It has been over four decades since Sylvester Stallone’s last death scene, a fatality that didn’t even make it into the final cut of the movie. From his iconic characters like Rocky Balboa, John Rambo, and Marion “Cobra” Cobretti, Stallone has made it a point to keep them alive in the memories of moviegoers. In this year’s fourth Expendables film, which seemed to kill off Stallone’s character Barney Ross, the final scenes revealed that he was still going strong and ready for action.
The concept of staying alive has clearly resonated with Stallone, as evidenced by the documentary Sly, currently available for streaming on Netflix. In the film, director Thom Zimny explores Stallone’s desire for his characters to stay alive, which can be summed up in one word: Hope. Stallone believes that it is the responsibility of filmmakers to instill a sense of hope in their audiences, and killing off a character would put an end to that conversation.
Zimny reveals that Stallone even adjusted the ending of 2019’s Rambo: Last Blood to leave it open to interpretation whether or not his character survived. Stallone realized that it was more powerful to leave it to the viewer’s imagination. Through his portrayal of characters like Rocky and Rambo, Stallone has been able to convey themes of change, hope, and the feeling of being loved. These themes are significant to him as an artist and resonate deeply with audiences.
In addition to exploring Stallone’s approach to his on-screen characters, Sly also touches upon a personal loss in his life—the death of his son, Sage Stallone, in 2012. While Stallone does not mention his son by name, Zimny uses archival footage and Stallone’s emotional words to convey the impact of this loss on the actor. The documentary approaches Stallone’s life, successes, and losses from an artistic perspective, providing a universal understanding of how these experiences have shaped him as a person and an artist.
Zimny, known for his nonfiction profiles of Bruce Springsteen and Willie Nelson, shares that his interview strategy with Stallone was to let the actor set the pace while he listened and learned. The director describes their conversations as a “jazz” experience, where they moved around the room and never followed a traditional interview format. Stallone would speak candidly for hours on end, with no breaks.
One of the most surprising moments in the documentary comes when Stallone admits his ambivalence towards the 1997 film Cop Land, which aimed to revive his career after a series of disappointing action movies. Stallone gained weight for the role and portrayed a broken-down character, something that didn’t resonate with the wider audience at the time. Despite this, Stallone always took his acting seriously and embraced the challenges that came with different roles.
At 77 years old, Stallone reflects on prioritizing his family over his career in Sly. However, Zimny believes that Stallone will never truly retire from his many creative pursuits. Stallone is constantly working on various projects, whether it’s writing scripts, painting, or developing TV series. He is an artist on a journey, actively pursuing his art and constantly immersed in the process of creation.
Sly is currently available for streaming on Netflix, providing viewers with a deeper understanding of Sylvester Stallone’s artistry, his approach to character development, and his personal experiences and challenges.
