There is something about the roles Sylvester Stallone plays. True, his most memorable roles are steeped in the sort of machismo that was defined by John Wayne’s westerns, the chiseled-in-stone face of Charlton Heston, the rural, righteous charm of Gary Cooper, the extreme masculinity of Rock Hudson, or the class that Cary Grant embodied in just being.
But when Stallone plays macho roles, he makes them relatable. Not to take away from the others mentioned, but Stallone came at a time when the working class was being represented not through the lens of the upper classes, but as themselves. The roles the others played were never quite within arm’s reach to the public.
He is a labourer who fights for his rights. He loves and loses, and loves again. He is just another father trying to come to grips with his age. He made a football match more about the Holocaust than the sport itself. And he does all this with the same strong-jawed gravity he gives to even the silliest of characters. Stallone doesn’t just act, his characters, almost uniformly, seem to have one thing that resonate with audiences across time. They have heart.
As Stallone turns 70, let’s take a look at five of his most significant roles in a career spanning four decades.
Barney Ross (The Expendables series)
The only reason this finds a place in this list is because The Expendables is the first non-Rocky/Rambo franchise that Stallone has been memorable in, after a long time. Barney Ross fulfilled every action film fan’s wish list. Add to that the presence of pretty much every actor who’s ever played an action role, and you have the mindless entertainment that still makes you happy, without making you feel like your brain is being stabbed repeatedly.
Angelo ‘Snaps’ Provolone (Oscar)
One of Stallone’s rare comedy role is Angelo ‘Snaps’ Provolone (yes, like the cheese). Snaps is a gangster who vows to his father that he will give up a life of crime. The typical next line would be ‘Hilarity ensues’, but this isn’t a funny or even a fun film. The hijinks in the movie are mostly about Stallone trying to toe a straight line, and failing to do so. It’s interesting to watch an actor who’s almost exclusively unfunny in your head pull off comedy, to an extent.
Johnny Kovak (F.I.S.T)
F.I.S.T is large. It’s expansive. The film employs the kind of storytelling that spans decades. Put simply, Stallone plays Johnny Kovak, a labour union leader, loosely based on Jimmy Hoffa, the shrewd, cynical labour union leader who went missing. But Kovak is, like all Sly roles, all heart. It isn’t an enlightening or an entertaining film. But it feels like a necessary film.
John Rambo (The Rambo series)
Rambo is the quintessential war veteran stereotype that we see in every other action film. It doesn’t take much for him to fight back. Rambo is what Chuck Norris jokes might be if they were actually believable. And the lushness of Thailand adds to the stark beauty of the films and their setting.
Rocky Balboa (The Rocky series)
Where does one begin when speaking about Rocky. The most iconic scene is in the first film. It’s the training montage. There is a shot of Rocky running by the shipyard, his stride compared to the length of a ship which is in the background. And of course, the run up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Arts. The raised fists, as he reaches the top. The audience watches his run up the steps from below, as if signifying his growth. The Rocky series is not just a hallmark of Stallone's career, but a true showcase of his potential.
