i was stupid and unlocked the new variant dungeon this morning but can't actually do it now i have to suffer through an enTIRE WORKDAY knowing my sweetheart babygirl hancock is waiting for me...

Nomad's Land

Life in the Pink House: Part 3

We recently lost Keith Flint of The Prodigy and in that same week, Jason Jinx of the original STORMrave scene here in NYC. All that has stirred up a new entry to DJ BLMGK's reflect journal, which we have not updated in a while.

Moby - Moby (Instinct, 1992) was the first (or one of the first) to get his mug on a techno album cover. At this time, I think the only other person or people who didn't go faceless was perhaps Kevin Saunderson and Paris Grey of Inner City and later, the guys from Bizzare Inc. Moby is not a sanctioned album by Richard M. Hall himself. It was a compilation forcefully put out by his label, Instinct Records (on demand) without his permission.

My family and I were living in California at the time, where techno had already made its way onto the radio stations during business hours. I vividly remember frantically searching many of the record stores in Los Angeles for a full-length, weeks before the album was released. Techno was picking up at a much slower rate on the East Coast and it's ironic that Moby, a New Yorker, quickly became the face of American techno, not to mention the face of techno on a global scale.

According to various interviews over the years, including his recent auto-biography, Porcelain, he had already moved on from this sound and wanted to instead, put out an album of something more personal. This won't be possible until 3 years later when he's eventually signed to Mute Records. But in 1992, instead of releasing new music, he had to tour the current album and the 12" singles (including Go, which granted him his stardom). Moby is primal and full of the raw energy which what I initially identified to be techno at the time. Years later, he will take a fall for the electronic music scene (similarly to The KLF, right before him) for staying true to his personal art and not so quick to follow trends.

The Orb’s Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld - The Orb (Big Life, 1991) is one of those rare moments when studio mischief, incidental collaborations and influence from numerous concurring music scenes happen all at once. I didn't hear Little Fluffy Clouds until it was re-released by Island Records in 1993, to coincide with the Live '93 album; but I was already very familiar with Orb remixes, so I knew them better as a remix outfit, similarly to Leftfield. Unlike those remixes however, this album was recorded as a collective between several musicians including Killing Joke's drummer, Youth (who co-wrote Little Fluffy Clouds) and prog-rock guitarist, Steve Hillage. Some of the Orb remixes are sonically identical to the New York house sound, where Jamaican dub music has always played a big factor.

I describe the sound of these remixes as slower paced, kind of like 1980's Belgium New Beat, but they were calling it ambient house, while various compilations were stamping it as progressive house or trance. It is actually directly associated with the New York City dub-house music style that was slower paced, before Italo-house took over at the turn of the decade. Matter a fact, Dr. Alex Patterson was heavily into Kiss FM (he somehow was able to listen to the New York division of Kiss FM as well, most likely while on tour with Killing Joke as a roadie) when he was recording these tracks, so there was definitely a direct influence from Chicago house and New York garage. The dub music influence found on this masterpiece is the most rewarding feature ABTU has to offer, being the most striking musical element which refers back to the both the NYC club sound and British Punk.

However, ABTU's real appeal: the ambient compositions. Along with jazz, funk, some rock, disco and soul albums, ambient and soundtrack music was another of my many influences. ABTU's use of familiar samples from the 1980s and 1970s most iconic recordings, goes on to be a staple on their future releases and unpredictable live performances. Prior to this release, Dr. Alex Patterson performed some of the material with Jimmy Cauty of The KLF, so you will find some similarities with this and KLF's Chill Out/What Time Is Love?/3 AM Eternal material. Since we're also talking about album covers, this was one of tDR's best and iconic, where the design illustration (US version) almost looks like it is indicating a needle over the groove of a vinyl record. This of course, is by accident: the Battersea power station was removed from the front sleeve for the American release. 

Experience - The Prodigy (XL Records, 1993) were not faceless, but you had to flip the LP cover to see these guys. I'm assuming the strategy for music labels back then was to not spend tons of money on photo shoots, because this music and scene was still relatively new and often a gamble. In 1992, these guys wore baggy pants and looked like how ravers did at this time (whenever journalists did report about the scene). This will change later on, as the English rave scene fades away and stagnantly splits into several different sub-culture movements for the remainder of the 1990s. Instead of following the current musical fads, these guys dig deep for inspiration and will look back at 1970s punk culture for their Fat Of The Land album. Experience is the pinnacle of UK breakbeat (aka UK hardcore) and it never gets enough praise (at the very same stance). Their next album, Music For The Jilted Generation, is even more substantial for its time, while getting even less. 

Utd. State 90 - 808 State (Tommy Boy Records, 1990) are to acid house like how The Beatles are to pop music. They need little introduction, due to their seniority. They are veterans and we can thank them for giving us A Guy Called Gerald. Utd. State 90 is not a real album, as the case with Moby's debut and similar releases at this time. It's just a compilation. It contains work from their previous album, Ninety and tracks which appears on the Extended Pleasures of Dance EP, some unreleased material and additional US remixes (including an uncredited remix of Pacific State by Frankie Bones and Tommy Musto). It should go without saying, but this is techno at its finest. Pacific State was written with A Guy Called Gerald as an acid house track on Quadrastate, but was remixed into a techno number for this album and Ninety. Just when acid house was about to get redundant, then we had tracks like this, having more of a Detroit techno influence, but channeling deeper into the likes of Miles Davis or Herbie Hancock.

517-519: "The Beginning of the New Chapter! The Straw Hats Reunited!", "An Explosive Situation! Luffy vs. Fake Luffy!" and "The Navy Has Set Out! The Straw Hats in Danger!"

The hat is back on!

I was excited about this. Was also oddly excited to click on the “Fishman Island” arc on CR, finally, after so long on Marineford.

These episodes were another curve ball for me. I thought the timeskip would go one of two ways: either they’d all meet straight away at Sabaody, group hug, then sail off into the New World, or we’d get a training montage for each Strawhat before the meeting.

Then I remembered you guys mentioned there would be a mini-arc and I cursed myself for being dense.

