No Cash For Tango: Kurt Russell Turns Down Role in Sylvester Stallone’s The Expendables

Posted on Monday, March 23rd, 2009 by Hunter Stephenson

A few days ago when Forest Whitaker was replaced by a rapper, I stopped caring about The Expendables. Even though he’s been papercut twice (or something), 50 Cent is just too much the chump to be cast in this PG-13 movie that’s ostensibly a 24-pack of ’80s, ’90s and ’00s action staples. And however one characterizes co-star Eric Roberts when sober. Sylvester Stallone pays close attention to the Web, so he quickly ditched Fiddy for Terry Crews, a smart decision, though subbing in The Thing’s Keith David or Mike Tyson (The Hangover) would have ignited big geek fireworks.

But still the question remained: where the hell was Kurt Russell, the guy who made Steven Seagal his marquee bitch (Executive Decision) and once referred to Stallone as “Armani with a badge”? Slashfilm previously requested Russell’s participation, and today Stallone called him out on, yep, Stallone Zone…

I know that many people on the site have asked for Kurt Russell. I asked for him too.  Actually, I was taken aback when asked to put the request in a letter and send it to his agent.  Subsequently, I was called back by the agent several days later after refusing to send a letter and he said Kurt Russell is not interested in ‘ensemble acting’ at this time.

So, People, I came, I saw, I failed.

Best,
Sly

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Hunter Stephenson’s Movie Review: RAMBO

Posted on Saturday, February 2nd, 2008 by Hunter Stephenson

The following review contains very minor spoilers and was written with consideration for those who have not seen it.

I’m disappointed with how Rambo seems to be doing this weekend at the domestic box office, and I am disappointed that I haven’t reviewed the film until now. That said, at least I am reviewing it, as many of the boisterous voices that could have made Sylvester Stallone‘s film an event film with online reviews have not done. There are those action fans, general moviegoers and fanboys who are on the fence about this movie; and for many the tide has already gone out for the film; they’ll get to it on DVD. “Who cares?”

I think this hesitation amongst movie reviewers and movie goers says something about how we deal with age in this country; it signifies that even when an actor goes over and beyond what is expected of him after he’s lived through and outlasted so many copycats, decades of Hollywood, and charlatans to the action throne, the respect is not there like it should be. Is Rambo cool or not cool in the internet culture? Am I too young or too old to see it? I’ve got a college education now, does that matter? What will my buddies straight out of Caddyshack II think if I like it?

America, please.

Review continued after the jump.

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