Men in Black Movie Review 1997

Charm, wit and some outrageous insect-type aliens make a winning cosmic combination. K (Jones) and J (Smith) are top-secret government operatives, investigating alien visitations on Earth, who must stop terrorist extraterrestrial D'Onofrio from causing a galactic disaster. Excellent chemistry between deadpan Jones and hip-hop Smith is strengthened by a very funny script. Director Sonnenfeld tops it off with just enough detail and human element to keep the special effects from stealing the show, and with Rick Baker around, that's not easy to do. Boxoffice hit that should spawn a sequel or two. Adapted from the Marvel comic book.

Distribution

Sony Pictures Home Video, Sony Pictures Plz., 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, Phone: (310)244-7306, Fax: (310)280-2485, URL: http://www.spe.sony.com, Remarks: Formerly Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 98 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Comedy Sci-Fi, Alien Beings--Vicious, Adapted from Comics, Buddy Cops, Alien Beings--Benign, Special FX Wizards: Rick Baker, Aliens Are People, Too, Top Grossing Films of 1997, Amnesia, Cats, Cockroaches, New York, New York, Talking Animals

Screenplay

Edward Solomon

Cast

Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Linda Fiorentino, Rip Torn, Vincent D'Onofrio, Tony Shalhoub, Carel Struycken, Sergio Calderon, Siobhan Fallon

Cinematography

Don Peterman

Director

Barry Sonnenfeld

Music

Danny Elfman

Producer

Walter F. Parkes, Laurie MacDonald, Steven Spielberg, Amblin Entertainment, Columbia Pictures

Awards

Oscars 1997: Makeup; MTV Movie Awards 1998: Song ("Men in Black"), Fight (Will Smith/alien).