Wondering what role The Wrestler's Mickey Rourke will tackle next? How about a beefy, testosterone-fueled Stallone vehicle (for which Rocky is the star, director and writer)? Say, The Expendables? In whcih the Golden Globe-winning comeback king will play an unscrupulous arms dealer who becomes the go-to guy for a team of mercenaries on a mission to topple a South American dictator.

Questioning Mickey's choice? It's normal to be concerned, considering his previous career detours. Perhaps he simply wants to take full advantage of his gnarly muscleman bod before it withers away in a life without sleeper holds. Or could it be that the film's title refers to The Expendables' stars themselves? Jet Li, Jason Statham, Randy Couture, Dolph Lungdren and Stallone. Would audiences mourn or remember it weeks, months or years from now if any of the aforementioned action stars abruptly disappeared? Or were discretely replaced by other tall, buff and verbally handicapped (or at least underdeveloped) hot shots? Like Vin Diesel or JCVD (yes (sigh) I know, he's a martial arts god). Not that I've overheard any plots. Where is Vin Diesel anyway ...

But then again, Rourke is hardly expendable; just temporarily misplaced. By himself, off the Hollywood A-list and lost in a boxing ring. And along with Jet and crew, Forest Whitaker has supposedly signed on and Ben Kingsley is said to be a possibility. (Though he's made some poor decisions himself. I'm thinking the Aykroyd-Cusack nightmare, War, Inc.) Word is Stallone is also trying to recruit Sandra Bullock to partner with Whitaker as a government agent. (Hmmm, is she a vanishing thespian we didn't miss?)

Some, however, have speculated that Mickey's acceptance of the part was payback. A gesture of gratitude for Sylvester's help (according to Variety) when Rourke's career was at a low ebb -- Stallone met him at a restaurant and offered him a job as Cyrus Paice in Get Carter.

But let's leave Rourke's reasons at the Olive Garden, or wherever they're believed to have met, and ponder instead the possible outcome.

What good can come of this, Sylvester?

Best Case
Stallone goes with the expendable artist angle for a darker, bloodier, more kick-ass Tropic Thunder or Dirty Dozen. Or it's a lighter, more athletic, less brooding Last King of Scotland-style drama with a few well-placed one-line quips -- "say he-lloo to my expendable friends." With Rourke, Kingsley and Whitaker on board, how bad can it be?

Worst Case
Then again, who is Stallone kidding? Isn't this just Rambo V: The Expendables? And just 'cause I've always wondered, was Stallone actually in Nam? Or any war? Because based on his ex-Green Beret-have-gun-will-travel film franchise and this latest mercenary mission, I have to wonder. But no ...

Anyhoo, shooting begins in Brazil in March, and the project is slated for release in 2010. Either way, whatever masterpiece or monumental disaster Stallone delivers, he'll be laughing all the way to the bank.

Recommend (0)

|  Comments (0)

|  Email

|  Share

Share  Facebook Digg del.icio.us