about the title changes the film has undergone. It was changed from “D-Tox” (because people felt it had to do with recovering alcoholics) to “De-Tox” (too much of a rapper’s name feel) to “Eye See You” (Jennifer Flavin-Stallone‘s idea) back to “D-Tox.” The interviewer covers a couple more aspects of filming “D-Tox” and a few other areas as well. The interview is a worthy find for any Stallone fan!

Paul Corr also says that the April issue of Impact will also feature a closer look at Stallone‘s career. Paul continues: I was privileged to have seen D-tox twice. It was, in my opinion, a first class movie with an excellent performance by Stallone. I have written a short but to the point review in the mymovies site after the Stallonezone tip about the D-Tox clips. It was great to see the main man in the cinema.

The impact web address is http://www.maipublications.co.uk

Thanks to Paul and Ernest for giving us a heads-up on the interview!

– Craig Zablo (March 23, 2002)

Death Race 3000

Craig / / 2002, Celebs, Death Race 2000, Unmade Films

On Friday, Dark Horizons posted an item based on an article in the The Chicago Sun Times in which director Paul Anderson [“Resident Evil’] discussed plans to re-make “Death Race 2000” as “Death Race 2000!” The kicker is that the film is being developed as a Tom Cruise project. Anderson revealed that, “Tom plays Frankenstein, the best driver in the world. But he has that nickname because he’s been in so many crashes. He’s a little bit beat up. He’s a little reckless.” A script was turned in last week and Anderson is excited about it.

What makes this film really cool for SZoners? Anderson was quoted as saying, “I’d love to cast Sly Stallone and bring him back as the same character he played in the first one. He was a great Machine Gun Joe.”

– Craig Zablo (March 9, 2002)

Bummer Stock

Craig / / 2002, Celebs

The March 4, 2002 issue of People contains the pic above with the following:

In a year marked by corporate scandal and financial ruin, Sylvester Stallone is waging his own battle. The Rocky star watched as his more than 3.9 million shares of Planet Hollywood stock, which he received as payment for promotional work, dwindle in value from $20 a share to 10 cents each. Stallone blames his former business manager Kenneth Starr [no relation to the Lewinski prosecutor] for alledgedly telling him that ‘it would send the wrong message to the market” if he sold, while counseling other investors to cash out. Stallone, 55, who teamed with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis to revive the franchise in 1995, claims he lost $10 million after the chain filed for banruptcy in 1999. He’s suing Starr for $17.3 in damages. [Schwarzenegger got out two years ago; Willis is still very much invested,” says his rep.] Ben Fields, a rep for Starr, whose clients reportedly include Warren Beatty and Al Pacino, told Daily Variety that Stallone‘s claims were “utter hogwash.” He adds, “I call him Stallone the Suer.” Says Starr spokesman Dan Klores: “[He] has sued or been sued by everyone from his stepfather to his landscapers, architects, production companies, producers… and wives.” Responds Sly‘s attorney: “My client will set the record straight.” Stay tuned.


Thanks to Ernest “Jazzman” Resendes for the pic and article!

Craig Zablo (March 9, 2002)

TWO STALLONE TIDBITS

Craig / / 2002, Celebs, TV

Stallone warns Philly colonists in ‘Liberty’ role
Mon Mar 4, 1:52 AM ETBy Steve Brennan


LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) — Sylvester Stallone is putting extra star muscle behind the planned PBS animated series “Liberty’s Kids” from DIC Entertainment. Stallone‘s distinctive voice will be used to re-enact the character of Paul Revere in the high-profile series that is set amid the events of the American Revolution.

Also new to the all-star cast is British actor Michael York, who has signed do provide the voice of Adm. Lord Howe, leader of the English naval forces and responsible for blockading the colonial ports. York is the first British actor to come aboard the project.

The series is set to premiere on PBS on Labor Day.

“Liberty’s,” which will air five days a week on PBS, follows the adventures of four teenage apprentices working for Benjamin Franklin’s newspaper in colonial Philadelphia. The great events and the heroes of the American Revolution are introduced to viewers through the kids’ interaction as reporters.

Joining Stallone — who gets to utter the famous warning “The British are coming! The British are coming!” — is an A-list cast of celebrity voice actors, including Walter Cronkite as Benjamin Franklin, Michael Douglas as George Washington, Billy Crystal as John Adams, Annette Bening as Jane Adams, Whoopi Goldberg as Deborah Sampson, Ben Stiller as Thomas Jefferson, Liam Neeson as John Paul Jones, Dustin Hoffman as Benedict Arnold and Yolanda King, daughter of the late Martin Luther King Jr., as Elizabeth Freeman.

Bob Stack, Sylvester Stallone, Chuck Norris were the showbiz honorees at the U.S. Vets Gala Honoring America’s Heroes, held Friday at the BevHilton. Lionel Richie, Constantina and Living Proof entertained.

