Sly Review: Despite his remarkable successes and failures, Sylvester Stallone’s eloquence leaves us wanting a more thorough examination of subjects.
Evasive Documentary Film Evaluation Score:
Starring: Frank Stallone, Scarlet Rose Stallone, Sistine Rose Stallone, Sophia Rose Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Quentin Tarantino, Jennifer Flavin, John Herzfeld, Wesley Morris, Talia Shire, Frank Stallone, and Henry Winkler
Thom Zimny, director
Spoken: English
Accessible via Netflix
Time: One and a half hours
Review of the Sly Documentary: What Is It About?
The fascinating documentary by Thom Zimny delves deeply into Sylvester Stallone’s life and career. Stallone’s journey of self-transformation, which ultimately resulted in the creation of iconic characters like “Rocky,” “Rambo,” and others, is fascinatingly explored in “Sly,” as directed by Zimny. Stallone’s career has been inextricably linked to playing action heroes, unlike many actors, which makes his tale truly exceptional.
Review of the Sly Documentary: What’s Good?
The film begins with a somber 77-year-old Stallone reflecting on how quickly time has passed. “To Hell with Poverty” by Gang of Four provides an upbeat soundtrack. “Sly,” which was co-produced by Stallone’s own company, Balboa Productions, aims to illuminate rather than expose his background as the son of an abusive father and his early years in the turbulent Manhattan neighborhood of Hell’s Kitchen, which was characterized by frequent moves.
Widespread misconceptions about Stallone’s voice and appearance caused him problems in the 1970s. Stallone bravely took control of his life and threw himself into screenwriting as a way to overcome the challenges he encountered. His unwavering perseverance paid off when his film “Rocky (1976)” defeated strong competitors like “Taxi Driver,” “All the President’s Men,” and “Network” to win the coveted Academy Award for Best Picture. It also became a box office sensation. With a knockout victory, the opposition was destroyed.
Evaluate the Sly Documentary: What’s Wrong?
Though the story of “Sly” is endearing, the documentary lacks depth in many ways, and director Thom Zimny is unable to ignore this noticeable issue. The unadulterated, unfiltered elements that would have given Sylvester Stallone a more complex and fascinating persona are absent from this. Rather, it meticulously removes all flaws. In an introspective moment, Stallone opens up about how much he regrets spending so much time on his career at the expense of his family; this is a sentiment that many people can relate to. But the overall picture is still very positive, which ultimately denigrates this genuinely exceptional person in the movie business. It turns an iconic movie star into a worthy but vaguely described role model.
Sly documentary review: Standout Scenes
Stallone demonstrates a remarkable level of self-awareness regarding his advantages and disadvantages. He freely admits that, rather than striving for intricate versatility, he finds success in embracing his established persona.
Sly documentary review: Concluding remarks
It makes sense that a film made in partnership with its subject would address the multiple sexual assault claims that have damaged Sylvester Stallone’s reputation as an iconic figure in America. Interestingly, the documentary chooses not to discuss these allegations. Although Stallone freely talks about the hard physical demands of bodybuilding in his heyday, he noticeably stays silent about the cost of the steroids he used to keep his signature body throughout his career. He might have been arrested in 2007 for illegally possessing human growth hormone as a result of such a conversation. The lack of any mention or appreciation of “The Party at Kitty and Stud’s,” his pre-fame softcore cult classic, is equally startling.
Wesley Morris, a culture critic for The Times, Frank Stallone, Sylvester’s brother, and ardent Stallone fan Quentin Tarantino all provide shrewd commentary in this documentary. The hype man himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger, also makes an appearance.
But despite his remarkable successes and failures, Stallone’s eloquence leaves us wanting a deeper investigation of subjects.