Get Carter was probably not a bad choice for a remake, if you want to remake a film. The original had a definite critical cache but very limited audience awareness (that is, it did about $5 at the box office in original release and is rarely, if ever, shown on American TV), the plot is not standard Hollywoodese, and a very strong title role for a tough guy actor. Much of the original film is reused in this version–character names, script fragments, visuals (such as lots of rain and the opening train sequence under the credits)–but the original ending was very dark and, unfortunately, was tossed out. In this version, Stallone plays a mob accounts payable collector in Vegas whose bartender brother back in their working class hometown suddenly dies in an uncharacteristic drunk driving accident. The brothers haven’t spoken or been close in years but Carter (Stallone) insists on going home for the funeral and a lookaround despite some very heavy warnings and orders from his boss not to go. Director Stephen Kay, in his first major film, goes MTV artsy and that, along with the changed ending, make this film a failure compared to the original. Michael Caine, who played Carter in that version, does his usual strong job in a major supporting role here.

not recommended