Ten of Will Smith's Best Movies!

There was a time when you could bank on there being at least one Will Smith film hitting the giant screen every year, but it's been relevantly calm on the Will Smith front since 2008. Although not in the front of the camera Smith has been busy behind it, helping produce his son Jaden's film "The Karate Kid". But the nice news is that Will Smith will return infront of the camera seven times again when he stars in the next "Men in Black" film, yes they are making a third one. So whilst they wait for more alien busting action here is my Top 10 Will Smith Movies to keep you entertained.

10) The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000)
Rannulph Junnah had it all, he was a great golfer, a legend in Savannah and dated the pretty Adele Invergordon. But having gone off to war all that changes as he returns to Savannah a changed man more interested in drinking and betting than playing golf. In the meanwhile Adele having inherited both a golf coursework and debts from her sister is forced to fin a way to raise some money quickly and sets about hosting the greatest game of golf ever. Having aisgned up golf legends Waler Hagen and Bobby Jones to play he convinces Junnah to play after the locals demand a local player to appear alongside the greats. Having lost his confidence and swing it seems that Junnah is destined to disappoint but when a myserious man called Bagger Vance turns up offering to caddy for him it seems that things are turning around for Junnah.
I must say that whilst I enjoy "The Legend of Bagger Vance" it's to be said between the mysticism of the character Bagger Vance and lots of zen like golf sequences it is all a bit fairytale like. But then Will Smith delivers a charming, fun, intriguing character in Bagger Vance making much of what is lots of nonsense in to an entertaining film.

9) Men in Black (1997)
Whilst giving chase to a criminal, James Darrel Edwards III discovers that he is up against someone who is not human bringing him to the attention of Agent Kay who introduces him to the top secret agency MiB whose job is to control all the aliens who live on the planet undetected. Having satisfied Edward's to join this special agency, becoming Agent Jay in the act, they find themselves in the thick of things as the planet is facing distruction unless they can discover an Alien terrorist looking for ambassador's from other planets.
Whilst the sequel wasn't up to much the first "Men in Black" was a fun film which not only gave Will Smith a box office success but as well as a chart topping song. It is much the kind of performance they like from Smith, delivering lots of humour mixed in with action and with the surprise pairing of Smith and Tommy Lee Jones working so well it is a film which is fun from start to finish.

8) Hancock (2008)
John Hancock is a troubled man, on one hand he's tremendous powers and tries to make use of them to do goo, but he also loves his drink often leading his nice intentions ending up with disasterous consequnces as well as a traile of destruction. But whilst trying to do a nice turn by saving PR man Ray Embrey from being hit by a train he inadvertently gets himself a brand spanking new best mate who sets about improving Hancock's public picture. All of which is well and nice but for some reason Ray's spouse is not to happy to see Hancock being welcomed in to their home and not because of his accident prone ways.
Right the first thing is that "Hancock" the film is not great, it is like seven movies slapped in to one and the blend feels worng. But thankfully Will Smith as John Hancock does, with Smith making a memorable bad ass hero and delivering a few moments of comedy with lots of action. But like the film Smith's performance suffers with the first half being great whilst the second less than great.

7) I, Robot (2004)
In the year 2035 expertise and robots have become part of life, much to the displeasure of Detective Del Spooner who takes a hate to every robot he comes across. When Dr. Alfred Lanning, the man credited with generating robots in their present form, is found dead, Spooner is called in to inquire in to what lots of think is a suicide. But Spooner and his technophobic attitude leads him to suspect that Lanning's death was not suicide but was murder, commited by a robot who somehow managed to kill despite rules stopping him.
To put it basically "I, Robot" is a Will Smith film, a futuristic serious one but also an action film. So what they get is Will Smith delivering a pumped up performance in more ways than one with him showing off his impressive physique as he works out whilst also delivering high paced action sequences all of which has a touch of humour to them, thanks to Smith's delivery of sarcastic dialogue. Whilst a type of serious film, it is hard to take it seriously but Smith delivers an impressive performance.

6) Bad Boys (1995)
Marcus Burnett is married and hen pecked, Mike Lowery is single as well as a ladies man but they are partners, working for the Miami Police. When a sizeable amount of drugs is audaciously stolen from the police safe house Burnett and Lowrey have 72 hours to retrieve the stolen drugs and catch the criminals. Not that simple when a confussion leads to them having to pretend to be each other in order for a witness to come forth.

