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Sylvester Stallone

Why Sylvester Stallone is knocking out the Oscar field

Bryan Alexander
USA TODAY
Stallone takes one on the chin from "Room" star JacobTremblay.

There were a lot of stars at the Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon on Monday — Leo, J-Law, Gaga, just to name a few.

But no one made a bigger swing than Creed star Sylvester Stallone, who received the loudest ovation backstage with the media and wowed it in the big room during the annual lunch.

Even Room star Jacob Tremblay had to spar with him.

Here's why Stallone wowed and continues to blaze towards Oscar glory:

He's got the nostalgia thing going

Oh, ya

The last time Stallone was Oscar-nominated was nearly 40 years for 1977's Rocky, which propelled him to superstardom and a slew of other Rocky movies, some Rambo's and other movies not worthy of Oscar recognition.

The box office mania has stalled, but Stallone is still in the game. A supporting actor nod for Stallone in Creed is an acknowledgement of a Hollywood survivor.

As Stallone said Monday at the nominees luncheon.

"The last time I was here, I think Lincoln was in the White House."

The line would be a groaner in one of his screenplays. But it works for real-life in Oscar season.

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He's on message with his awards thankfulness

Okay, I'm sorry. I'll get it right.

Stallone had a big moment when he won the Golden Globe award for Creed. But he screwed up forgetting to thank his co-star Michael B. Jordan and (really bad) his director Ryan Coogler. Stallone made up for on Twitter, sort of.

But, since then, he's been knocking out the thanks for his younger collaborators. He even told Coogler he would not attend the Oscars because Coogler and Jordan were not nominated.

"If you want to go, I’ll go. If you don’t want me to go, I won’t," Stallone said Monday, recounting his conversation.

Sylvester Stallone finally thanks 'Creed' team after Globes

Later he added:

"I really do owe everything to these two." 

 

Yo, no one does self-deprecating like Rocky

Stallone is the master of the regular-guy mode, and he's incorporating it to full tilt during the awards run. For example, Stallone talks about how his daughters have no idea that he's a legit Hollywood force. He claims the Oscars are rehabbing him at home.

"My daughters look at now me as an actor and not just a bad golfer. I tell them, I used to do this for a living. They won’t watch my videos."

 

Sylvester Stallone, nominated for best supporting actor ('Creed'), arrives at the 88th Oscar Nominees Luncheon.

Dang, he looks good

Stallone is 69-years-old. But in that tailored suit on Monday, he looked like he could go back in the ring and take on Creed, Apollo Creed that is. He's tanned, he's rested, he's ready.

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