There’s not much plot to it. Some fake Strawhats are blighting the real ones’ good name and reputation. Unfortunately for them, 3D2Y is kicking off and the real Strawhats are gathering on Sabaody like the Avengers Assemble. Plus, pretending to be an infamous pirate crew isn’t a great idea when the Marines and World Government are after them.

I think I can see what’s coming. The fake Strawhats are light-hearted fodder, there only to show off their real counterparts’ training. And bring some lulz. No idea how it’ll unfold, though. That’s half the fun of watching One Piece, to be honest.

Luffy

It was good to see Oda hasn’t tinkered with Luffy’s design too much. (Saying that, I liked the Strong World outfit).  He still has those flip flops and cut offs, but now the red vest has sleeves and is open at the chest. (Gotta expose dat 8 pack and scars, right?) 

Of course, the iconic straw hat was picked up at the beginning of the episode. He was ready! Hancock and the Kuja pirates were there to see him off. Hancock packed Luffy half a year’s worth of supplies in a massive pack and gave him a handy-dandy Groucho Marx disguise in case any Marines spotted him prior to sailing out.

(Is it me, or does Luffy finally realise Hancock likes him? He kept saying, “I’m not getting married.” Though I did like the part when he refused to say goodbye because he wanted to see her again. That was nice of him. He acknowledges just how much Hancock helped him - and she helped A LOT. You could argue Luffy is as indebted to Hancock as to Rayleigh, Jimbei and Ivankov.)

Then, he set off! The next time we saw him, his massive backpack nudged Fake Luffy. There was an altercation. 

Of course, Luffy couldn’t retaliate. Drawing attention to himself and bringing the Marines down on his head before he reunited with his crew would be a Bad Idea.

He did get his own back. Just not in a way that would draw attention.

When Fake Luffy fired the gun, I cheered because Real Luffy gave us a teaser of his new power. Observational Haki! Armament Haki! Conqueror’s Haki! He deflected the bullet, dodged it, then floored the Fakers without lifting a finger.

Honestly, I cannot wait until Luffy’s next big fight. Sentomaru has returned with some Pacifistas. I hope the Strawhats get their rematch. Oooh, maybe the Pacifistas will be fodder now....

Nami and Usopp

Look at them.

Look at how beautiful Nami and Usopp are. 

It seems that over the course of two years, certain Strawhats have ended up with less clothes than they started with.

Nami has lost her t-shirt, but at least she has that bikini, right? Like Luffy, Usopp has buffed up and has a shirtless look to show off his gainz. They both have longer hair too - and it looks good on them.

Not sure about this comment from Usopp, "I don't belong to the weak trio with you and Chopper. I became a warrior who is not fazed by anything!" I guess (or I hope) it was acknowledged by all three that they were the weakest members of the crew, but it’s a bit much saying he’s graduated to a higher tier. Especially since he doesn’t know what Nami and Chopper have been doing. I like that Usopp has found some more confidence, but don’t find it at the expense of your friends.

Or, it’s classic Usopp overcompensating because he’s underconfident. Or he’s just joking. 

Nami must have quiet confidence in her fighting ability because she sat at that bar in Sabaody on her own and talked back to Fake Luffy who had just shot someone. She can control the weather and summon thunderclouds indoors. That is not someone you’d mess with.

Usopp has some new weapons in his arsenal too. He’s weaponised the plants from Bowin Island and I’ll bet he has much more than carnivorous plants up his sleeve. 

I love how casually they walked out of the bar, talking about their training, “Yeah, so I was studying new weather tech on a Sky Island...” while thunderclouds tore the bar apart in the background.

And Nami was driving a hard bargain for a discount. Never change, Nami. Never change...

Zoro and Sanji

Never realised how much I missed these guys and their bickering until I had a genuine laugh-out-loud moment (in 519, I think?)

I love Zoro’s new design. I think it’s my favourite out of the new outfits. The green robe looks great. It gives him more gravitas, as though he has now graduated from Sword Training School and is allowed to wear the academic gown. Not sure what kind of garment it is, but it’s definitely more traditional.

Sanji is still in a suit. I liked his previous style, so I’m kind of glad Oda didn’t mess with it too much. Sanji and suits are like Luffy and flip-flops, you know? He’s changed his shirt, has grown a goatee (which, of course Zoro noticed and roasted Sanji for it) and maybe his hair’s a bit longer?

Zoro arrived at Shakky’s bar first. This was a source of woe for poor Sanji, who arrived seventh after Franky, Nami, Usopp, Chopper and Brook. (Robin was eighth because she had to shake some CP goons off her tail.)

The fact that Zoro arrived first was nothing short of a miracle. I’m still not sure how he managed it. Maybe Perona dropped him off right at the door. When Sanji arrived, he was overcome with emotion at the sight of women to the point his enthusiasm freaked out a couple of innocent ladies. Then Sanji met Duval (I love how they’re friends now) checked out the kitchen and went food shopping.

On the way, he met Zoro.

Zoro wanted to go fishing. Rayleigh and Shakky shouldn’t have let him out of their sight. Instead of getting on a fishing boat, he boarded a pirate galleon and fell asleep. Sure enough, the ship set sail with him on it. “THAT IDIOT!” Sanji yelled. But it was okay. Of course Zoro would do something like that. At least the ship was headed for Fishman Island and they knew where Zoro would be.

I was annoyed for a half a second (rob Zoro of the big reunion? How dare you!) But then he showed off some of his new skills. Mihawk-esque skills. He sliced an entire pirate galleon in half. It was awesome. He still has great lines too. “I ruined your New World dream? No. It was your fault for allowing a plague on your ship.”

Has Zoro taken a Mihawk level in edginess? I think so.

Then they started arguing on the way back and I honestly laughed out loud at their shit-flinging contest. 

“Stay with me, or you’ll get lost!”

“Who’re you talking to, moustache eyebrow!”

“Shut up, lost moss!”

“How could number seven talk bossily to number one?”

“SHUT UP, I TRAINED MY LEGS IN HELL FOR TWO YEARS!”

