For this week's watch along over on my discord channel, the movie was Men In Black starring Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, and safe to say unlike it's sequels it certainly holds up. Sure a lot of things are quite dated with it, such as the existence of the Twin Towers and the New York Mets playing in Shea Stadium, basically dating the film to be prior to 2001, but the pacing of the movie along with the score certainly keeps a viewer invested.
Actually, the pacing is what's really key with Men In Black, because when you really break it down, it takes place over the course of a handful of days. There isn't a montage to show a large passage of time other than to show James Edwards suiting up to become Agent J, and there is a gradual increase of urgency when plot elements like the Galaxy on Orion's Belt and the presence of the Bug alien being revealed.
In terms of the actors themselves, Tommy Lee Jones basically has the same approach as he used in many films in 90s, but when he's not as stoic and straight-laced, there are signs of some goofiness as best seen in his turn as Two-Face in Batman Forever. Will Smith was at the height of his 'charm' at this point, with snappy one-liners and enough comedic moments to make one take notice that he's at his best when he has someone to play off of. Vincent D'Onofrio probably steals the show with all the physical acting to portray the movements of the Bug hiding in a Human body, such as various unique and awkward contortions of the arms that just make him come across as obviously alien.
One more note, I have to mention the animated series which unlike the follow up films, did include the character of Laurel Weaver as Agent L, to this day it annoys me that the character was not in Men In Black II because of how old Linda Fiorentino was combine with wanting to bring back Tommy Lee Jones. I understand why, but considering the animated series placed Laurel in a lab setting at MIB HQ, that would have worked great in the sequels.
Anyway, the plan for next Saturday's watch along is Pulp Fiction!