Although Will Smith had already shown his talents on the giant screen you could say that "Bad Boy's" was his first major film where he was one of the main stars. It is another one of those movies where he delivers exactly what people like, so they get action, they get comedy and Smith making a smooth operator in Minke Lowery. But it is as much to do with Martin Lawrence's performance as Will Smith's as to why the film works making a memorable cop partnership for a brand spanking new period.

5) I Am Legend (2007)
In the year 2012, New York has been abandoned after a miracle cure for cancer mutates and leaves those who were treated with it in to flesh eating zombie like beings. The only person left in New York is Robert Neville who is determined to discover the cure for this mutant virus even if it means he is faced with a every day battle to protect himself from these zombie like beings who roam the streets at night.

It's to be said that "I am Legend" is a film which has ended up splitting audiences. Some were wowed by this sort of horror story whilst others felt it a weak adaptation of Richard Matheson's original novel. Whether you like the film or not what is for sure it is a powerful performance from Will Smith who not only is the only character in it for a lot of the time but also delivers that sense of fear and loneliness of the last survivor in a seven times bustling city.

4) Ali (2001)
Covering the yers between 1964 and 1974 "Ali" is the stoyr of boxer Muhammad Ali. A turbulent decade in the boxers life it covers aspect of him becoming a Black Muslim, his friendship with the influential Malcolm X, his decision to alter his name and is this relationships and marriages. And naturally it covers his boxin career and his fight to be allowed to box again after refusing to join the US Military.

"Ali" is another one of Will Smith's film which splits audiences because for lots of it cover such a small part of the legendary boxer's life but also because director Michael Mann has such a stylistic approach to movies that it often doesn't feel like a mainstream film. Whether you like it or not it is hard to ignore the impressive performance of Will Smith as Muhammad Ali. First the bulking up he did to physical resemblance Ali is stunning but he picks up all the tiny mannerisms, the speedy feet, the way he pronounced words much everything is spot on and it is such a disgrace that the film itself ends up splitting audiences because it is one of Smith's best performances.

3) Seven Degrees of Separation (1993)
Are dealers Flan and Ouisa Kittredge (Donald Sutherland & Stockard Channing) are to go out for a mean when a young man shows up at their New York apartment claiming to having been mugged and in need of help. Introducing himself as not only the son of Sidney Poitier but as well as a mate of Flan & Ouisa's kids he delights them with tales of his life and prepares a meal in repayment for their kindness. But when the Kittredge's insist he stays the night they are in for a shock as not everything is as what it seems and become determined to discover the truth surrounding this young man.

Thinking about that back in 1993 Will Smith was known more as for his comedy and in particular "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" watching him take on a serious role in a film whose roots were on the stage is impressive. In fact Smith's performance as the charming and eloquent young man in "Six Degrees of Separation" is what makes it work as a film and his delivery of some thoughtful monologues makes for powerful stuff.

2) Three Pounds (2008)
Haunted by a tragic secret, Ben Thomas looks to help 7 deserving people in the hope of finding redemption through his acts. But when Ben puts his designs to help in to motion nothing can cease them, except the didn't take in to account for falling for one of those he chooses to help who ends up transforming his life.
Even before I say anthing about the amazing performance from Will Smith as Ben Thomas you need to say that "Seven Pounds" is an impressive, emotional and touching film full cease which is courageous and different from your normal mainstream fare. But much of what makes it so nice is the top performance from Will Smith who takes on a difficult, mysterious character and makes us love him, champion him and when he feels emotion so do they.

1) The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
Based on the true story of Chris Gardner who in the coursework of the 80s not only found himself much penniless but as well as a single dad when his spouse left him. Often forced to live rough, sleeping in toilets and queue up with others for a room in a hostel he manages to get himself on an internship to become a stock broker in the hope of making a better, more secure future for his son.

There is much that I can empathise with in Chris Gardner's story and as such it is a touching and powerful storyline, made all the more better by a performance from Will Smith which ought to have won him an Oscar. He gets in to the mind of someone who has not any money and shows the emotional side of not knowing where the next meal is to come from and the whole desperation of it. But simultaneously it is an inspiring performance and storyline making "The Pursuit of Happyness" my number 1 Will Smith film.