“BRING IT ON, I’LL CUT YOU IN HALF!!”

They love to pretend they hate each other, don’t they?

Chopper

Aw, Chopper. He has definitely take an level in cuteness.  Chopper is a rare example of more clothes. He has acquired a cute, stripey shirt and red shorts. The hat is okay. It’s huge. Maybe to accommodate his massive brain (because he has absorbed the contents of all those medical books, right?) Must say I prefer his old hat. Mainly because Dr Hiluluk gave it to him and it’s a huge part of his identity. Parts of it are still there, but I guess it’s difficult to change Chopper a lot, so the hat is an obvious target.

Haven’t seen any of his new abilities yet, so Chopper hasn’t changed at all personality wise. He still loves cotton candy and, like Luffy, is still absolutely hopeless at seeing through lies and bad disguises. The part when Chopper was running after the Fake Strawhats and crying out at them to rescue Fake Robin was a bit daft. I mean Chopper did admit later on to Nami that the Fake Robin, “didn’t smell familiar.” But then, that’s the gag. It goes all the way back to Sogeking, so I’ll let it slide. :)

He really thought the Strawhats had changed so much, though. It was  interesting to see that he’d stick to his principles and go rescue Robin himself: a real marker of Chopper’s new determination and confidence in his own abilities!

After that stressful moment, it was nice to see how glad Nami and Usopp were to see him, hugging him and telling him how much softer his fur was, how much bigger he’d grown. And Chopper’s outrage once he realised there were impostors about: “WAIT, NOW I’M MAD!”

Even though he’s stronger, kind, innocent Chopper hasn’t changed that much.

Robin and Franky

Again, how good do these two look? Robin is the most drastic change out of all the Strawhats. Could you believe I actually didn’t recognise her at first? (Only the eyes and the voice acting finally gave it away.) The blunt bangs/fringe/whatever you call them were iconic to her look, so it’s a definite departure. She looks great, though. Similar to Boa Hancock.

I’m 100% being Franky’s new look. The colour scheme is the same (red/blue) and he has his loud fashion sense, but the chunky cybernetic enhancements, the sharp shades and the buzz really add an intimidating edge to Franky that he was missing pre-timeskip. And apparently, the Sunny has some new weapons as well as a Full Underwater Coating courtesy of Rayleigh. Can’t wait to see what nightmarish destroyers of ships Franky has constructed! >:D

Franky injected some tension into the narrative, which was cool, even though I am 99% certain it will turn out fine in the end. While losing the CP9 goons trailing her, Robin picked up a poster for Brook’s concert. Quite rightly, she WTF’d over it and asked Franky if he knew what was going on.

“Brook's quite the star now. From the lonely shadows to a place where everyone cheers for him. He might not come back to pirating again.”

Surely Brook would not be so ungrateful to abandon the friends who lifted him out of loneliness into the spotlight again?

Nah. Brook’s not like that. I’d bet money it.

Soul King?

Brook has now graduated from garage band Slash-wannabe to issuing health and well-being advice via the genre of soul and the medium of arena tours. 

He has acquired a manager. Before the gig, Brook had something to tell him and I’ll bet it was about quitting. 

I’m still wondering how Brook got away with becoming so famous. Wasn’t he identified at Sabaody when Kizaru kicked their asses two years ago? Hasn’t his bounty poster been updated since? Did not a single Marine think, “Hey, there was a talking skeleton in the Strawhats’ company at Sabaody. Here is another one on TV. Coincidence?”

Love that we got to hear most of the song, though. Brook hasn’t changed that much, either. He still loves those skeleton puns.

(I am very behind on replies, btw. I know. I will reply to every single one tomorrow. ^_^)

“Move, bitch. Get out the way. Get out the way, bitch. Get out the way!” - Ludacris

Every Will Smith film performance, ranked

New Post has been published on https://newsprofixpro.com/moxie/2019/10/11/every-will-smith-film-performance-ranked/

Every Will Smith film performance, ranked

The Pursuit of Ranking Will Smith’s Performances

Everett Collection (2); Zade Rosenthal/Columbia Pictures

How do you rank the performances of a man who has done it all? Played the devil? Check. Played a rapping fish? Check. Played a superhero? Check. Played a cop/government agent? A lot of checks. But in honor of Will Smith’s 50th birthday, we took on the impossible task of going through all of his film roles (sorry, Fresh Prince) and coming up with the definitive ranking of his cameos, awards nominations, and franchises. Let the pursuit begin.

Advertisement

Advertisement

31. After Earth (2013)

What else could be last? The actor himself has called the out-of-this-world flop the “most painful failure” of his career. In M. Night Shyamalan’s sci-fi film, Smith literally takes a backseat to his son Jaden, considering he’s basically just sitting immobilized throughout. The elder Smith doesn’t have to utlilize his patented charm in every film, but his performance here is next level flat, almost robot-like (He, Robot might be have been a better title).

30. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013)

On paper, Will Smith playing an ESPN reporter in an Anchorman film sounds like something I dreamed up. In reality, be careful what you wish for. Not that Smith is bad, it’s just a wasted opportunity, just like the entire Anchorman 2 fight scene.

Advertisement

29. Where the Day Takes You (1992)

Despite Smith already being a Grammy-winner and TV star, he’s barely in his film debut, which stars the likes of Dermot Mulroney, Sean Astin, and Ricki Lake. Smith is fine in his very brief screen time as a crippled homeless teen, but if it wasn’t him in the role, you wouldn’t look or think twice about the character.

28. The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000)

Smith’s impressive run to end the 20th century comes to a screeching halt in 2000 (don’t blame Willenium) thanks to his first big screen swing and miss. While Smith is the title character in Robert Redford’s golf drama, he plays second fiddle to Matt Damon, not even showing up until 33 minutes in. The film has been criticized for its use of Smith as the “magical negro” and, unfortunately, he isn’t able to help raise the material above the stereotype. 

27. Shark Tale (2004)

For his sole foray into animation, Smith voices a scheming, rapping fish named Oscar (too bad the film was only nominated for an Oscar). There’s really not much else to say as it’s exactly what you would think Will Smith voicing a rapping fish would be like.

