Will Smith: From Blockbuster to Oscar Contender

12 January 2009

0Comments | Comment on this Article

Will Smith is one of Hollywood's most popular and successful actors with eight consecutive films that have grossed over $100 million at the American box office.

And while he may be Mr Blockbuster with roles such as Independence Day, Hancock and Men In Black under his belt more recently we have seen a more serious side to the star which has seen him move from all action hero to serious Oscar contender.

Rising to fame as rapper the Fresh Prince at the back end of the eighties before moving into acting with the well known role William "Will" Smith in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

But it wasn't long before movie studios came knocking although he had appeared in Made in America and Six Degrees of Separation his first big movie role cam as Detective Mike Lowrey in Bad Boys.

He followed this up with Independence Day, Men In Black and Enemy of the State roles which cemented him as an all out American hero and great leading man.

But then his career took a turn down a different path as he left behind the big budget blockbuster to take on the role of boxing legend Muhammad Ali in Michael Mann's biographical film Ali in 2001.

Despite receiving mixed reviews with the critics Smith's lead performance as Ali earnt him his first Best Actor OScar nomination, losing out to Denzel Washington in Training Day.

This catapulted Smith to global superstardom and his next eight movies; Men in Black II, Bad Boys II, I, Robot, Shark Tale, Hitch, The Pursuit of Happiness, I Am Legend and Hancock all grossed in excess of $100 million in the States.

Two of those movies; I Am Legend and Hancock coming in 2008.

A Second Best Actor nomination came in 2006 when Smith took on the role of on and off homeless salesman turned stockbroker Chris Gardener, based on a true story. Joining him in the film was Jaden Smith as Gardener's young son Christopher.

But Smith's run of luck at the box office has come to an end with his latest movie Seven Pounds in which he stars as Ben Thomas is an IRS agent with a fateful secret who embarks on an extraordinary journey of redemption by forever changing the lives of seven strangers.

While it was another string to the Will Smith bow it has failed to excite the critics and despite there being early talks of a possible Oscar nomination that now looks unlikely.

The actor is currently developing a movie called The Last Pharaoh and he is constantly being linked to the role of the soon to be President Barack Obama.

Seven Pounds is released 16th January

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw

0Comments | Be the first to comment!