Sylvester Stallone reveals what he feels is the most underrated movie in his filmography. Stallone's career has seen him tackle various prominent roles and franchises, like Rocky, Rambo, and The Expendables. He's also known as an action star, having made films like Tango & Cash, Demolition Man, and Cliffhanger. And while the actor has also appeared in films where he seemed out of place, like Rhinestone or Oscar, he has a unique thought about his most underrated movie.
While speaking with THR, Stallone was asked about the most underrated movie from his lengthy career, with the actor choosing 2000's Get Carter remake. He calls the movie a "big disappointment," saying that "tremendous nostalgia" was attached to the original film that hindered the remake's performance. While Get Carter didn't impress much upon its release, it left an indelible mark on Stallone. Check out Stallone's comments on Get Carter below:
"Believe it or not, I think Get Carter was really underrated. That was a big disappointment. I learned the hard way that [remakes], even if you do it better than the original, there’s a tremendous nostalgia attached to the original. And quite often they’re not done as well. Like the last West Side Story. Why would you mess with something like that? Not only because [of the original’s quality] but because people’s tastes change. Musicals don’t make it anymore. Kids cannot relate to that kind of music. So who’s your audience? It’s crazy. Also, I thought Cop Land was going to do a little better."
Was Stallone's Get Carter Really Underrated?
Get Carter was one of many remakes that didn't land with audiences. Remakes of popular films often don't work well with critics and audiences who often prefer the original and can't quite grasp why a remake is even necessary beyond financial gains. Remakes like 2002's Rollerball, 2017's Flatliners, and 2015's Point Break all missed with critics and audiences, marring their existence as needless cash grabs. Get Carter finds itself in this camp of remakes, but in Stallone's mind, it shouldn't be.
Get Carter is a remake of a 1971 film of the same name from director Mike Hodges, with Michael Caine in the lead role. The film is loved by critics and audiences for being a tight revenge thriller, which holds an 87% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Stallone's remake was released in 2000 and directed by Stephen Kay. Aside from Stallone, the film starred Rachael Leigh Cook, Rhona Mitra, Alan Cumming, and John C. McGinley, with even Michael Caine making an appearance. However, the film was maligned by critics, earning a measly 11% Rotten score on Rotten Tomatoes and only mustering up $19 million at the box office off a $63 million budget.
Get Carter hasn't had much of a life following its release. While the film did have its supporters, like Chris Vognar of the Dallas Morning News, who called it "stylishly directed," not many audiences talk about the movie or even revisit it. Furthermore, Get Carter has never garnered a cult following, merely falling into obscurity as a long-forgotten remake. So while Stallone may see Get Carter as an underrated movie, most audiences may not be inclined to agree.
Source: THR