MovieChat Forums > Oscar (1991) Discussion > Underrated due to Stallone

Underrated due to Stallone

posted 14 years ago by pedrodemellodotnet
17 replies | jump to latest

Ok. So I saw this movie probably twenty times give or take.

I am an actor in Portugal (not that this is important, just to explain why I'm talking about this...) and someone today asked me in a casting what are my favorite actors / role models.

Well, I said the usuals: Damon, Depp (his 90's stuff...), Bale, Brolin, Del Toro, De Niro (mostly his Scorsese stuff but I also LOVED "The Deer Hunter", but then again Cimino directing and Walken co-starring, De Niro had what he always needed: good material to work on, to make him shine (but hey, that's another topic..)

Anyway, it was all Ok until I said "I love Sylvester Stallone, I think he is the most under-appreciated actor that I know of". When I said that I noticed a smirk in their faces. One of them asked "Oh... really?" like if just said something stupid.

Well, I stand my point: Stallone is one of the best actors I've seen. And I don't mean this in terms of selection of roles, I mean it as character-builder.

He's one of the FEW action-stars that really dwells into his parts... he conveys credible emotions, his vocals infections are perfect. The only thing that ruins it sometimes is the diction - sometimes it sounds like he's speaking underground.

About this movie: I won't say anything that hasn't been said. This is in my Top 5 All-time comedies, along with Death At A Funeral (the British one) and Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas.

I think it is under-rated because people dismiss the idea of Stallone being something other than a macho-I-kill-twenty-guys-with-a-knife-stud. People ARE close-minded. That is a fact. A sad fact but a fact nonetheless.

For some ODD reason, when I talk about this movie, the few people who actually know it and like it are always the people who seem to be the smartest in the room.

It takes some intelligence to understand Linguistic Comedy and most people DON'T LIKE IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

It's like showing colors to a blind man. Not only the blind man is unable to see the colors, he also shouts out loud that there is no color.

If you know what I mean...

What do you guys think? Do you think critics and people in general would give this movie a chance if Stallone's character were played by another actor?

I am sure that if De Niro were to be "Snaps", in a way similar to the mob-satire he did later in "Analyze This", people would praise this as a bold artistic move, expanding horizons and so on and so on... I guess people just don't want to take Stallone in a light manner, not even in a comedy... Very sad...

Anyway, I kinda lost my thought... Tell me what you think.

[–] Crimzen 13 years ago

I love this movie. Although I do like Stallones actions, this is my favorite movie by him. I won't say that its entirely because of hime as I feel that this is one of those movies where everyone really makes it, but I feel that this was something for him that was very different from his norm and I think he did an awsome job.

"The World is full of Kings and Queens, they'll Blind your Eyes and Steal your Dreams"

[–] ditltd 13 years ago

I'm a big Stallone fan and I just watched the movie for the first time. My first thought was, how come I haven't watched this earlier?! It was really hilarious, pure, unconstrained fun that we rarely see these days! Of course, you got to have some basic sense of humor to appreciate it. IMO the movie is quite underrated for its genre. As for Stallone being underrated, you may be right, but not all of the people see it from my or yours point of view. I mean, he's made it out starting from the bottom (some of you may know that he has done things he may not be proud of during the beginning of his carreer because he was broke out). This is one of the best, even may be the best one actor of the 90's. He has made movies which are CLASSICS, Rambo is a hero that everybody recognizes, even given sometimes by us as a parody example occasionnaly. Some of the movies he has made will never be forgotten. How much such movies do we see these days? After the end of the 90's there are almost none I'd say. Most of the films on screen today are quickly forgotten (except for Shuttre Island with DiCaprio, which is a true masterpiece by the way, and may be Inception too again with DiCaprio). Some of you may say that this is because the movie industry was not as developed back then and this is the reason for his earlier movies success, due to the lack of something to compare to, but all I will say to those who think it this way is: BACK OFF! He's doing it with all his heart, and although of his age he keeps doing it! All I can say is RESPECT.

[–] jeffsh 13 years ago

I never saw this in the movie threater because of the typical stero typing of Stallone as an actor, but when i saw it on video (back in the day) I was blown away by how well he did. The movie was panned by the critics, and did poorly atthe box office, but it was a CULT CLASSIC at Blockbusters. GREAT film and I've seen it about 12 times.

[–] Cal Hawks 13 years ago

I know a lot of people who scoff at Stallone. and while he has done a lot of bad films, I agree that he is severely underrated.

Just using his performances from this, Rocky, and Rambo (first film in both series) you can tell how talented he really is. sure he needs a good role, but very few actors are good enough to elevate the material.

[–] rikfontana 13 years ago

I have to agree with the rest of the Posters: 1st, this is a very funny movie because of a clever, well-written script, as well as excellent direction by a comic veteran in John Landis (ANIMAL HOUSE). And a great supporting cast always helps.

