The Cincinnati Post - October 05, 2000

Movie Spotlight: Get Carter

by Craig Kopp, Post movie writer

Sylvester Stallone is the heavy again in his new film, Get Carter.

But this time, in between bashing heads, he's playing father figure to the leading lady, not her leading man.

Yes, in this update of the '70s British cult crime film that starred Michael Caine as the revenge-minded mob enforcer, Jack Carter, Stallone actually acts his age (54).

"I think that's the beauty of this role as opposed to some of the more recent stuff Sly has done," said Get Carter director Stephen Kay. "He's willing to show there's some gray in his beard, that's he's aged. He's a grown man and he's not trying to say, "Look, I'm a hero, I have no problems, I'm the good guy who will fix your problems.' What he's saying is, "I'm complicated, I've got issues, I've got problems, I'm working through stuff, but I can still kick your tail.' "

In Get Carter, Stallone comes home to investigate his brother's untimely death, and ends up taking care of his late brother's teen-age daughter, played by Rachael Leigh Cook (She's All That).

It's here that Stallone acts like a grownup.

"It's a weird experience, because you don't relate," said Stallone. "It comes on slowly and then you go, "Oh, that's me I'm talking about.' Yeah, I am now a part of the establishment - a very senior part of the establishment. Once you bite onto that bullet, you just try to be responsible and pass it on, pass on some of your experience to someone else. But you're not the kid on the block anymore, you're not like young Rocky, you're getting closer to Mickey."

Well, not quite. In Get Carter, Stallone may take a few punches, but mostly, he's doing some serious head-bashing.

"I thought that when he explodes, people should see it like a real professional at work," Stallone said. "There's nothing choreographed about this, there's nothing pretty. It's menacing and over and final and that's the way it really is. So, I said to the stunt man, "Just bear with me and hang on.' "

Off camera, however, Ms. Cook said Stallone was less a menace and liked to goof around.

"No one likes to talk about the fact that he's quirky," Ms. Leigh said. "And he's a little weird, not much more so than the rest of us. But people don't know that. He will not stop with the corny jokes and picking on me."

Starring Sylvester Stallone. Opens Friday at National Amusements. Rated R.