By Army Archerd, Daily Variety Senior Columnist

Craig Zablo (March 4, 2002)

SLY ALL OVER ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

Craig / / 2002, Celebs, Honors, Rocky

Entertainment Weekly’s February 22, 2002 issue contains two articles which Sly fans will want to check out.

“25 Years Ago” by Steve Wolf presents an overview of the ceremonies held on March 28, 1977 when “Rocky” and “Network” duked it out at the 1976 Oscars…”

Here’s a Stallone-related excerpt:

Cindefella

On his way into the Oscars, Sylvester Stallone told the crowd outside, ” My pumpkin is waiting. I’ll see you later. ” With his nominations for Best Actor and screenplay, though, Sly had already written himself a happy ending. The only two men to pull off that qyuiniela in the same year were Charlie Chaplin ( 1940, The Great Dictator) and Orson Welles ( 1941, Citizen Kane ).

There is also mention of Ali’s surprise appearance when Sly was announcing Best Supporting Actress.

“I may not win anything here in the form of an Oscar, ” said the actor, ” but I really feel it’s a privilege to be standing next to a living legend, and it’s something I’ll always treasure for the rest of my life .”
“The Right Hook,” by Chris Nashawaty is a five and one-half page article (with seven pictures) about “Rocky”: “the only Cinderella story more rousing than ‘Rocky’ is the tale of its unlikely route to Best Picture.

– Craig Zablo (February 17, 2002)

SMILIN’ JACK RUBY LOOKS AT “DOLAN’S CADILLAC”

Craig / / 2001, Celebs, Unmade Films

Smilin’ Jack Ruby (gotta love that name!) posted a very positive review of the script for “Dolan’s Cadillac” over at Fandom.com. Jack had some very interesting things to say…

  • “I had the opportunity to read the script and not being ABKing (SZ regular Andrew! – Craig Zablo), I am skeptical of all things Sly Stallone. Well, this role is tailor-made for him.”
  • “He’s the ultimate heavy, the kingpin of Las Vegas organized crime and the guy who runs the Mandarin Casino, which rises high over the strip.”
  • “I have read the script and it’s pretty interesting. You wouldn’t think it, but it actually combines some elements of The Shawshank Redemption into a revenge thriller, though this story never tries to get to that level. It’s a revenge pic, pure and simple.”
  • “If you read the short story, you’ll find out what this big revenge thing is. Needless to say, it is something incredibly cinematic that makes me really, REALLY want to see this movie.”
  • “Kevin Bacon as Tom is perfect casting…”
  • “I’m sure this will turn into a project with a lot of good actors as the parts are well written.”
  • “I have to hand it to Sandy Title and Jonathan Penner, this is an adaptation I want to see…”
  • “It is well-cast, well-written… really keeps the tone of Stephen King intact in the script.”

To read the complete review, click |HERE|. – Craig Zablo (February 18, 2001)

SLY IN UK’S HOTDOG MAGAZINE

Craig / / 2002, Celebs, Cop Land

Ernest “Jazzman” Resendes sent in the following:

I found this in the current issue of HOTDOG ( UK edition, volume3 number 2 ). It includes a piece that reads…

WHY MISS DIAZ… YOU’RE HIDEOUS
They’re Hollywood’s sexiest stars, but here they’re king of funny lookin.’ More than most passport pictures even…
STORY: Mark Wyatt

…It highlights actor’s who have transformed themselves for various roles. Among those featured are Sly Stallone, Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Robert Deniro, ect…

Thanks to Ernest “Jazzman” Resendes for sending in the info!

– Craig Zablo (February 17, 2002)

EMPIRE PRAISES “D-TOX”

Craig / / 2002, D-Tox, Eye See You

The March 2002 issue of Empire magazine has the following review:

D-Tox

Some three years after filming began, D-Tox is finally here. That delay, coupled with the presence of former box office heavyweight, Stallone, means that it must be crap, right? Well, actually no, it is better than crap. In fact it is surprisingly watchable. Which for a film delayed longer than Toen & Country, is saying something.

It’s a hybrid of Seven, The Thing, and Scottish helmer Gilliespie’s I Know What You Did Last Summer [right down to the killer’s fur-lined parka and ability to be in two different places at the same time]. But thanks to an ominous mood and some surprises – an attempted suicide is all the more shocking for its sheer matter-of-factness – the blend works.

However when Stallone arrives at the detox center, Gilliespie surrenders to cliche, wasting [literally] a pantheon of good actors in distressingly similar fashion. Sly, though, is on impressive, if not career-resuscitating form – at least until convention dictates that he run around dark corridors waving a gun.
Chris Hewit

Any Good?
D-Tox is probably best enjoyed on video. But that a serviceable thriller like this struggles to get a release, when certain nameless dross gets rushed into cinemas is, frankly, bewildering.
***

“Sly, though, is on impressive, if not career-resuscitating form…” Music to my ears!
Thanks to Ernest “Jazzman” Resendes for sending in the info!

– Craig Zablo (February 17, 2002)