I dont mind if someone passes on a role because they did not understand it. I would hate him much more if he took those roles regardless.
Its not good for the movie if there are people working on it who does not understand or believe in it, even though there are exceptions such as in lord of the rings.
honestly most of his career was built on the goodwill that fresh prince bought him. he was never extraordinary in any way, other than also having a fairly succesful music career...but he squandered that goodwill on a slap. i get slightly annoyed when i see him now
Man in black want good enough for you? Wild Wild West wasn't action enough? People seem to forget all the movies he made that were actually entertaining. But sure, let's only focus on the music and the series.
And how would you define not understanding? The motivation of the characters? The message of the film? The analogies being used? The attraction to the public? The feeling of the movie? Doesn't anticipate it being a hit (at least with him in it)? It's such an incredibly broad term with no context given. A quick search shows for the matrix his issue was the abstract pitch he was given, not that a script was provided and he didn't understand it, but also he may not have clicked with the creators.
Huh. I for one am hugely impressed by people who know, and work, within their limits, since we can see all around the consequences of the alternative approach. PUSHING your limits is a good idea, but knowing when to do so is a skill that ironically develops with experience.
Will Smith has effectively said, "I couldn't act convincingly in these roles because I don't understand what's going on" and I think that's a laudable position to take up, one for which he should be applauded, not scorned.
This is super fair. Plus he began work on Wild Wild West either before or essentially at the exact same time as production began on The Matrix. He had to pick between one or the other, and on paper, a Strange Western action comedy flick looks a lot more understandable than an action-drama scifispiritual statement that bounces between worlds.
He really struggled when he first started acting. I think he kind of remembered that and didn't want to take on a script he really didn't get because he wasn't confident in his acting. He went into acting through music and had to learn through experience.
Also, is the "didn't understand" part from him or just some rumor? He may very well have passed on this roles because they did not align with his public image or career wishes. At this level of fame, your public persona becomes a brand and is managed as such.
SpottedDickSandwich
Keep his career out of your motherfucking mouth!
chrishallett83
I wish Gal Gadot would stop taking roles. At least Will can act, on occasion.
FatboyRich
Will’s a cuck. I can’t take him seriously anymore. I liked some of his roles, but he’s still a cuck.
tinytyrant
Will Smith can get fucked.
TheMurderousCricket
Writes some sore asshole who probably doesn't even understand Adam Sandler's "Jack and Jill".
RumailMaxlowBaronVonAlabasterSerenitydePeriwinkleXXIII
There is jack-all to understand about that.
Jill-all, too.
Noonius
his wife is higher ranked than him in the cult. She tells him what to do, he either obeys or gets publicly shamed and ridiculed (like being a cuck)
RumailMaxlowBaronVonAlabasterSerenitydePeriwinkleXXIII
Wait, is he a Scientologist too?
Dasnekones
I dont mind if someone passes on a role because they did not understand it. I would hate him much more if he took those roles regardless.
Its not good for the movie if there are people working on it who does not understand or believe in it, even though there are exceptions such as in lord of the rings.
MissDeeMeanor
Tom Selleck passed on Indiana Jones. Bill Murray passed on Forrest Gump. Shirley Temple passed on Wizard Of Oz.
CouldntCakeLess
CloseupCaptionReaction
Made a super hero movie. Made wild wild west. Made a good zombie movie. Made men in black. So weird the poster doesn't mention these movies at all.
captapathy
Sean Connery passed on Gandalf because he couldn’t understand the plot either. Thank goodness for that.
SilverFoxChaser
God can you imagine Gandalf with a spanish accent?!
RumailMaxlowBaronVonAlabasterSerenitydePeriwinkleXXIII
Shpanish?
ThisIsAllYouCouldComeUpWith
I SHPOKE FRIEND AND ENTERED YOUR MOTHER, TREBEK
FckleberryFarms
RawSuger
honestly most of his career was built on the goodwill that fresh prince bought him. he was never extraordinary in any way, other than also having a fairly succesful music career...but he squandered that goodwill on a slap. i get slightly annoyed when i see him now
CloseupCaptionReaction
Man in black want good enough for you? Wild Wild West wasn't action enough? People seem to forget all the movies he made that were actually entertaining. But sure, let's only focus on the music and the series.
RawSuger
i mean they were fine, independence too etc...but were they great? did he add anything that most actors couldnt? not so much imo.
