Stallone on a revenge mission

MANILA, Philippines - Hot off the blockbuster The Expendables 2, Sylvester Stallone stars as a career hitman who enters into an unlikely alliance with a by-the-book detective to bring down the ruthless killer of their respective partners, in the hard-hitting actioner Bullet to the Head.

The story opens as Jimmy Bobo (Sylvester) and his partner, Louis, are on what appears to be a routine hit. Their target is Hank Greely, an ex-cop who was kicked off the force in Washington D.C. in disgrace. They don’t know why someone wants him dead, and they don’t ask questions.

Despite Jimmy’s profession, Sylvester remarks, “He’s at peace with himself. He plays by his own set of rules that are blunt but simple to follow. Jimmy believes he takes out the trash, removing those hard-to-get-out stains in society. He doesn’t go after people who, in his mind, don’t deserve it.”

Director Walter Hill says, “Sly is a terrific film actor. He has great eyes, he has that instantly recognizable voice, and he’s a physical marvel. But, to me, the main thing is, he’s got a great heart, and the audience feels that when they experience the story through him. It’s a rare gift.”

Sylvester, who first approached the director with the project, says, “I thought it would be great to work with Walter Hill on this type of buddy movie, which is a genre he knows well. Although, in this case, the main characters are not really buddies at all, but rather adversaries who have to work together against a mutual enemy because their lives depend on it. But out of that, an interesting relationship evolves.”

Interestingly, the cover of the graphic novel Du Plomb Dans La Tête from which Bullet to the Head was based, unwittingly provided inspiration for the filmmakers’ choice for the central role of James Bonomo, a.k.a. Jimmy Bobo. “The image of Jimmy looks remarkably like Sly,” producer Alexandra Milchan notes. “We realized it was right there in front of us. I’ve always had tremendous respect for Sly, and when we met with him, he offered great insight. Right away, he was totally involved in guiding the project, so having Sly and his producing partner, Kevin King-Templeton, on board felt like the perfect match.”

Kevin remembers, “I read the script for Bullet to the Head and immediately thought it was the kind of project Sly was looking for. We were just coming off of The Expendables, which was a huge ensemble piece. This felt a little more contained, with elements of action, drama and humor. I got the feeling it was something he would really sink his teeth into.”

Sylvester Stallone has been known worldwide as a true screen legend since creating the title role in the seminal 1976 Oscar®-winning Best Picture “Rocky,” for which he also wrote the screenplay. Over the course of his long career, he has been recognized for his work as an actor, writer and director.

Opening tomorrow, Feb. 6, Bullet to the Head is distributed by Buena Vista International through Columbia Pictures.