But Stallone definitely holds his own! He is under-appreciated as an actor. And after 30+ years of reading and watching film reviews, there definitely IS a bias, both towards well-known actors (especially for actors known for their "dramatic" performances) and against Comedy films in general (it is a Crime that Russell Brand was not nominated for Best Supporting Actor in FORGETING SARAH MARSHALL).

[–] hejbreovojemojmail 13 years ago

I agree,'Oscar' is smart and has great tempo. Although, my first reaction was a scoff, I just couldn't take Stallone seriously in a comedy. Imagine my surprise.

[–] bigamyst 13 years ago

first off, i love this movie
i like stallone in this film as well as some of the other
more comedic films hes done like "stop or my mom will shoot".

i even think the fact that stallone plays most of the movie straight like a proper
gangster movie instead of totally comedy makes the movie all the funnier.

but i will admit that if some other actors were in the film it could have gotten greater admiration.
for instance michael keaton could have made the movie huge especially after his manic performance in the more slapstick JOHNNY DANGEROUSLY.

[–] DethstruXioN 13 years ago

I agree with the OP, i recently tried to watch this movie with a friend of mine, and he just laughed at me and at the movie.
I was disappointed in his reaction because he didnt give it a proper chance "because its Stallone".
Personally i was always more a fan of Zwarzenegger, but this movie is just funny.
If you showed this movie to someone who doesnt know Stallone, he/she might actually like it as much as any other comedy.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] suicidea 12 years ago

I don't know about acting, but Stallone surely knows and understands cinema better than many people in Hollywood. It's a shame that he is often mentioned alongside Schwarzenegger, Van Damme and that crew. I admire their works too, but Stallone is capable of films with great depth.

Never be complete.

[–] mecrc 12 years ago

I agree with the subject line. This is a very well written, witty, period piece comedy. It needed somebody who understands and appreciates this particular dialog and humor. It was written and directed with a flow to it that was essential for the actors to keep their comedic tempo in check. I don't think Stallone got it and I don't think he ever will. I think Stallone can hold his own it certain roles even serious but comedy just is not in his bag of tricks. Although I do give him a good grade for trying his best to pull it off. I still think this movie is a very good comedy and I would recommend it with the stigma of "keep an open mind".

This movie could have gone farther in the box office and possibly been a comedy classic if not for Stallone.

[–] Prismark10 12 years ago

Its a decent picture and rather a good performance by Stallone.

Its that man again!!

[–] HuGoL1101 10 years ago

It's been at least 15 years since I've seen OSCAR so I cannot talk about this film, but I can comment on Stallone. I had the same reaction when I speak about him. I totally agree with everything you said.

Just with this example of what I like of him: ROCKY!
The movie is great, but I want to talk about the fact that he wrote it and refused some good money for the script because he want to play Rocky. He fight or it, for this movie to be made and HE WON A OSCAR.
I always respect and admire people that refuse money because of his convictions and beliefs! And to finish with Rocky, Stallone do it his way with ROCKY BALBOA.
The series could not end better. It fact, even if the whole series is interesting, in my collection,I only own the first and last one. The speeches are great.

Sylvester is charismatic. He made his bad choices, but I did mine too. So... I won't judge him for that.

Another example: COPLAND. In his filmography, this film stand apart.
Still don't talk of the film even if I love it. But the move was great. A departure of his usual movie. A muscular action star gaining weight! That don't happen often. He enhanced his acting, he was the star, but the cast was so great that he could easy get shadowed. Also, I think he accepted a lesser salary.

Anyway, You know who do the same effect with you name him?
... Jean-Claude Van Damme.

What face did you made? :P

What does you think of him?

[–] Doc110894 10 years ago

It got some good reviews. Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel liked it. Leonard Maltin gave it a pretty good review.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] Horror-yo 9 years ago

nice write-up. I don't know about Stallone being good in action movies, he's probably just fine but obviously no role had really given him a chance; but he was definitely excellent in Oscar. Surprisingly good.

"Harry !!...your hands are freezing !"

[–] The-Last-Prydonian 8 years ago

As much as I have a fondness for Stallone as a person and I have enjoyed some of his movies, I disagree that he is a great actor. He's not the worst although I think his talents lay elsewhere as in his writing, directing and producing. That having been said, I rate his performance in Oscar as one of his better one's. I'd probably even go so far as say it's pretty much excellent. He brings much of that genuine affability and charm that he has in real life to the role, even though he's basicly playing a mob boss, all be it one who is attempting to reform. That was what was key to the film because if we didn't warm to him in some strange way it would be harder for us to empathise with his situation. The predicament he finds himself in after all is sublimely frustrating for him as it is enraging.

Overall though I find it to be more charming than funny although I did laugh several times. The colourful characters, the inspired farcical nature of it as well as some of the brilliant scenarios and split-second, comic timing which are aided with first rate performances from a talented cast make for an enjoyably under-rated experience. Definitely better than it's reputation.