Seven Pounds was the last movie [Will] Smith appeared in, and it's difficult to blame him; I'd hide too.... So I looked forward to his return. Perhaps the time off would have left him energized, and ready for the next act of his career, in which he would retake the mantle as the most interesting global movie icon of our time. That has not happened. Instead, next Friday, Smith reappears on movie screens with a Men In Black sequel absolutely no one was asking for.... But it's not just that. Take a look at Smith's next five projects:So, um, you going this weekend?
Men In Black 3Seriously? This is what Will Smith has decided to do with his career? That is some real Nicolas Cage-esque laziness right there.... Smith's movie stardom is now a matter of maintaining the brand, which is always when the brand begins to fade.
After Earth, a sci-fi drama about a father and son (Smiths Will and Jaden) investigating an alien planet, directed by M. Night Shyamalan
Hancock 2
Bad Boys 3
I, Robot 2
Thursday, May 24, 2012
AND HE'S ABANDONED BIG WILLIE WEEKEND: Grierson & Leitch lament:
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Is it bad of me to be actively hoping MIBIII flops hard? Like John Carter hard? I'd kind of like the studios to not be rewarded for making sequels we didn't want, and Hancock 2, Bad Boys 3, and I, Robot 2 all are in that camp . . .
ReplyDeleteNo. But I will say that they've been showing the the original MIB on HBO or one of those lately, and it REALLY holds up. I hadn't seen it in a long time, after it loomed large in my teenage years (I think I may have first seen it at the drive-in!). I thought it was funny then and I think it is funny now. I wish I could be all excited/nostalgic for the new one, but I think I'd just rather watch the first one again.
ReplyDeleteHe also has Seven Degrees of Separation and The Fresh King of Bel Air in development.
ReplyDeleteWilder, Wilder West
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've seen a movie in the theater since Avatar, but I will be going to MIB3 this weekend since the Little Earthling watched -- and was completely enthralled -- with the original.
ReplyDeleteLabor Day: The Day They Came Back
ReplyDeleteYou know, I've never been a huge fan of the MIB franchise (can two movies be a franchise?), but the previews for the new one have kind of won me over. I'm especially interested in going to see Brolin.
ReplyDelete<span>I don't know if I'll get to it this weekend, but there seems to be enough of a positive critical response that I'll get to it soon. Like Russ, I'm most intrigued by Brolin.
ReplyDeleteAs for the deadspin comments about Smith's upcoming projects: what do they expect? Hollywood as a whole is obsessed with franchises. If people keep paying to see crap like the last few Pirates movies or any of the Transformers movies... well, sometimes we get what we deserve, ya know?</span>
Worse Boys
ReplyDeleteMemorial Day Weekend Popcorn Movie, with bonus Emma Thompson? Yep, sign me up.
ReplyDeleteHitch 2: Still Hitchin!
ReplyDeleteHappiness Found: The Spellcheck Chronicles
ReplyDeleteI think part of the problem is that when he does try to move past all the crap, the movies bomb. I loved "The Pursuit of Happyness," but I think I can count on one hand the people I know who have seen it.
ReplyDeleteI'll probably end up seeing MIB3 at some point with the boyfriend and his 9-year-old kid, and it won't be the worst way I've whiled away a couple hours.
You, Robot
ReplyDeleteI Am Legend..... wait for it... dary
Actually,Pursuit of Happyness was a huge hit, and even Seven Pounds made money. Smith is one of the few movie stars that people do still turn out to see.
ReplyDeleteWhat I also think is that he has spent the last few years focusing on helping Jaden craft his movie career so he's been less focused on finding his own passion projects. Additionally, he likely is contractually obligated to do a bunch of these sequels... I think after he does these he'll go do a more Oscar-y film. Don't hate the player, hate the game.
If it were Nick Cage-style laziness, he'd be churning out sequel after sequel without pausing. In each of these cases, there's been a substantial break between the original and the sequel, and pretty much everyone involved with MIB3 has said that they wanted to make sure the story worked before moving forward (and adopted a rather unorthodox production schedule to do so). I'm intrigued, though hopeful I can find a 2D showing. (It's worth noting that 2D Avengers was selling out A LOT faster than non-Imax 3D Avengers in NYC as far as I could tell.)
ReplyDeleteY'all, MIB3 is pretty darn entertaining. Far better than the second, though not quite as good as the first. Josh Brolin's Tommy Lee Jones impression is fantastic, and yes, Emma Thompson! It's a completely painless way to spend a couple hours. Which is not how I would describe Snow White.
ReplyDeleteMatt, I listen to the excellent "Kermode and Mayo Film Review" on BBC5Live, and they reported similar 2d (or Tood, as they call it) sellouts for Avengers.
ReplyDeleteI'm excited about MIB3, have been since I saw the makeover they gave Lexington Ave last year to film it.
ReplyDeleteAs for Will Smith, the career guy, I don't think I ever expected high-concept art from him -- he's the Fresh Damn Prince. He's who I look to for entertainment value more than anything else, and while I think it's admirable that he busts out of the box once in a while to deliver an art piece, I don't think the onus is on him to both be a tremendous action star and an arthouse wonder.
So, I'm the only one who thinks Hancock is an under appreciated gem in Smith's career? Interesting concept, good execution, surprisingly dark at times and then there's a central relationship triangle that's oddly touching.
ReplyDeletenot going. there's nothing playing I'm interested in.
ReplyDeleteThis American Life's Live Show is finally here in Melbourne and so its that and maybe a second 2D Avengers viewing. Apart from that I've got to start packing again which will be the fourth time in the last five years.
ReplyDeleteYou're not alone. I really enjoyed that movie.
ReplyDeleteNot alone. I only watched it because a friend randomly flipped to it and didn't change the channel, but I found myself really impressed. Smith really is a good actor.
ReplyDeleteEmma Thompson is what will likely get me to go see it. But we're behind on our movies, so it's Avengers this weekend (Hunger Games last weekend), and MIB3 sometime next month.
ReplyDelete