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The Will Smith ready reckoner

Simon Brew


From science fiction blockbusters to Oscar-attracting drama, Will Smith's career goes under the Den Of Geek microscope...

Published on Apr 4, 2008

A Hollywood leading man who isn't afraid of lending his name to science fiction projects? Surely it's long overdue that we put Will Smith into the Den Of Geek ready reckoner chair...

Made In America 2 out of 5
Tepid comedy with Whoopi Golderg and Ted Danson, most remembered for coming out a week or two after Jurassic Park in the UK. Smith has a pivotal supporting role, but the film ain’t much cop, or very funny.

Six Degrees Of Separation 4 out of 5
Really good little drama that’s well worth digging out. Smith has a supporting role.

Bad Boys 3 out of 5
Michael Bay and Will Smith’s breakthrough film sees the latter in a buddy partnership with Martin Lawrence. Cue explosions. Lots of them.

Independence Day 3 out of 5
The monolith of a blockbuster is a film of two halves. The build up is quite extraordinary, even now, but the pay off is simply piss poor. End result? A spectacle, but not a great film. Smith finds time to get married in the middle of it, of course.

Men In Black 3 out of 5
Decent enough science fiction comedy, although you can’t help thinking there were more laughs that could have been mined from it. A good double act with Tommy Lee Jones, though, and far better than its sequel, which we're coming to shortly.

Enemy Of The State 2 out of 5
Smith does his leading man stuff perfectly competently here. The problem though is that director Tony Scott is more concerned with pissing around in the editing suite than putting together a coherent, enjoyable film. A pity.

Wild Wild West
1 out of 5
Quite horrifically bad blockbuster, with so much wrong with it, it’s hard to know where to start. The tie-in single was the best thing about it. We ain’t kidding, either. A huge hit, though.

The Legend Of Bagger Vance 3 out of 5
Amiable enough, gentle drama, albeit one that stands little chance of sticking in the head once the credits have rolled.

Ali 3 out of 5
Smith’s best performance, but the film is a little way behind him. He owns the screen as Mohammed Ali, and richly deserved his Oscar nomination. That said, it’s director Michael Mann who has a rare off day behind the camera.

Men In Black 2 1 out of 5
Crap sequel, with no new ideas, and simply content to rerun through all that we’d seen before in the original. We should collectively wish that that's the end of the Men In Black franchise on this evidence.

I, Robot 3 out of 5
Again, a messy science fiction film from Smith, with a third act that really struggles to live up to the premise that’s been put in place. It was, however, a huge international hit, and with Smith turning science fiction into dollars, perhaps it’s a little churlish to complain. A sequel may be coming, too...

Shark Tale 2 out of 5
Basic, run of the mill Dreamworks animated hokum.

Hitch 3 out of 5
Passable enough rom-com, a first for its star. It coasts a little too much on Smith’s comedy roots, but it ain’t too bad a way to spend a couple of hours.

The Pursuit Of Happyness
2 out of 5
A strong lead performance, but this true-life drama you can’t help but feel was made to win awards, rather than to be admired as a film. It’s a bumpy ride at best, although Smith came out of it with another Oscar nomination.

I Am Legend 3 out of 5
Great first half, really shoddy second half when the effects kick in. Smith holds his own on the screen pretty much alone for much of the running time, though.

Not seen: Bad Boys II

Agree? Disagree? Head to the comments below to continue the debate...

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Re: The Will Smith ready reckoner
Posted By DuncanMonkey 1 April 4, 2008 10:19:41 AM

I love Will Smith, I really do. I think it's safe to say that I'd stick an extra star on 90% of your ratings... Bad Boys 2 was ok, but suffered from the fact that since BB1 Martin Lawrence had become an insufferable prick, oh and it had Henry Rollins in, but like all movies - not enough Henry Rollins. As for Wild Wild West, I think you're forgetting about the oft neglected scene where Big Will drums on a white ladies boobies. Comedy gold.

Re: The Will Smith ready reckoner
Posted By DuncanMonkey 1 April 4, 2008 10:21:58 AM

Oh and I'd give ID4 five stars every time. And while MIB2 was a real waste, it did at least have Will doing a beatbox, which was awesome and should be in all his movies.

Re: The Will Smith ready reckoner
Posted By Midnighter 1 April 4, 2008 12:45:27 PM

Fresh Prince aside, Jersey Girl is probably the best thing he's ever been in!

Re: The Will Smith ready reckoner
Posted By simonbrew 1 April 4, 2008 02:13:44 PM

Duncan, you really *do* love Will Smith, don't you...?! :-)

Re: The Will Smith ready reckoner
Posted By DuncanMonkey 1 April 4, 2008 03:39:56 PM

That I do!

Re: The Will Smith ready reckoner
Posted By picknmix 1 April 5, 2008 11:11:21 AM

I can't see how I am Legend got three stars...it was abysmal...even the first half has very poor effects. Wild Wild West deserves been withdrawn and buried in hole in the desert, never to be discovered ever again. And in that respect one star seems overly generous.

Re: The Will Smith ready reckoner
Posted By Robmac 1 April 7, 2008 09:14:19 AM

Superman....sorry wild wild west really is a great big pile of poo. Will Smith however is actually quite good, a likeable chap. Fresh Prince and Boom Boom Shake the Room are genius and unlike a lot of celebs SMith seems generally nice, down to earth and friendly and while his films are hit and miss it doesnt matter as he has the charisma to pull it off. Its a pity though that it seems all his roles are being stolen from him by Duane 'The Rock' Johnston who has the same vibe as Smith.

Re: The Will Smith ready reckoner
Posted By SeanFracture 1 April 7, 2008 10:13:04 AM

"You ain't seen Bad Boys Two!?"

Re: The Will Smith ready reckoner
Posted By ajphux 1 April 9, 2008 09:00:26 PM

I'm with SeanFracture, can't believe you haven't seen Bad Boys II. It's kind of an abysmal movie, containing every Michael Bay excess you can name, but the first scene is priceless. When I met Will, I told him that scene where he comes out of the Klan robe with arms spread wide holding guns in either hand is a classic. It's an unforgettable image, especially with the camera shooting Smith from below, framing a burning cross behind him. So iconic. Love that shot.

Re: The Will Smith ready reckoner
Posted By tomboxe 1 July 25, 2008 03:39:29 PM

calling pursuit of happyness a two-star film is like me calling lord of the rings a 6 hour waste of time just because i don't personally like it. and don't forget the little fact that big will is often called in to do terrible stories due to the fact that he just makes them likeable. i mean, wild wild west, men in black, no story just sheer Will.
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