When it comes to action in Hollywood, one actor that is sure to make it to the top of the list is Sylvester Stallone. After portraying some iconic action characters like Rambo, Rocky Balboa, and Gabe Walker among many others, Stallone has successfully established himself as an exceptional action star throughout the five and a half decades of his career. But what many do not know is that the Rocky Star once planned on quitting action movies.
Hollywood without an action-packed Stallone? A bit hard to imagine. But that’s exactly what would have happened if the Cobra actor did not recognize the importance of action movies in Hollywood.
Sylvester Stallone was ‘done with action films’
During a 2010 interview with GQ, Sylvester Stallone admitted that he once actually considered giving up action movies. When asked if he was ready to leave behind his iconic roles as Rocky and Rambo, Stallone replied,
“Oh totally. Many times. After ‘Cop Land,’ I actually made a declaration: ‘I am done with action films!’ Like I’m moving on to a world of … in action [laughs].”
Revealing how shooting for his 1997 film Cop Land alongside Robert Di Niro kicked his b*tt, Stallone added that he had to give up all his armor as the role forced him to feel confident in his biggest insecurities.
Moreover, he added that for most of his action movies prior to Cop Land, Stallone could rely on his physicality. However, the crime drama with Di Niro brought out Stallone’s emotional side that reminded him of some repressed childhood memories.
Sylvester Stallone knew that the industry needed action movies
Although movies like Cop Land helped Sylvester Stallone tap into his emotional side, he admitted that action movies hold a special place in Hollywood. Sharing an interesting take on why such movies are an integral part of cinema, Stallone said,
“Action films are dismissed as ‘filler,’ when they provide the money for ‘artistic films’ to be financed. And when the time comes to give recognition, it’s dismissed. ‘It’s not filmmaking per se.’ Oh, it is. I’ve done ‘Cop Land,’ and I’ve done action films, and it’s very hard to do a good action film.”
Comparing the two genres, Stallone went on to discuss how dramatic movies follow a certain flow at a constant pace with an aim to move the audience by the end of the feature. Whereas when it comes to an action film, the progress of the movie has to be fast-paced until the time it reaches its climax.
Furthermore, Stallone also mentioned that a successful action movie needs to strike the perfect balance – not making it too action-heavy while providing enough action to build the characters.
Source: Looper
