Sylvester Stallone:The Original Critic's Bane

Brendan BrownCOM 329: Contemporary Film

Key Note Presentation 2

Born in Hell's Kitchen, he had facial nerve severed while being delivered, resulting in his slurred speech and drooping lip

Initially a small time actor, he found success after writing the script for Rocky, but refused to sell it unless he could star in it. During this time he has living in his car.

While widely known as an actor, he has written numerous screenplays and directed a number of films

Never finished College, but was awarded an honorary degree in 1999 by the University of Miami

Beginnings and Background

Roles as an Actor 2 1981: Escape to Victory as Captain Robert Hatch

1982: Rocky III as Rocky Balboa *

1982: First Blood as John Rambo *

1983: Staying Alive as Man on Street *

1984: Rhinestone as Nick Martinelli

1985: Rambo: First Blood Part II as John Rambo *

1985: Rocky IV as Rocky Balboa *

1986: Cobra as Marion "Cobra" Cobretti *

1987: Over the Top as Lincoln Hawk

1988: Rambo III as John Rambo *

1989: Lock Up as Frank Leone

Roles as an Actor III 1989: Tango & Cash as Ray Tango

1990: Rocky V as Rocky Balboa *

1991: Oscar as Angelo 'Snaps' Provolone

1992: Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot as Sgt. Joe Bomowski

1993: Cliffhanger as Gabe Walker *

1993: Demolition Man as John Spartan

1994: The Specialist as Ray Quick

1995: Judge Dredd as Judge Dredd

1995: Assassins as Robert Rath

1996: Daylight as Kit Latura

1997: Cop Land as Sheriff Freddy Heflin

Roles as an Actor IV 1998: Antz as Weaver (voice)

1999: D-Tox as Jake Malloy

2000: Get Carter as Jack Carter

2001: Driven as Joe Tanto *

2002: Avenging Angelo as Frankie Delano

2003: Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over as The Toymaker

2004: Shade as Dean 'The Dean' Stevens

2006: Rocky Balboa as Rocky Balboa *

2008: Rambo as John Rambo *

2009: Kambakkht Ishq as Himself

2010: The Expendables as Barney Ross *

Roles as an Actor V 2011: Zookeeper as Joe the Lion (voice)

2012: The Expendables 2 as Barney Ross *

2012: Bullet to the Head as Jimmy Bobo

2013: Escape Plan as Ray Breslin

2013: Grudge Match as Henry 'Razor' Sharp

2014: The Expendables 3 as Barney Ross *

2014: Reach Me as Gerald

2015: Rambo: Last Blood as John Rambo *

* = Denotes writing credit

Paradise Alley (1978)

Drama

Three Brothers in Hell's Kitchen struggle to make ends meet in the 1940s

Stallone's directorial debut, he also starred in, wrote the screenplay, sung the theme song, and wrote the novelization

Written prior to Rocky, it wasn't Green lit til after its success

Currently Holds a 39% on Rotten Tomatoes, with a gross of only $7 Million

Trailer

Rocky II (1979)

Drama/ Sport

Rocky struggles to make a life outside of the ring, while Apollo pushes for a rematch

In addition to directing, Stallone wrote the novelization and screenplay, while staring as the titular Rocky

While not as success as the first Rocky, it currently holds a 72% on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed over $200 Million

Trailer

Rocky III (1982) Drama/ Sports

Rocky has become the champion, but learns all his opponents have been hand picked, and challenges someone out of his league

Stallone again Stars as lead actor, director, and writer

While critics disliked it more than Rocky II, it currently holds a 61% on Rotten Tomatoes, and grossed over $270 Million worldwide

Trailer

Staying Alive (1983) Drama/ Music

Sequel to Saturday Night Fever, Tony now tries to make it on Broadway

Only film Stallone directed and did not star in, other than a cameo

Currently holds a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes, it earned $64 Million Dollars

John Travolta stated after filming Stallone was his favorite director to work with

Trailer

Rocky IV (1985) Drama/ Sports

After the death of Apollo Creed, Rocky heads to Russia to train and take down Ivan Drago, a hulking Russian boxer

Stallone once again stars in, directs, and wrote the film

Considered a Cold War film, with Rocky and Drago being metaphors for their respective countries, and in the end both countries have good people who can change

Currently holds a 43% on

Rotten Tomatoes, it is the highest grossing film in the Rocky franchise at $300 Million

Trailer

Rambo III (1988)

Adventure/ Thriller

Rambo heads to Afghanistan to help rebels fight against the oppressive Soviet Union

Another Stallone Cold War film, by the time of it's release the Cold war was over

While not directed by Stallone, he did star in it

Considered to be the most violent film of all time upon its release

Currently holds a 36% on Rotten Tomatoes, it earned $189 Million

Trailer

Rocky Balboa (2006) Drama/ Sport

Rocky, now an old man, comes out of retirement for an exhibition match against the current champ

Stallone returned to his most famous role after a decade of flops

Stallone once again directs, writes, and stars in this film

Currently holds a 76% on Rotten Tomatoes, with a worldwide gross of $156 Million

Trailer

Rambo (2008) Action/ Thriller/ War

Rambo teams up with a group of mercenaries to rescue a group of Christian Aid workers in Bruma

Stallone Writes/ directs/ stars in it

Currently holds a 37% on Rotten Tomatoes, it was a modest hit grossing $113 Million

Stallone recently announced Rambo: Last Blood is in production

Trailer

Expendables (2010) Action/ Thriller

A group of old mercenaries are rounded up to take out a Latin dictator

Written/ directed/ stars Stallone

This film was intended to give aging action stars who hadn't had much luck a second chance, like Stallone had received with Rocky Balboa and Rambo (2008)

The film grossed $278 million and opened at Number one, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 41%

Trailer

Sources of Information

IMDB

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000230/?ref_=tt_ov_st

Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvester_Stallone

Box Office Mojo

http://boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Writer&id=sylvesterstallone.htm

Rotten Tomatoes

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/sylvester_stallone/