Advertisement

Advertisement

26. Made in America (1993)

Smith’s second go-around on the big screen finds him playing fifth banana to Whoopi Goldberg, Ted Danson, Ted Danson’s cowboy hat, and Nia Long. And maybe for the only time in his life, Mr. Suave is a nerd, which he really dives into during a very awkward sperm donor scene where he literally does a Scooby Doo, “Huh?” The best thing to come out of this movie is setting up Long’s Fresh Prince run as Will’s girlfriend. (The worst thing: Ted Danson in blackface.)

25. Hancock (2008)

Frank Masi/Columbia Pictures

Easily the biggest disappointment on this list. Even though it was released pre-superhero film boom (two months after Iron Man), it’s unlikely that Hancock would have succeeded at any time, because it just isn’t that good. Don’t get me wrong, the concept is great. Will Smith as an alcoholic superhero is a winning idea. The execution, however, leaves a lot to be desired. And for once, the biggest problem might be Smith, who doesn’t get to showcase any of the reasons that we love him, instead being saddled with a bland, blank slate. 

24. Suicide Squad (2016)

Smith’s second entry into the world of superheroes was about as successful as the first, as in it made a lot of money and wasn’t well-received by critics. A quick summary of Smith in Suicide Squad: He’s ripped, he continues to have good chemistry with Margot Robbie (their first pairing is still to come), and he’s tasked with delivering the often-mocked line, “So we’re some sort suicide squad?” Other than that, nothing Smith or the movie does has anyone anticipating the previously announced sequel.

Advertisement

23. Men in Black II (2002)

Melinda Sue Gordon/Columbia Pictures

The weakest of the three Men in Black films suffers for many reasons, including becoming too cartoonish (did we really need Nick Cannon, Martha Stewart, and Michael Jackson cameos?) and, more importantly for our purposes, not giving Smith and his character, Agent J, anything interesting to do. A lot of the fun of the first film was Smith as the new guy and his shock and awe to the discovery of alien life, but with that gone, there’s no interesting trait to replace it. We wouldn’t mind if they neuralyzed our memories of MIIB.

Advertisement

22. I, Robot (2004)

After fighting Miami drug dealers, aliens, more aliens, the government, cowboys, George Foreman, more aliens, and more Miami drug dealers, Smith took on the next logical opponent: robots. In the sci-fi film I, Robot, he plays Del Spooner (top five Smith character name), a sideways beanie-wearing cop who hates robots. That’s not ideal when his most crucial relationships are with a robot and a cat. Smith gets to be angry and frustrated, but it’s one of his most forgettable roles and films.

Advertisement

21. Seven Pounds (2008)

When a film starts with the main character calling to report his own suicide, it’s unlikely that you’re in for an uplifiting ride. And that’s definitely the case in Seven Pounds, which finds Smith moping his way through it until he kills himself via jellyfish (yes, really). The No. 1 takeaway might actually be that for one of the few times in his career, Smith is outshined, with his Men in Black II costar Rosario Dawson doing the honors here.

Advertisement

20. Collateral Beauty (2016)

Barry Wetcher/Warner Bros.

Don’t let this photo fool you — take away the first two minutes and Smith is almost entirely sad, depressed, and silent during this poorly-received drama. Until the film’s last 30 minutes or so, Smith is more of a plot device for the star-studded supporting cast. But, the appearances of “Love,” “Time,” and “Death” eventually bring him alive, leading to some strong emotional moments that come a little too late to help Collateral Beauty sneak into the top half of Smith’s peformances.

Advertisement

19. Wild Wild West (1999)

Hot take: Smith isn’t bad in Wild Wild West. Let’s be clear, Wild Wild West is bad, like really bad, but its star isn’t. While Kevin Kline, Kenneth Branagh, and Salma Hayek all scored Razzie noms for their performances, Smith didn’t (I’m blaming Kline for Worst Screen Couple) and that’s because he was far from the problem, coasting on his charisma and ability to pull off a cowboy hat, cowboy boots, and a jacket with no shirt. And if I’m being honest, I’m definitely giving extra points for the “Wild Wild West” theme song and the memorable MTV Movie Awards performance. A horse! Sisqo! Stevie Wonder! On second thought, maybe those should have been Smith’s costars.

Advertisement

18. Jersey Girl (2004)

It turns out that Will Smith is really good at playing Will Smith. In 2004, he took a break from blockbusters to cameo in Kevin Smith’s critical and commercial disappointment. Smith’s sole scene finds him navigating between comedy and drama, both saying he’s “ridiculously” hung and giving the sentimental parenting speech that inspires Ben Affleck’s character to give up the fast-paced corporate lifestyle in order to be a better father. Bonus points for Smith’s amazing 2004 movie star outfit!

Advertisement

17. Winter’s Tale (2014)

Another cameo, another critical and commercial failure. But in Akiva Goldsman’s film, the actor plays the complete opposite of Will Smith: Lucifer. For the only time so far in his career, Smith takes on the role of a true evil person/being (a hitman with a heart of gold in Suicide Squad doesn’t count) and it was nice to see him briefly deviate from his movie star formula. The face-off with Russell Crowe’s demon is initially unremarkble, until Lucifer launches into a fierce and scary tirade that is unlike anything Smith has ever done.

Advertisement

16. Men in Black 3 (2012)

Wilson Webb/Columbia Pictures

After being good for at least one movie every year during his peak, Smith’s four-year absence from the big screen for some reason comes to an end with Men in Black 3. It’s unclear who wanted or needed this film, but it’s still an improvement on its predecessor for a few reasons, all of which were related to Smith. There’s a fresh dynamic for Smith to play with as Josh Brolin stars as young Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones); Agent J’s amusing bewilderment is back; and the big final reveal gives Smith a nice emotional moment that neither of the first two films had.

