Probably for a brief period of time long ago, because now everybody knows that he’s picked mostly bad movies his entire career and acted poorly in nearly all of them.

Based upon the book by Dennis Lehane, this should turn out to be pretty great casting. The character is sort of described as a dumpy aging cop. When reading it I always pictured either Sly’s character from “Copland” or Joe Pantalioni, but only when he’s got a mustache like in “Memento” or something. I think it’s kinda inspired casting…

Good points, and I grasp the old dog argument. However, many people used the same typecast arguments about John Travolta pre-Pulp Fiction for a good number of years - especially after “Look Who’s Talking.” Stallone made the decision to become an American action icon rather than a serious actor. I feel like he could have gone in the latter direction and that it was conscious choice he made. Again, Ebert compared him to Brando back then - Arnold never received such comparisons.

I feel like now, with the success of “Rocky Balboa” - a film that is far & away from its predecessors in tone and maturity and carries the dramatic weight (as a film and a character) of the original - Sly knows he has to shed his former self after the upcoming “Rambo.” He can do this by pairing with serious directors from here on.

I’m not sure about the “old dogs” saying in regards to Hollywood. Hollywood is one of the toughest and nuttiest businesses around, with plenty of comeback stories (Travolta, Josh Brolin, Jackie Earl) and tragic stories like Orson Welles to boot. Stallone’s career until now has been based on money, sex appeal and macho appeal. Age has given him a window to be taken seriously. That may be strange, but that’s Hollywood. I think he can play outside the “dumb, likeable toughy” and surprise us all. I wouldn’t rule out a late-career Oscar nomination either. He just needs to manage his career and renewed good standing accordingly.

If we have yet to see “the real Sly” after he’s done 45 feature films, I’m pretty sure we’ll never see “the Real Sly”. And again, you’ve glossed over what I just said. Sly was incredible in Rocky, because that fit into the little niche of characters that he is able to nail home. He can play the sympathetic tough guy who lacks intelligence better than anyone else. I think his extensive past history has proved my point. He’s been working for 40 years and you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. The best you can do is offer an old dog a role that would perfectly suit his old tricks. And I think that is what Scorsese may have done.

I doubt Scorsese would consider Sly for his upcoming thriller if he felt the guy was limited to “a very small niche.” In the ’80s, Sly became a franchise machine, thus limiting his opportuntiies for fame and financial gain. I don’t think we’ve seen the real Sly, and I think Scorsese will bring that out, as could Tarantino.

It will bring an audience to the film that might otherwise have passed. Leo brings them in, but just like with Nicholson in The Departed, the film will now attract an older audience and, forgive the phrase, a low-brow audience to this picture.

Also, Sly is an actor that everyone (at least on the net) wants to see make a comeback - he’s just a likeable guy and seriously “Rocky Balboa” was the most candidly autobiographical film about Sly’s mistakes, lessons learned and his take on life that he could ever make.

“Copland” was okay, and it was sad to see the backlash against Sly pile on after it flopped, but I for one, have always felt that Sly should work with better directors and not rely on himself as much. “Copland” was Sly playing too hard against type as an insecure neverdowell. Same thing with Bruce Willis. These guys have pigeonholed themselves with their muscles and the ’80s heyday for far too long.

I’d still love to see Stallone pop up in “Inglorious Bastards,” and as long as he doesn’t make that ridiculous bid at remaking “Death Wish,” he has a huge second wind to reinvent himself. But the key here is that he shouldn’t play slower, darker action parts like “Death Wish” - he needs to cut down his price tag and work with Scorsese no matter what. The new “Rambo” is cool and will make some bank and keep his auteur status alive, but after that, he needs to surprise us with strong material. What better way? And Scorsese realizes that he can help reinvent Sly. “Rocky” is ranked as one of the best film ever made by the AFI. People forget this.

That said, I hope he never makes his “Poe” dream project. That’s a stretch, there Sly.

After the first Rocky, Roger Ebert said that Stallone could become the next Marlon Brando.