Men in Black

2 messages Options
Embed this post
Permalink
KLAXXON

Men in Black

Reply Threaded More More options
Print post
Permalink
They are the best kept secret in the universe and work for a highly funded yet unofficial government agency. They work in secret and dress in black... they are the MEN IN BLACK.

They're here - and they have social security numbers. Aliens are everywhere, just trying to get along like the rest of us, mostly, under the watchful eyes of an extra-governmental police agency, the Men in Black. Agent K (Jones) picks out a New York cop (Smith) to become his new partner, J, initiating him into the secrets of the universe: galactic weaponry, memory erasers and power dressing. At the same time, an unintegrated alien bug takes residence in the (loose-fitting) body of farmer D'Onofrio, with a plan that might mean curtains for the planet. Sonnenfeld's film is just good enough to remind us how lazy most blockbusters have become in the decade since Gremlins and Ghostbusters - hits with a similar hip, relaxed vibe. The personable well-paired stars make the most of a superior script by Ed Solomon ('He said the world was coming to an end.' 'Did he say when?'), and, taking eye-popping special fx in his stride, the director makes adroit use of out-of-this-world NY locations. It's so much fun, in fact, that it's almost over before you realise that you've been watching a great idea for a movie in desperate search of a plot.

UFOs. Aliens. Slime. Will Smith. What more can you ask for? In the case of last year's Independence Day, a self-awareness of its inherent ridiculousness would have helped. That problem does not befall Smith's latest bout with creatures from outer space, Barry Sonnenfeld's witty and fun sci-fi-action-comedy Men in Black.

In this adaptation of Lowell Cunningham's obscure Marvel/Malibu comic, Smith stars as a New York cop who is recruited by mysterious Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) into the ultrasecret underground group known as the Men in Black, which overlook intergalactic relations. It is up to Agent K and the newly christened Agent J to prevent an alien bug disguised as a farmer (Vincent D'Onofrio) from stealing a galaxy and thereby causing an interplanetary war and, in turn, the destruction of earth.

If this sounds a tad confusing to you, you're not alone. MiB's biggest problem is its story--the primary plot cooked up by screenwriter Ed Solomon is introduced fairly late in the game. But by the time the nominal plot takes center stage, the film has already won you over with the script's witty one-liners, self-effacing sense of humor, and bashes at pop culture (Sylvester Stallone is skewered in one of the more inspired gags); and its imaginative production design (by Bo Welch) and visual effects (supervised by Eric Brevig). Most impressive, however, are the alien makeup effects designed by Rick Baker. The creatures look like exactly that--living, breathing alien creatures and not animatronic puppets. Especially convincing is an alien infant whom J delivers; slinky, squidlike, and covered in slime, the expressive baby alien succeeds in doing what the best human infants do onscreen--look cute and elicit "aw"s.

As impressive a technical achievement MiB is, it would not have worked without a strong lead duo, and Jones and Smith make a great team. Smith's natural, infectious ebullience plays off well against the stoic Jones, who is at his deadpan best, engaging in some ridiculous situations with the straightest of faces. It is one thing to wear a straight face while having a heated discussion with an uncooperative dog, but it's quite a whole other level of achievement to do that and convincingly appear to treat the situation with the gravest of seriousness. Jones's K never shakes off his grim face even when he is joking, making his performance that much more effective and funny. D'Onofrio has some great slapstick moments as the insect who hasn't quite got the hang of wearing a human skin suit, and though she's underused, Linda Fiorentino, as coroner Dr. Laurel Weaver, fits quite snugly with the team of Jones and Smith.

Men in Black is certain not to reach the stratospheric box office heights of Smith's bountiful bout with aliens last summer, but in shedding the self-importance and jingoism of the two-hour-plus ID4 and taking on a most welcome self-aware sense of humor, the lean, mean, 98-minute MiB is not just a better film, it's also a lot more fun.

Tommy Lee Jones ... Agent K (Kay)
Will Smith ... James Edwards / Agent J (Jay) / "Slick"
Linda Fiorentino ... Dr. Laurel Weaver / Agent L (Elle)
Vincent D'Onofrio ... Edgar
Rip Torn ... Chief Zed
Tony Shalhoub ... Jack Jeebs
Siobhan Fallon ... Beatrice, Edgar's Wife
Mike Nussbaum ... Gentle Rosenburg the Arquillian Jeweler
Jon Gries ... Nick the Van Driver
Sergio Calderón ... Jose
Carel Struycken ... Arquillian
Fredric Lehne ... INS Agent Janus (as Fredric Lane)
Richard Hamilton ... Agent D (K's first Partner)
Kent Faulcon ... 1st Lt. Jake Jensen
John Alexander ... Mikey



Download Torrent









lambofgad

Re: Men in Black

Reply Threaded More More options
Print post
Permalink
i love this movie. thx