Advertisement

15. Bright (2017)

Another instance where the execution doesn’t live up to the promise. Smith playing a grizzled, mustached veteran cop in a film from the writer behind Training Day sounds like a home run. And yet, the only thing knocked out of the park is a fairy (“Fairy lives don’t matter,” apparently). While the script and Joel Edgerton’s makeup do Smith no favors, he comes out mostly unscathed, doing his best to ground a story about orcs, elves, and a magic wand.

Advertisement

14. Gemini Man (2019)

A for effort? Smith pulls double duty in Ang Lee’s thriller, playing both Henry, an aging assassin, and his younger clone, Junior, who is sent to kill him. Unfortunately, the script doesn’t live up to the promise and mostly impressive CGI (the final scene is laughably distracting). But, Smith, like in many of his recent films, does what he can, bringing a real weariness and fatigue to Henry, while delivering an innocence to Junior that we’ve rarely seen from the actor. 

Advertisement

13. Aladdin (2019)

“A little Fresh Prince, little Hitch, and a whole lot of attitude.” That is how Will Smith’s take on Genie was described more than a year before the film came out. And, honestly, the only thing that could have gotten me more excited was if you threw in “a little Bad Boys.” But, even without some Mike Lowrey, Smith put his own spin on Robin Williams’ iconic character and made Aladdin fun and entertaining for every second he was onscreen. And, more importantly, Will Smith is rapping again!!

Advertisement

12. Concussion (2015)

Melinda Sue Gordon/Columbia Pictures

“Tell the truth!” Smith’s character Bennet Omalu memorably demands of an NFL employee who is denying football’s effects on the brain. Well, the truth is that Concussion is a bad movie full of reported inaccuracies that is only watchable because of Smith’s understated performance. For once, he isn’t sad, funny, or cool; he’s determined. And like his past portrayals of real-life figures, the actor earned a Golden Globe nomination for the role.

Advertisement

11. Focus (2015)

The return of cool Will Smith! For some reason, after building a career on his charisma and charm, Smith went away from it for basically a decade, opting instead to be sad (Seven Pounds), dark (Winter’s Tale), or just straight boring (After Earth). But with Focus, at least very temporarily, Smith became cool again. (Following up with Concussion, Suicide Squad, Collateral Beauty, and Bright is why I say “very temporarily.”) Over the years, Smith has had hit-or-miss chemistry with his love interests, but the pairing with Margot Robbie is definitely a hit and initially gave one reason to be optimistic about Suicide Squad.

Advertisement

10. Bad Boys II (2003)

Columbia/Everett Collection

Eight years after first riding and dying together, Smith reunited with Martin Lawrence for Michael Bay’s high-octane sequel. Once again, Lawrence gets to be the real comedic star, while Smith is the movie star. The nonstop action doesn’t leave much room for Smith to stretch his acting muscles, but the back-and-forth between the two actors is a high point and maybe the most rapport that Smith has ever had with a costar (sorry, Tommy Lee Jones and Jada Pinkett Smith). Now if only we could finally get Bad Boys III before they are too old for this s—.

Advertisement

9. Six Degrees of Separation (1993)

Just before Smith catapulted to movie stardom in summer blockbusters, the rapper surprised audiences (and Hollywood!) in a truly dramatic turn, taking on the role of a young, gay con artist. Starring as the shady Paul, Smith plays a character playing a character and he more than holds his own against Ian McKellen, Donald Sutherland, and Stockard Channing, who he says he fell in love with after getting too into character. The one knock against Smith here is his reported refusal to kiss Anthony Michael Hall on the advice of Denzel Washington as to not damage his movie star appeal. (C’mon, 1993.)

Advertisement

8. Men in Black (1997)

While Bad Boys and Independence Day had Smith trending up, Men in Black is when he officially became a movie star. After Chris O’Donnell and David Schwimmer passed on playing NYPD cop-turned-rookie Agent J, Smith was somehow the next logical choice, turning in a character and performance that neither of the first two choices could have. Whether he’s cracking jokes or shouting in both fear and amazement about the presence of aliens, Smith shines bright.

Advertisement

7. Bad Boys (1995)

Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock

Arsenio Hall’s hilarious mistake is Will Smith’s gain as the Fresh Prince gets his first chance to be a big screen leading man. And he makes the most of the opportunity, oozing with swagger as ladies man Detective Mike Lowrey. But just like in the previously discussed sequel, Michael Bay’s buddy cop vehicle sets up Martin Lawrence, who was headlining his own sitcom, to be the real star. Don’t worry, though, because Smith got the last laugh with Bad Boys kicking off an epic four-year run and setting him up to soon become Hollywood’s most bankable star.

Advertisement

6. Independence Day (1996)

No offense, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, and Randy Quaid, but we kept wishing to go back to Smith, who doesn’t show up until 25 minutes into Roland Emmerich’s sci-fi classic. While the role of pilot Steven Hiller is just part of an ensemble, Smith is no doubt the true star, dominating every scene he’s in and nailing one-liners. “Welcome to Earth,” he says after punching an alien. “Now that’s what I call a close encounter.” Now that’s what I call a movie star-making performance.

Advertisement

5. Ali (2001)

Frank Connor/Columbia Pictures

Maybe the greatest compliment that can be paid to Smith’s performance as Muhammad Ali is that I can’t imagine anyone else playing the boxer. In many of his films, it’s hard to see past Will Smith. “Oh, that’s just Will Smith with a badge.” But here, you just see Ali. And the Academy agreed, giving Smith the first of his two Oscar nominations.

Advertisement

4. Enemy of the State (1998)

It’s not often that Smith plays an everyman. His first three lead roles featured him as a badass cop, a badass pilot fighting aliens, and a badass secret agent investigating alien activity. Here, in the underrated gem from director Tony Scott, he’s a lawyer who just happened to be at the wrong lingerie store at the wrong time. Not able to just skate on his charisma, Smith excels as being overwhelmed and out of his element. It might seem strange that a performance like this is above Ali, but often times pulling off a smart, action-packed thriller is even tougher than a biopic.

Advertisement

3. I Am Legend (2007)

Barry Wetcher/Warner Bros.

