Stallone: Frank, That Is

Interesting documentary. Showed the pros and cons of having a mega star of a brother. Admired, how he plugged on, regardless of the setbacks. Shows the brutality and reality of the fame game in Hollywood and the music business. A great exposé, with some great input from other celebs.

I had no real expectations but I suppose I expected some cheesy documentary about a guy living in his brothers shadow.... well, Frank did live in Sylvester's shadow to be fair, and he was screwed over for it. It was no fault of Sylvester's to be fair. Two hard working brothers that were passionate about their art and went their own way. Had Rocky failed its possible Frank still could have reached superstardom alone, or with a band. But at the same time, Rocky helped put Frank on the map too! It's a fascinating documentary and I enjoyed it a lot. I honestly never knew about the majority of acting parts and music that Frank was involved in. It looks like he's a decent impersonator too. I found it funny when he was re-enacting conversations between him & Sly. He'd pull off the voice perfectly. Definitely worth a watch regardless of being a fan of Frank or not. There's plenty of other amazing connections Frank has had over the years that will tell you something about the quality of his talent. I'll be honest, I'm now a fan.

The surname "Stallone" is synonymous with show business, but of course that is because Sylvester made it famous after becoming Rocky, Rambo, and generally the biggest action star of the 1980s/90s. What few people may know (or know only derisively), however, is that Sly has a brother--Frank--who is a very talented individual in his own right. "Stallone: Frank, That Is" tells his story.

This documentary looks at Frank Stallone's ascent in the music business, constantly battling adversity but maintaining a never-say-die attitude and an incredible talent for showmanship. Completely divorced from any Sly-related doings, Frank is a legitimate singer/showman who can perform nearly any genre of music, from country to show tunes and everything in between. He is perhaps best known for providing a large portion of the soundtrack to "Staying Alive", the sequel to "Saturday Night Fever".

Of course, a major theme throughout the doc is how Frank must exist in the shadow of his older brother Sly. Ultimately, the brothers seem to have a good relationship with each other and genuinely respect the other's career arc. While Frank's career was helped immensely by roles in Sly's "Rocky" franchise and the Sly-helmed "Staying Alive", it was also difficult to escape such lofty comparisons ("Rocky's brother performs" being a common bugaboo). Frank can very intelligently and compassionately speak to both sides of that equation.

Content-wise, "Frank, That Is" is a great retrospective of a quirky showbiz career. I wish the doc would have slowed down a bit from time to time to give the viewer a chance to reflect on certain events, but director Derek Wayne Johnson really takes a charge-ahead approach almost at all times. It mostly works, even if not in the upper echelon of showbiz docs I've seen.

Overall, though, this is a fun watch. You'll likely learn a few things, get to observe some hilarious (and poignant) interviews with Frank's celebrity friends/family, and probably be able to relate--at least in some capacity--to the themes of sibling rivalry and persistence in the face of strong adversity.

I really enjoyed this & I didn't really expect to. He's not just the "other" Stallone. He's a gifted artist who just never caught the right break at the right moment. Although upbeat throughout, he (& others) shed a lot of light on Frank & some very emotionally difficult times, which seem to have expressed themselves in depressive episodes & mood swings. He's a committed, driven artist but also a renaissance man with a wide variety of interests. Truly a surprise of a film. The dynamic between the brothers might be my favorite part. So much shared family experience with a difficult father & an eccentric mother plus the usual complex sibling thing. Well worth watching.

I did not know Frank Stallone was such a big part of my life growing up in the 80's! WOW! "I'm Never Gonna Give You Up" and, dang, "Far From Over?" And absolutely loved his character in Tombstone!