****Will Smith declared the most powerful actor on the planet****
- Thread starter Mr. Met
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Arctic Sun said:
Six Degrees of Separation, Ali and Pursuit of Happyness are by far his best performances and (along with Enemy of the State) his only SERIOUS attempts at legit acting/characterization. The rest is just cartoon stuff and more personality-driven.
Dude's not gonna do "indie" films when he can make $28M for the usual commercial blockbuster. Smith is a "movie star," whose audience expects "commercial" stuff, and who is expected to deliver money to the studio as well. Using his clout to help other folks get a chance is the best way to go for him.
Pursuit of Happyness is about as close as he's gonna get to an "indie" film. He (and his production team) took a big risk there (on the story, the unknown foreign director and the last-minute casting of his son) and it paid off every which way.
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S
Silencer215
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geechiedan said:
Umm. He's not an actor. We are talking about the most power actor here. If we just want to go outside of lines and talking about anyone who is powerful then there are more powerful people then sumner in this world.
Mo Pizorn said:
Along with mega-budget special effects and high-profile ad campaigns. Right place, right time.
And what it was was a slick, silly, crude, by-the-numbers romantic comedy carried by Smith's star power (not unlike a lame Adam Sandler film). Kevin James, and a professional supporting cast, actually stole the movie.
Films with black leads have rarely done well overseas in the past, except in the action genre. That's nothing new. Certain stars (black, white or female) occasionally transcend expectations. Lots of factors are involved in the mix of producing an internationally successful film.
Tom Cruise is still well ahead (by 50%) of Will Smith in worldwide box-office.
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Thick Johnson said:
niggas and flies niggas and flies. Niggas and flies, I do despise The more I see niggas, the more I loves flies.
Its not because he's a great black actor its because he's light skinned, the idiots have come out again on the board. How about we applaud a black man instead of trying to bring them down because of the color of their skin. You speak negatively of white hegemony but it seems to have influenced your ignorant way of thinking. NIGGAS AND FLIES
Silencer215 said:
we're talking about hollywood and films right...please tell me what the most powerful actor does?
next year it will probably be johnny depp after they release POTC 3 and that makes a kabillion at the BO..so what does it mean??
25 years ago eddie murphy was the most powerful actor in hollywood..then arnold schwarznegger...what does it mean??
If anybody deserves props for this, you gotta give it to Will's manager James "JL" Lassiter. This cat's been with Will since day one when he was with Rush Management back in the 80's.
That dude has had a lot of commission over the years and has helped Will build a successful career on the small-screen and the big-screen.The most powerful actor and the most powerful manager, both black.
That dude has had a lot of commission over the years and has helped Will build a successful career on the small-screen and the big-screen.The most powerful actor and the most powerful manager, both black.
Blunt said:
so we're back to the bottom bitch thing...
Absolutely, positively Will Smith is the biggest box office draw in the world. I'm surprised that y'all didn't already know that.
As a matter of fact, Will will begin shooting a flick titled 'Tonight, He Comes' in May where his love interest is white actress Charlize Theron -- an interracial relationship -- and a first for Will. But, he should have no problems pulling it off. The flick will be a monster at the box office.
As a matter of fact, Will will begin shooting a flick titled 'Tonight, He Comes' in May where his love interest is white actress Charlize Theron -- an interracial relationship -- and a first for Will. But, he should have no problems pulling it off. The flick will be a monster at the box office.
Blunt said:
Tommy boy's got some image problems, like his devotion to the contoversial "religion", Scientology. Also, remember him jumpin' around like a monkey on Oprah's couch??? Plus, MI: 3 didn't exactly burn up the box office. Subsequently, he was fired by the head of Viacom, Sumner Redstone cause of his behaviour.
Also, don't forget he was 'cuckolded' by his then-wife, Nicole Kidman.
Will Smith is da man.
geechiedan said:
1. Yes
2. Who's gonna turn down a Will Smith flick???
3. He could, but so far, her hasn't. For instance, Will has never had an African American director on any of his flicks. So therefore, Will ain't perfect.
Will does have an Afr-Am manager which is a big thing, cause a personal manager in Hollywood is a very powerful position nowadays.
Kid Rasta said:
Doesn't matter. He's still been far more succesful at the box office than Will (and is a more accomplished actor). Even MI:3 (at $400M) did better than either of Will's last two films internationally. It's just that Cruise's standard of success is set way TOO high.
Cleopatra_J said:
I disagree. Malcom X is an example. Man On Fire is an example. Much Ado About Nothing is another one. Denzel was not Denzel in those movies. Denzel is Denzel in flicks like Out Of Time. That is what I mean by wide scope as an actor. Will has been Will in everything I have seen him in except Six Degrees of Seperation. I forgot I was watching Denzel in Malcolm X. I have never forgot i was looking at Will. While I respect his draw and mass appeal, he is no Denzel as far as craft goes.
Blunt said:
Are you out of your fucking mind? BULLSHIT "Right place, right time". That was deliberate just like Tom Cruise. The industry finds a safe personality (Tom, Julia Roberts, Will, etc,) and sells them Fuck outta here with that nonesense, bitchboy. Celebs are MADE.
Blunt said:
Kevin James just did his usual sitcom style comedy. He didn't "steal" a movie that was crafted for people to root for the underdog. Will was his "Morpheus". There was more than one "winner" in the flick. Kevin didn't carry shit. The style and formula is proven successful, so it matters less who's in it and more as to if the audience is lulled into the mood. It wasn't a great movie but for what it was - a typical romantic comedy - it was fine. I'd take that over pro-lesbo GARBAGE like "Imagine Me & You" passing itself off as a romantic comedy.