Smith has had great chemistry with costars over the years, whether it’s Martin Lawrence or Tommy Lee Jones or Margot Robbie, and that streak continues in I Am Legend, even if the chemistry is with a dog and a mannequin. The magnetic actor has given heartbreaking perfomances before, but none like Dr. Robert Neville, who very might be the last man on Earth. During one 10-minute stretch, Smith shows enormous range as he is forced to put his dog down, and then emotionally unleashing on a female mannequin. It’s quite possibly the best work of his entire career. Legendary, indeed.

Advertisement

2. Hitch (2005)

Barry Wetcher/Sony Pictures

Disclaimer: I’ve been accused a time or two of talking too much about Hitch, a.k.a. the greatest rom-com ever made. But it’s for good reason! The only full-on rom-com of Smith’s career came a few years after the peak of his powers, but still in the midst of his prime, and he gets to perfectly play many versions of the date doctor: charming Hitch, allergic reaction Hitch, flustered Hitch, embarrassed Hitch, nerd Hitch. And it’s almost impossible to pick just one scene to highlight; it could be meeting Sara (Eva Mendes) for the first time, or teaching Albert (Kevin James) how to dance, or Hitch and Albert kissing, or the speed dating confrontation. You know what, just go watch the whole movie and fall in love all over again.

Advertisement

1. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

It seems fitting that Smith’s best and worst performances featured him acting alongside his son Jaden. As you’ve noticed, I’m not a big fan of sad Will Smith, but this is the exception to the rule. Throughout the film, he wears his pain on his sleeve, constantly breaking your heart, whether he’s giving away his character’s last $5 or locked inside a subway bathroom, crying and holding on tight to his sleeping son. The emotional portrayal of homeless salesman/aspiring stockbroker Chris Gardner earned Smith the second of his two Oscar nominations, and hopefully not his last.

Advertisement

Read More

Hollywood Siren of the Day - Dorothy Dandridge and Her Fashion Style

With the arrival of summer and warm weather comes the arrival of outdoor party season. Whether it's a laidback barbeque with friends at the local park or perhaps a strong garden party, a lot of people should look the part. But outdoors you need to strike the best balance between a nice looking outfit and a practical outfit. You want to take into mind all of the potential hazards that include an outdoor setting from climate to unstable surfaces to a not enough proper lighting. So make wise decisions and don't just dress to impress. According to a recently available survey by the Cotton Incorporated Lifestyle Monitor-Levis, Lee, Wrangler, and Gap include the four most favored brands for jeans. With younger consumers seeking cut, fabric quality, along with a twist for the classic theme, jeanswear is but one area where young designers have proved that they'll make their unique niche. Several designers initially focussed on jeans, before getting into the areas of apparel. Growing up within the depression era, Dorothy and her family suffered great hardship being a lots of other Americans. Ruby moved the family to Hollywood and was able to locate a steady income, playing bit-part roles as servants in movies. 'The Wonder Children' were renamed 'The Dandridge Sisters' and they played in famous venues like 'The Cotton Club'. I watched the movie named next famed venue, and was instantly fascinated with the place. Filled with black musicians and dancers, the affluent and celebrities attended this decadent joint to try out some of the jazz magic.

The designer would always research on the designs with feedbacks using their clients. The customers' preferences and colour choice will be considered before designing. Once their approval is sought, he provides the garments a final touch. Trends and styles keep changing in correlation with people and their taste. The designer has to be aware of the international market for the reason that world is shrinking day by day. The awareness may help him keep abreast of the happenings around the globe. It is the designer that has to keep up with the client's expectations and are avalable track of the most desired clothes styled to impress the queen. Whilst bright colours have quite definitely for ages been en vogue, in 2010 the trend is taken up new heights with colours really being ramped up and brightness going off of the scale. The key to carrying off this trend is block colour, with plain matching bikini bottoms and tops. Given that the swimwear is unquestionably an argument alone, this trend is most beneficial kept simple so the cut is clean and embellishments are minimal. Similarly, on the Summer 2012 catwalks, colour did the talking and accessories were kept down.

One other consider making an attempt to look good is your hair fashion. Natural Hair Extensions - What and how? Do not put on ankle boots with the fallacious pair of pants. Having completely different kinds and colors of Ugg boots makes it doable to match your temper and your clothes. Folks from all the world go in fashion reveals for having the data of dressing sense. Find a brand new means of having an intergalactic empire make selections. There may be one way that is destined to achieve success in attracting others attention. By no means enable bad habits get in the best way of creating your soccer video sport all it may be. Don't get me unsuitable, wearing older fashion jewelry shows model too, which is a complete totally different conversation. Get a excellent image, not just excellent, make it outstanding. This text will include both types, however will make it some extent to call out when one thing is more recent or dated so that you wont be out of the loop. It should not be the first thing you place on your face, since concealer is too heavy for an all-over coat that evens out your skin tone. In order for you to buy a new cologne or cologne, try out a pattern by means of the store very first.

Individuals need to look great, and studying glasses are a terrific accessory for that since others look you within the eyes first. A properly made wig - even the quality synthetic varieties - can look totally practical. You may look extremely stylish while carrying designer leather bags and you can create a fashion assertion. And with the coming of a new school 12 months come the fall tendencies in fashion. On the tail end of final yr and the start of this 12 months there where a wide variety of widespread kinds being sported by celebs that really stood out. For a few years within the 90s baggy denims had been considered to be the biggest style statement, nevertheless slowly they ran out on fans. Barthelemy Thimonnier invented a sewing machine in 1830 and within ten years owned an eighty machine garment manufacturing facility that produced uniforms for the French navy. As an alternative, a few years later, at present skinny denims are ruling the runway and streets alike.

