Stop the presses! Hold your breath! Sylvester Stallone ( the Carter of "Get Carter"), has found redemption–forgiveness and redemption, actually. And about time.
In this remake of a 1971 British action flick starring Michael Caine, Stallone updates the lead with characteristic muscle, or whatever it's called. And Caine, somehow, has a minor role as one of the bad guys, badder than Stallone before his redemption even.
From Ted Lewis's novel with the catchy title, "Jack's Return Home," Jack Carter (Stallone), a Las Vegas debt collector, a euphemism, returns to Seattle to investigate the untimely death of his brother in a car accident. Carter doesn't believe it's an accident. He is instantly resented by his brother's widow Gloria ( Miranda Richardson) and daughter (Rachael Leigh Cook), though he engages the daughter's help eventually in his quest.
Lo and behold, along the way to unfolding his brother's mysterious demise, Carter faces some Big Questions about the meaning of life, etc.
Reviewers have expressed wonder at digging up and airing out this old relic. Stallone is no Michael Caine. On the other hand, there's some dandy car chases through the streets of Vancouver, which is supposed to be Seattle. It's always a matter of curiosity to the uninitiated why movie makers take a perfectly respectable city like Seattle, and represent it with another perfectly respectable city like Vancouver. Is it that Vancouver looks more like Seattle that Seattle does?
The movie is directed by Stephen Kay. It is rated R for violence, language, some sexuality and drug content.
It starts Thursday at Cinema One.