After his resurgence with Rambo, Rocky and the Expendables films Stallone has been on a roll churning out successful films like he never left. Now with 2013 seeming like the return of old school action Stallone has now taken on his first role that is not completely his alone with Bullet to the Head. Add to the mix director Walter Hill returning to feature films and you have the formula of a cool old school action film. Will this prove that Stallone still has it even without developing the film himself?
Bullet to the Head follows a New Orleans hitman and a Washington D.C. detective working together to track down the common enemy that killed their partners. When you go into a film like this you only expect a few things, the most important being tons of action and one-liners. Thankfully this movie delivers that and more showing Stallone has still got it in every way. The story itself is pretty straightforward and doesn’t add anything special to the genre. The biggest issue with it is the reasoning behind it all, which seems like a go to direction when they have nothing else. Stallone carries his role with his normal swagger and attitude, but still maintains his age and doesn’t try to act like he is anything else. The rest of the cast do a fine job with Sung Kang riding along with Stallone through most of the film and having some decent chemistry. This was a part original to star Thomas Jane, which would have been great, but Kang stepped in and did a decent enough job. Christian Slater gets to ham it up on screen as a coked up lawyer and really delivers and seems to be having fun with the part. The most entertaining role besides Stallone comes in the form of Jason Momoa. He has great screen presence and plays off Stallone perfectly, including a bad ass ax fight finale worthy admission.
This movie offers numerous shootouts, explosions, twists, and testosterone that every action movie of the 80’s and 90’s delivered. It’s nice to see Stallone back full time again along with Schwarzenegger, but can only hope that the fans latch onto this vintage era of action that has sorely been lacking for years. These guys are true action icons and cinema is better for their return. You want some great vintage action, then you need to strap in, shut off your judgment and just enjoy the hell out of the old school action of Bullet to the Head.
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