Skuggen
So is every actor who's ever turned down a role for a successful movie "retarded", to you? https://www.slashfilm.com/1784289/actors-who-turned-down-the-lord-of-the-rings/
DameDePiques
Did you miss "because he didn't understand"? (not saying it really was his reason, but this is what the post is arguing)
Skuggen
So, same as Sean Connery's reason for turning down LOTR?
somerandomusernamebecauseididntlikemyoldone
And how would you define not understanding? The motivation of the characters? The message of the film? The analogies being used? The attraction to the public? The feeling of the movie? Doesn't anticipate it being a hit (at least with him in it)? It's such an incredibly broad term with no context given. A quick search shows for the matrix his issue was the abstract pitch he was given, not that a script was provided and he didn't understand it, but also he may not have clicked with the creators.
NChomsky
Thank ever loving goodness this mf wasn't cast as Neo. Huge bullet dodged.
DonkeyGoat
Heh
KnaveOfSwords
Honestly, and I say this with much love for Keanu Reeves, but I kind-of want to see the version of the Matrix with Will Smith as Neo.
RumailMaxlowBaronVonAlabasterSerenitydePeriwinkleXXIII
I mean dodging bullets was the point yeah
PresldentClef
when the time came, he didn't have to!
RumailMaxlowBaronVonAlabasterSerenitydePeriwinkleXXIII
Hehehehe
sometimesarobot
What if he was gonna be someone else
RumailMaxlowBaronVonAlabasterSerenitydePeriwinkleXXIII
No, he was offered the role of Neo
NChomsky
Will Smith as Morpheus: *Slaps the shit out of Neo* KEEP MY BLUE PILL OUT CHO FUCKING MOUTH!
sometimesarobot
Nah, the traitor guy.
Ikwilstroopwaffels
I am very happy he passed on Django. He would not have been as good as Jamie Foxx.
Omnimorph2112
Very few people are as good as Jamie Foxx. Dude is crazy talented.
Ikwilstroopwaffels
He so, so is.
SilverFoxChaser
You're positive?
Ikwilstroopwaffels
Folks, this is a line from the movie =D
Ikwilstroopwaffels
I don't know.
SilverFoxChaser
You don't know if you're positive?
Ikwilstroopwaffels
I don't know what positive means.
SilverFoxChaser
It means you're sure.
winsomecafetiere
Huh. I for one am hugely impressed by people who know, and work, within their limits, since we can see all around the consequences of the alternative approach. PUSHING your limits is a good idea, but knowing when to do so is a skill that ironically develops with experience.
Will Smith has effectively said, "I couldn't act convincingly in these roles because I don't understand what's going on" and I think that's a laudable position to take up, one for which he should be applauded, not scorned.
RumailMaxlowBaronVonAlabasterSerenitydePeriwinkleXXIII
This is super fair. Plus he began work on Wild Wild West either before or essentially at the exact same time as production began on The Matrix. He had to pick between one or the other, and on paper, a Strange Western action comedy flick looks a lot more understandable than an action-drama scifispiritual statement that bounces between worlds.
rhitard
https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1aTdsMTJncWp1NWo4dWJpbW1wMHA1aWg5enRyaHZhdzBzemN2NTNmOCZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/3oz8xO9usg6qbYxwf6/200w.webp
TheMurderousCricket
https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1cTQ3ZzAxNTBleGs3Y2o3bmsyOG1tM2Q4d2RpcXRiMW5xZzlrN3o3MiZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/NnGGHE0muVqpO/200w.webp
LeoGrun19401
He really struggled when he first started acting. I think he kind of remembered that and didn't want to take on a script he really didn't get because he wasn't confident in his acting. He went into acting through music and had to learn through experience.
IndianJoe
Also, is the "didn't understand" part from him or just some rumor? He may very well have passed on this roles because they did not align with his public image or career wishes. At this level of fame, your public persona becomes a brand and is managed as such.
Elkku
so you are saying that instead, he is bad at acting?
epicurusaquinas
He's limited but self aware.
50% of your comments are <=5 words, but you probably weren't self aware of the fact.
Doesn't mean your comments are bad. They aren't.
winsomecafetiere
Hi Eikku. Feel free to explain how you read my comment and came up with this question. Then I'll consider answering your question.
malicart
Every comment starting with 'So' proves the commenter is an idiot.
PresldentClef
Or his ego didn't keep him from saying, there were better actors for the role.
winsomecafetiere
That would also be a laudable and humble position to take up, yes