DISQUS

Nevernude · 10 months ago

Having watched almost all of Will Smith's movie...at least 80%, i continually have this nagging feeling that Will Smith has not yet found a career defining role, or indeed a role worthy of winning him an Oscar. All the above mentioned dramas are fine, but, like Denzel Washington's turn in Training Day which open up a whole new audience/directors to Washington's talents, i feel "Big Wille" definitely has the talent and when (hopefully not IF) role comes along...the Oscar award will be in the bag!

Cole_Abaius · 10 months ago

I hadn't thought about it, but it seems like Smith keeps almost-having a career defining role. When Ali came out, people went crazy. When Happyness came out, people were creating buzz for him. He's had shots at some important figures and interesting characters, but something always holds him back from winning awards. Maybe it's him? Maybe it's how the audience sees him?

Brian Rodden · 10 months ago

This is my biggest beef with Will Smith: he cannot act in serious roles. He needs the special effects to make up for his inability to act seriously. He's the definition of a movie star, not an actor. All of the movies listed above are bad. Ali is absolutely horrible and I still can't believe he got an Oscar nod for that. Overall, no special effects, no Big Willy.

Alericc · 10 months ago

The problem with Will Smith is that he has bought into the Tom Cruise School of Acting. Look at the parellels of Smith and Cruise, Tom has been trying to be old school hollywood and now Smith is coming up on him like John Wayne chasing a cigerette. Both of them keep trying to be the Superman, yet everyman character in their later movies. Its really getting old and lately I can't watch any of their movies since they are all about the star and nothing about the story or characters in them.

JMoney · 10 months ago

ahhh Pursuit of Happyness is a bio-pic too you know.

This is an interesting article, especially with the Keanu Reeves article you guys recently had. I think Will Smith is the anti-thesis of Reeves, both started out in juvenile parts (Fresh Prince, Bill&Teds) but I think Smith is the better actor, able to do all action, comedy, and drama. Really anything that's put in front of him he's able to do capably, and well in most cases. And I love that he does Sci-Fi.

JMoney · 10 months ago

I used to say that I never bought into any of Smith's characters, I can't even name the characters from Bad Boys, Independance Day, Men in Black, or most of his films, he was entertaining in them, i loved them, but I would always say, oh hey there's will smith, not oh hey there's (insert character name). But after Ali, and now with some of his more serious roles, i've been able to buy into his acting and forget that it's Will Smith

Paul · 10 months ago

It's interesting to see how far Smith's acting has come. The kid on Fresh Prince is emberassing compared to hi work in Ali. I've always been curious what kind of formal acting training he has gone through. A good acting school is worth it’s weight in gold. The key is to find one that caters to your individual needs. Not only do you need the basic tools for auditioning, scene study and the like, but you need a curriculum that works with whatever your schedule may be. Whether you work all day, go to high school or care for your kids, not everyone can study in the traditional way. Another acting program that works this way is Film Connection. http://www.film-connection.com/Acting.htmlThe Film Connection’s acting program is affiliated with Joe Anthony studios and features valuable one-on-one mentoring. Most importantly they teach you about the “business” of show business.They are also available to anyone living in the United States and have financial aid assistance.

Davebaxter1989 · 10 months ago

That's just wrong. Flat wrong. Well in my opinion anyway as you'd need to be a real hater to call ALL the film's there bad.

Malcolm Reynolds · 10 months ago

if anything its not smith its his fans. his talents are over shadowed by the audiences desire to see WILL SMITH not a film character. and if I may, hes the greatest rapper of all time.

Everwen45 · 10 months ago

I do agree in that "Ali" was not the great movie everybody is trying to believe it is, but that was the one perfomance that I truly believe Will Smith deserved to be nominated for.

Adam_Sweeney · 10 months ago

Yes, I do know that, good sir. I wasn't aware that I needed to write down every time Smith was in one. But hey, if you like redundancy, by all means ...

The Realist · 10 months ago

Who keeps investing in this bozo's movies? I guess it's the same ones that brain wash all of you into watching them with millions of dollars invested in advertising. Hmmmm... Scientology??

Sam_isusingan_ · 10 months ago

i think one movie people will overlook is I Am Legend. Ignore the stupid ending, and to a lesser extent the poor cgi vampire-zombies. The first half of the film that is primarily Smith and his dog was 'amazing'. At the end of the movie, I was still saying how that role cemented him as a 'leading' actor in my mind. I was intrigued by his character, he drew me into the story etc etc, and other than the odd flashback, he was the only one on the camera for so long, that if it was a shitty actor, I probably would have hated the movie completely.

sam · 4 months ago

but how did he start acting and do u have to be in acting classes. look at lindsy lohan she started wen she was three. How???