It isn't that troublesome to study simply what these attributes are both! As the 19th 20th, and twenty first centuries have shown, fashion traits are becoming historical past on a regular basis, since traits are all the time evolving. Lots of revolutionary ideas about fashion could be discovered online. Nevertheless, there was a notable enchancment in fashion manufacturing during the interval of industrial revolution of the late 18th century. From a singular women’s size small to plus size clothing to the waist coaching corsets to the plus size corsets, there are options for everyone. Take the time to buy round before you buy so that you're certain you are getting the perfect deal on the most effective merchandise. So it is best to choose the ring that you really like and most accurately fits your personality. Deciding what to put on in household photos can be just as challenging as discovering the perfect photographer. My advice is to go for what you like, regardless of what the media tell you to put on. Thats why consumers hesitate to choose merchandise they want in entrance of assorted varieties.

Tons of individuals like to grasp around the mall and explore new products. Doing Well-known web options , you may have space for more incredible discovers, and another individual is profiting from your unneeded goods. Indian models, Indian artists and Indian models participate within the completely different occasions and performance happening abroad. In case you are FULL-BODIED AND SHAPELY, WOULD YOU CARE TO BE A PLUS Size Model? The good news is that these designer handbags are now not only for the wealthy and well-known. Males's ties are an ideal instance. And, to be honest, these adjustments are price adopting, particularly if you're a fashion-loving lady. It’s simple, quick, and our fruits and vegetables are all the time contemporary so that you just don’t must fret about unintentionally touching a moldy peach. The police and press at the time characterized all Mexican American youth as petty criminals, and White sailors and Marines, who have been offended by the very concept of zoot fits, have been only too blissful to have their stereotypes confirmed. The patterns must be traced and the seam allowances added in. It is solely not your factor.

In truth, this can be a trending style in the case of wedding ceremony garments. As any self-respecting fashionista is aware of, the change of season can mean only one factor: a great excuse to go buying! Getting help from an expert professional that has labored with commerce current booths in numerous venues will probably be invaluable by enhancing return on funding. And on this last one, simply remember we report on the developments. And so they no have to seek for different sources to find out about the information. Thanks Yusra, I am happy to know that it helped you. This has created a lot affect in pop circles. You may be stunned at how a lot cash you save. No matter what age group the girl belongs, she would always carry a bag along together Apparel Group with her. You will have to get pleasure from group activities and recognize you're solely part of a much bigger picture that draws from the enter of many players. Hancocks and JoAnnes. Particularly in the event you just need a strong to enhance something.

Saturday, August 26th, 2017 – Technical Difficulties Plague The Dirty River Boys, Draining Them of Their Magic at Love & War in Texas Performance

It was certain to be an interesting night as The Dirty River Boys made their way to Love & War in Texas in Plano, the sound check alluding to that. Their scheduled start time of 9:30 came and went as the sound guy struggled to get everything primed and ready for the band, none of the microphones sounding right, what they audience heard sounding more like muffled singing. On top of that, some of the monitors on stage were acting up, seemingly failing. Colton James was seen chuckling as he clutched his upright bass, that being about the only thing to do in regards to the whole ordeal that the relatively simple sound check turned in to. Finally, nearly fifteen minutes after their original scheduled start time, the Austin-based quartet got going, things being as close to normal as they figured they would get, aiming just to power through and not disappoint the throng of fans that had turned out on the patio stage of the restaurant. About a month prior they rocked Dallas with a fury, though for this show in the suburbs they opted for a little more restraint. Instead of the duel electric guitars that were featured on several cuts (a vast departure for a band who long relied on two acoustic guitars, making that a hallmark of their style), they pared it down to one, Marco Gutierrez wielding the lone electric axe for much of the night.

