Why Stallone in Cop Land could be one of the greatest casting decisions of all time
First of all... of course I love this movie. It has one of the greatest ensembles ever. Keitel and Deniro in the same movie alone? Bon Appetit!
Its like you've seen nearly every actor in there somewhere else before, no matter how small the role is. It feels like a modern day Nolan movie, where everyone wants to be in, no matter the size of the pay check.
We all know, that this is one of Stallones best performances and I always felt it to be framed as a surprise. Maybe a lot of people were surprised when they heard about the whole cast and Stallone being the lead. I mean.. why would you get such an amazing cast and install Stallone as the lead? It always seemed nuts to me. I think it clicked now. I think I know why Stallone got cast as the lead here and I'm actually surprised it took me so long:
THE AUTHORITY OF STALLONE AS AN ACTOR MIRRORS THE AUTHORITY OF HIS CHARACTER IN THE MOVIE!
I think a lot of you will say now: "Duh?!"
For the rest of you:
They threw Stallone into that cage of acting lions(!) like his character sits in a cage of lions, big city cops full of themselves, having no respect for the little town sheriff; the successful but untalanted movie star, who collected 5 Golden Raspberry awards up until then just for acting; one of em for being the badest actor of the decade (80s, if I read that right).
Thats why I think, this is one of the greatest casting decisions ever made. Without intense thinking only Ledger as the Joker comes to my mind, being somewhat comparable.
What you guys think about that? You think my realisation is legit? Did you realize that one, too? Am I just slow? What other amazing casting decisions come to your mind comparable to this one?