True.Blunt said:
But at this point and time that in-the-closet fag nutjob is NOT the most powerful actor on the planet anymore. Will is. Suck it up, bitch.Blunt said:
Mo Pizorn said:
Don't be silly. Smith lucked into Independence Day. He was a cheap choice (down a few rungs on the list) for the lead in a movie that was mostly about special effects. Michael Bay's Bad Boys had yet to be released but the ID4 casting folks could see in the rough cut that he had action hero potential (and didn't cost much yet).
The simpleminded, goofy ID4 became a huge hit (right after Bad Boys had become a decent one) so Smith suddenly got pegged as a summer action hero, and got a crack at some good action/SFX scripts, like Men in Black (and even crap like Wild Wild West). The rest is history. His only real challenge as an actor before Pursuit of Happyness (and Ali) was Six Degrees of Separation. The rest has just been "movie star," personality/charisma-driven stuff. That's what being a genuine "movie star" is all about.
No, actually most "stars" just stumble onto the right part at the right time and somehow manage to click with the audience (or critics). You have to have the talent and drive to put yourself into a position to get the opportunity to be seen and then to be able to carry it off once anointed, but often the actual initial break is just a matter of luck and timing. You can't make a "star." If you try too hard you always fail. These things aren't planned.
James's character was the funniest and most likeable in the film. Smith's was an arrogant prick, but he managed to carry it off because of his accumulated goodwill. Terrible, simpleminded film that was extremely well-marketed.
You can't really say that until Cruise actually has an action/adventure failure. Hasn't happened yet. His last film, MI:3, made $400M worldwide, and that's with all the dumb, pointless bad press he got. It was a terrific film and he's always gonna get first crack at quality material and talent.
Smith may not be an "in-the-closet fag nutjob," but he is an ex-"rapper" and a former sitcom star (who can still be seen daily, for free), which, combined, are still burdens he carries daily in public perception and into boardrooms (for better or worse).
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Blunt said:
If you knew anything about business which you obviously don't, you'd understand that no one invests millions upon millions of dollars on a failure unless they somehow plan to make even more money from the failure itself. Will is no accident. No superstar is. That's just the excuse you've made up in your own idiot ass mind to attempt to rationalize Will's success. If you could stop stargazing long enough to open up an economics book, maybe you'd learn something. Study the science behind the media you worship so much and pull the curtain back from the wizard. Nah, you won't do that. Exposure is controlled, fool. Do you know who the gatekeepers are? I do.
You didn't like Hitch. Lots of others did. No need to restate your silly little opinion about it. We got it. I thought it was OKAY. Not great; not terrible. Who gives a fuck if you thought it sucked? You. That's about it.
Another pointless post by you.
Mo Pizorn said:
Uhh, Will was not a "superstar" when he made Independence Day. The "millions upon millions" were spent on effects and marketing, not on the B-list cast ... you dumbfuck. That was the whole point. As it turned out, the film was a huge hit and Smith benefited from it. Period. No one set out to make him a "superstar." His box-office appeal was still unknown as of the mid-'90s. (Bad Boys was his first hit.) Shit just fell into place (as it often does), and he was equipped to take advantage.
The only one who's "stargazing" is you, right into Will Smith's eyes (on your poster). I'm just breakin' down the reality for you. Funny how Smith is suddenly a big "hero" on BGOL when he was always hated-on previously for being too "soft" and "goody-goody." Now he's supposed to be yours, ... just like Serena Williams. Pathetic.
What's "silly" is that anyone with a brain would think Hitch was a good film (even "for what is was"). Just the concept of Smith as some sort of "love doctor" is lame on the face of it. His face on the poster and some good marketing carried that film a very long way. Good for him and the suits.
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Kid Rasta said:
i'm talking about the ability to green light a project he's NOT in..THATS where the real power is..the ability to get things done just by your word.
Blunt said:
the problem is this notion that this title actually means something when in reality it doesn't...
Everyone posting congrats as if its a monumental award thats unprecedented when in actuality its regularly "bestowed" and will isn't the first black man to get it..again there was eddie murphy in the mid 80s..richard pryor briefly in the early 80s..shit bill cosby owned television for about 5 years running in the 80s..
Lets keep our eyes on the prize people..don't get side tracked by bullshit "titles" that mean dick in terms of real power and access to power.
All of these "powerful" black people and there is still no studio run by blacks.
Spielberg, Geffen and Katzenberg got together and created a studio..a studio that GREENLIGHTS works..a studio run by people who like the creators..a studio that generates BILLIONS for THEMSELVES.
When I start seeing blacks (not just one or two..but MANY) with THAT kind of power then there will be reason to celebrate..
D-Nice 1 said:
Yeah, you're right about the corruption. Magic Johnson tried to open a theatre in center city but, the mob and the politician had their hands out. And before that Disney wanted to open something on the same location and ran into the same problems, the shit is a parking lot now.
dannyroman said:
He didn't kiss him! He made them shoot it from a back angle so it looked like he was kissing Mattrhew Broderick. he also consulted with Denzel about the kiss. And if n-i-g-g-a's in Philly aren't sophisticated enough to understand "acting" no wonder the murder rate is so damn high! I'[m from Philly and just moved back here about a year ago and can't even feel comfortable about going out around here because of the ignant n-i-g-g-a's
props to Will keep doing your thing. I don't think he is a great actor at all (he is a good actor) but he is a great businessman.
Blunt said:
Bad Boys had nothing to do with Will getting Independence Day! It was his performance in 6 degrees of separation that got him that gig! Although you make a compelling arguement,you have know idea what you are talking. He didn't fall into anything. Steven Spielberg pursued him hard to do Men in Black. He sent a helicopter to pick him up for a meeting AFTER Will initially turned down the role in MIB. Because he really didn't want to do another sci-fi flick.
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