A true Hollywood legend, Will Smith has a rich career. However, he did not always make the right choice of feature films. One, in particular, remains in his memories. And for very bad reasons.
Will Smith: started from the bottom, now we’re here
Will Smith is first and foremost an atypical destiny. Becoming known in music under the stage name of The Fresh Prince, it is definitively revealed on the small screen from 1990 thanks to the popular sitcom The prince of Bel-Air. Thus, for 6 years, he literally carries the series on his shoulders. An impressive performance, especially since it is his first role as an actor.
In fact, unlike his co-workers, Will Smith did not no acting training. So he learned everything on the set, even improvising some of his dialogues.
The success of The prince of Bel-Air then allows him to titillate more important Hollywood film projects. It is therefore found in blockbusters such as Bad Boys, Independence Day, Men in Black, Bad Boys 2, I’m a Legend or even Hancock. Beside that, the star also manages to score criticism thanks to deeper roles in Ali and In search of happiness. Unmissable in the 90s and 2000s, Will Smith is today a reference of American cinema, by his charisma and his very sympathetic personality outside the sets. He is also the only comedian to have appeared in eight films ranked at the top of the American box office in their first weekend of release.
The actor deeply regrets this film
If during the 90s, Will Smith made a series of successful films, only one flop left his mark on his filmography at that time: Wild wild west. Released in 1999 and loosely based on the television series The Mysteries of the West (1965-1969), the film barely repaid its budget. He was also taken down by critics.
A critical and commercial flop which still hangs in the throat of the actor. He confirms it in a question and answer for GQ, considering that Wild wild west is the worst movie he’s ever starred in:
Wild Wild West is a thorn in the side. See me again in this movie… I don’t like it.
This is not the first time that the star has publicly displayed her regret for having played in this feature film. 5 years earlier in Cannes, he had declared to have played in this film for reasons more financial than truly artistic. Indeed, he was paid $ 20 million for his role. A very unfortunate record for a feature film which collected five Razzie Awards (out of 8 possible) and of which we only retain today the original song interpreted by Will Smith himself.
To drive the point home, let’s also remember that Will Smith refused to play the character of Neo in Matrix, preferring Wild wild west. Big mistake!
Big Will dubbed these two films
During that same Q&A, he was also asked what his favorite movie was. Will Smith cited two:
I think to tie the first one Men in Black and To the search of happyness. For different reasons, these are two almost perfect films.
The choice of these two films is quite consistent. Indeed, Men in Black was a huge critical and commercial success, launching a franchise that today comprises three films, a spin-off, an animated series and several video games. On the side of the search of happyness, the melodrama allowed the actor to obtain his second Oscar nomination.
To note that the actor will be back this year in The Williams Method, biopic on the Williams sisters. Will Smith will play Richard Williams, father and also trainer of the famous tenniswomans.
