Anthony Ippolito isn't just playing Stallone — he's becoming him. And the Oscars might be listening.
Anthony Ippolito is the man who played Sylvester Stallone — and now, he’s being talked about like he might be an Oscar contender. Not for a role in a franchise, not for a supporting turn in a superhero movie. For being Stallone in I Play Rocky, a biopic that opened in limited release on Thursday and expands nationwide on November 20.
The film, directed by Peter Farrelly, tells the story of how Stallone fought to star in Rocky after writing it, despite studios refusing to cast him. And Ippolito? He didn’t audition. He read about the role in a trade paper, then went straight to the producers.
That’s how he got the part. Now, the film is drawing comparisons to the real-life underdog saga it portrays. JoBlo.com called it a ‘knockout’, so good, they said, that even Stallone himself might want to make another Rocky with Ippolito as the lead. The physical transformation is undeniable.
But what’s more striking is the voice, the cadence, the way he leans into Stallone’s speech impediment without caricaturing it. AnnaSophia Robb plays his first wife Sasha, whose influence on Adrian Balboa is clearly drawn from real life. Matt Dillon steps into the role of Frank Stallone Sr., and Stephan James is shockingly convincing as Carl Weathers, down to the abs, the swagger, the presence.
Even Jay Duplass as director John G. Avildsen nails the gruffness. Tracy Letts gets laughs as a composite studio exec who wanted Ryan O’Neal instead. The film doesn’t shy away from the lows: the dog food shortage, the porn stint, the moment Sly had to choose between keeping his dog or eating.
It’s raw. It’s reverent. It’s also, somehow, a love letter to Hollywood’s riskiest bet, one that paid off for fifty years. Stallone’s family reportedly loved the performance.
So did critics. Whether that translates to awards season remains to be seen. But if you’re looking for a film that makes you believe in the power of saying ‘yes’ to yourself, even when everyone else says ‘no’, this is it. November 20 isn’t just a date.
It’s the day the world gets to meet Anthony Ippolito as Sly.
Be the first to comment
Join the argument. No password, just your email or a passkey.