Sly Speaks

Peter Howell writes about Rambo’s Return for TheStar.com. Here’s some of what he had to say:

* [Sly] “in 1976, was hailed as the new Marlon Brando, Oscar-nominated for both writing and acting in Rocky, that year’s Best Picture winner.”

* Stallone returned to his Rocky character last year for the well-received comeback picture Rocky Balboa, which even the Razzies couldn’t fault.

* Sly: “You have careers of peaks and valleys and you harken back to things that you’re known for. Every actor would like to say they’re Daniel Day-Lewis and they have this incredible palette, but quite often you’re known for certain things.”

* [Sly] had no trouble at all slipping back into character. “I love it,” he says, and the smile is proof of sincerity.

* When a journalist suggests Rambo is one of the most violent movies going – even more than the blood-soaked Sweeney ToddStallone interrupts him.

“Not one of the most. The most. I tried very hard for this.”

He had to argue his case before the censors of the Motion Picture Association of America,which wanted to give Rambo the audience-limiting NC-17 rating. He managed to persuade the MPAA to give it the more accommodating “R” rating.

Stallone believes it’s important to show people the truth about “the most brutal regime on the planet,” even if the truth hurts.

* [Sly] starts talking about what he might do next. Maybe something with his muscle-bound peers Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis.

He’s seen Space Cowboys, the 2000 actioner that teamed Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, James Garner and Donald Sutherland as aging astronauts who hit the skies one more time.

“I have a very, very bizarre idea,” he says, teasing his press audience.

“It’s probably absurd. It’s got a formula to it. But if I told you I was gonna do one about a 61-year-boxer you’d go, `Yeah, sure.’ If you can find the right formula, almost anything is feasible. It’s just coming in there and having the audience go, `Okay, that’s possible.’ It’s weird, but feasible. Space Cowboys, hello? It worked!”

For the full article, click HERE. – Craig

80’s Tough Guys

The January 18, 2008 Sydney Morning Herald ran the following:

Sylvester Stallone thinks he is tougher than modern action stars.

The 61-year-old Rambo actor believes he and his 80s “peers”, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis, are far more “physical” than today’s “hands-off and intellectual” Hollywood heroes.

He said: “I think that some young actors will look at me as this archaic, prehistoric creature because now we’ve become much more scientific, less personal.

“Most of my peers were very physical. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis – they were just more hands-on. I think that a lot more actors today are hands-off and they’re more intellectual.”

Stallone believes Rambo would wipe the floor with Matt Damon’s Bourne Ultimatum character Jason Bourne in a fight.

He joked: “Rambo would murder Jason Bourne. I’m kidding. Maybe the one in The Transporter though – Jason Statham.”

Stallone also revealed he is now “best buddies” with his former big screen rival Schwarzenegger.

He added in an interview with Britain’s The Sun newspaper: “I see him every Saturday at Cafe Roma in Beverly Hills.

“It’s funny because we used to be so competitive in the ’80s and now we’re the best buddies in the world.”

Rambo, the fourth film featuring Stallone’s formidable ex-soldier John Rambo, is due to hit cinema screens next month.
—–
You can read the full piece HERE. – Craig


Sly @ PH is News

From Rediff India Abroad:

His name is John Rambo, and while Sylvester Stallone might be 61, he’s ready for more action.

Here, Stallone is at Planet Hollywood in Times Square, New York City, donating Rambo memorabilia to the restaurant franchise.

The way he’s holding that crossbow, the actor seems more than set for the big role.

Rambo releases worldwide on Friday, January 25.

Photograph: Scott Gries/Getty Images

Sly for the Defense

The BBC News reports that “Celebrities including Sylvester Stallone, Muhammad Ali and Spike Lee could be called to court in the trial of actor Wesley Snipes. Mr Snipes is being prosecuted on charges of tax fraud and conspiracy.”

You can read the full piece HERE. – Craig

Sly & Bruce 2

Actors Bruce Willis, left, and Sylvester Stallone ride motorcycles after an appearance on ‘The Late Show with David Letterman’ outside the Ed Sullivan Theater, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)

Sly & Bruce

Actors Bruce Willis, left, and Sylvester Stallone ride motorcycles after an appearance on ‘The Late Show with David Letterman’ outside the Ed Sullivan Theater, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008 in New York.

(AP Photo/Evan Agostini)