After a brisk introduction they fired up their first song, coming out with guns blazing in the form of “She” …or at least that’s how it would have been in a normal environment. Nino Cooper was inaudible as he sang the hefty amount of backing vocals, the lack of the two joint voices diminishing the songs magic; and on top of that, it was difficult to hear Gutierrez, whose microphone suddenly clicked on mid song, coming out of the speakers with force. Enough so it caught the patrons off guard, many acting startled, but at least it was more how it should be. It was more or less the same for “Union Painter”, which was a bad thing given that was one of Cooper’s, and a fan favorite at that. It worked against it because when Gutierrez chimed in on the choruses, he unintentionally overpowered his band mate, Cooper getting drowned out; and it was difficult to hear him in the first place. At least one person was seen complaining as she walked by the sound booth, the man running the lights pointing out that the sound engineer had split for the moment. He was rarely seen behind the board doing his job, presumably assuming everything was good on his end when it was far from it. In a bizarre twist of fate, the levels of what should have been the two lead mics would wind up reversing soon, though for the time being their rendition of The Kingston Trio’s “M.T.A.” sounded more or less the same as that previous original. The ferocity they injected into it was not muffled, though, more of a punk venom coursing through the old song, ensuring they leave their mark on it. It got the audience feeling rather rowdy, the four-piece capitalizing off that adrenaline rush with a new song, Gutierrez noting they were just going to keep playing them “loud and fast” as he introduced a “punk rock” song they’ve worked up that will be on their next record. Their punk-infused cover song was merely scratching the surface of true punk rock, “I'll be There” marking a bit of a shift for the Americana/rock outfit. They’ve created a couple of hard-hitting numbers in the past, though that one takes it to another level, their Americana stylings still noticeable but buried deep beneath a vicious punk characteristic. Oddly enough, they execute it with sheer ease, the sound feeling entirely in DRB’s wheelhouse. It already seems to be striking a chord with the fans as well, the crowd reacting positively to it this night. A good sign, because that feels like one number that will be a staple for years to come. As that new tune came to an end it sounded like they were about to bridge it into their next song, giving it away but ceasing before it got going. A brief conversation with the onlookers and then they got back to it; the song they appeared to have been starting moments earlier being “In These Times”, and, sure enough, it was. James took the reins for the first time this night, that song also featuring the talents of Noah Jeffries, the fiddle player not being present on every song this night, though he would wind up being up there for many of them. Jeffries even took over where one of the guitar solos would traditionally be, instead wailing on his fiddle for a sensational solo that earned plenty of accolades. Perhaps that was part of it, that solo being the first pristine moment of The Dirty River Boys’ performance this night, but that song was where they really seemed to hit their stride. The sound was still far from perfect, but it was the best it had been for them thus far. “Thought I'd Let You Know” came hot the heels of that previous song, the transition being seamless; and it was then that the center microphone began to overpower the other. The simplest fix for that was to change places, Gutierrez taking Cooper’s spot for the time being. What followed was quite entertaining, watching both of them working their pedal boards on occasion, having to invade the other’s space for a moment, sneaking a foot in, in order to change what they needed to. Of course, such difficulties were crippling to their harmony vocals, and that song featured the multiple voices more than any other so far in their set. At least it would have, the shoddy sound ensuring that magic was drained from the beautifully penned and ethereal sounding number. “Six Riders” was more or less the same, the charged dynamics of the fiery song at least not being diminished; and upon finishing it Cooper took back the mic for the most tender moment of the night. Being more of a restaurant setting, the space in front of the stage was limited, though some couples still found enough room to get up there and share a dance during the gorgeous “Riverbed Wildflowers”. The use of the fiddle only personified its beauty, adding a certain spark to the balled that few ever would have even thought it was lacking, yet it made it sound so much grander. The serving of fan favorites continued with “Carnival Lights”, the band seemingly wanting to offset the troubles they were experiencing with a series of tracks beloved by the crowd, the move working to an extent; many of the patrons echoing along with them. Jeffries received a shout-out from Gutierrez, who wanted everyone there to make some noise for the unofficial fifth member; an anecdote soon following as they spoke of their time in Idaho while on tour a few weeks prior to this show. Specifically, it was about something called an “Idaho Spud”, which Gutierrez stated was the greatest candy ever and something every gas station in the state was well stocked with. “I mean, they’re horrible, but in a good way,” he then quipped, noting they had all eaten several. Things then got a little more serious when Cooper provided some insight on their next song, another new one. One that was written about a friend of his who had been a musician his entire life. “…He passed away about five years ago,” remarked Cooper, noting it was for “Johnny”. Appropriately, the song was both tender and heartfelt but also rather rocking, boasting some intense moments, essentially melding the best of both worlds. Making certain not to get fans’ hopes up too much, Gutierrez left it simply as they would be going into the studio “soon” to begin work on a new album. “…It’s gonna happen. Y’all be ready!” he exclaimed. As they continued on, they did so with another cover, one a little closer to home this time around. James was at the helm for “Thunderstorms and Neon Signs”, a thick Southern drawl noticeable in his singing voice, further capturing the authenticity of that Wayne Hancock song, one they did a topnotch job with. The technical issues they had been plagued with were brushed aside as being “just the way it goes” in this business, that statement coming after they unleashed “Letter to Whoever”. That’s true and an unfortunate reality sometimes, one they certainly weren’t letting get to them. “So Long Elanie” came as a bit of a surprise, albeit a pleasant one as the slower song having been phased out there for a while. It was a revised version of it, the tempo being toned down some which was conducive of more of a melancholy vibe, something that was behooving of the track and made it more riveting. In response to a request, after first joking with the fan, they did just what that person was wanting, the fiddle being back on prominent display during the spirited “Road Song”. It signified that the end was nigh. “I kinda like this one mic thing,” Gutierrez commented afterwards, adding, “It’s fun dancing around the stage.” They went out with a bang, “Sailed Away” coming out of left field, cultivating the liveliest mood of the night, while one of their signature songs, “Down by the River”, had everyone there singing along. The way they had spoken leading up to that, that was seemingly going to be the end. If it wasn’t, there was at least one other song audience members had in mind, but instead of hearing it, they were treated to one last cover, The Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I Go” capping off this 73-minute long set. It sounded stellar, one last punk rock offering for the night. They opted “to go”, presumably having persevered enough, taking all of the issues in stride, but not wanting to deal with it any longer. “Raise some hell!!” a handful of spectators began to shout after realizing an encore may not be coming. It wasn’t, the longstanding fan favorite that is also a definitive piece of The Dirty River Boys’ catalog being absent this night. Maybe that was because the sound system had raised hell for them, making the song redundant this time around. It wasn’t a bad show on the part of Cooper, Gutierrez, James or drummer Chris Hausler, the four of them taking it all in stride, though it did still impact the overall performance. As I said, the harmonies weren’t even a factor this night, and that is one of the most appealing things about this band. The two and three-part voices that are utilized on some songs, or others where Cooper and Gutierrez each sing lead, trading out at different segments. Instead, it was just one voice carrying each song, despite the other vocalists giving it their all. They still made the performance as energetic as possible, deserving props for that, and even if a song or two were missing, they still made sure everyone got their monies worth on their end. It all goes back to the sound, though, the sound guy being the most crucial thing to a venue (or a band that has/can afford their own sound guru). I can understand some of the gear acting up on occasion and every night is a new experience for them, no matter how many shows they’ve worked at the specific venue in question. Still, to have one that leaves his post for several minutes at a time shows complete disregard for the job, and worse than that a complete lack of caring. Lack of caring about the band and the supporters who paid for the experience. At least if he had been behind the booth the entire time working frantically to get it all in working order than he would have been attempting to do something. But alas. A solid show from The Dirty River Boys, it was far from the jaw dropping thing I had witnessed back in July. And after a couple of years had passed since the last show I caught at Love & War, I was excited to get back. But now after going back, seeing how crammed the patio is with few unobstructed views of the stage and getting the experience that I did this night, I’ll be alright with missing future shows here. In all fairness, the other shows I caught here two and three years ago were great in every respect, but… Well, Dallas, Fort Worth and even McKinney may not be as convenient for people in the suburbs (specifically the city of Plano), but the quality and caliber of show you’re going to get from bands like this at the venues those cities have to offer is well worth the trek. On that note, the bands next North Texas show will be on September 22nd at Hank’s Texas Grill in McKinney, stopping off there as they head up to Tahlequah, OK to perform at the Medicine Stone festival on the 23rd. They’ll perform at Lola’s in Fort Worth on October 21st; and for anyone in Ireland, they’ll be heading over there in late November for a Red Dirt Pub Crawl. More info on all of their shows can be found HERE. As for their music, check it out in iTUNES or GOOGLE PLAY.