Episode 183 - Men in Black
This week we're doing the most Mid Rap, Taking the Turnpike to Jersey and putting on the last ray bans we'll ever wear with 1997's Men in Black.
We're doing the comic and shadowy government departments.
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Men in Black (abbreviated as MIB) is a 1997 American alien/UFO science fiction action comedy film[2] starring Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith as "men in black", secret agents who monitor and police extraterrestrials. The film is directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, based on a script by Ed Solomon, that adapts the Aircel Comics series The Men in Black by Lowell Cunningham. In the film, Agent K (Jones) and Agent J (Smith) investigate a series of seemingly unrelated criminal incidents related to the extraterrestrials who live in secret on Earth. Linda Fiorentino, Vincent D'Onofrio, and Rip Torn also appear in supporting roles.
Development for the film began in 1992, after producers Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald optioned the rights to the comic book series. Solomon was soon hired to write the screenplay; Sonnenfeld was the preferred directorial choice, which resulted in delays due to his commitments to other film projects and a failure to secure any alternative directors. Principal photography began in March 1996 and lasted until that June, with filming primarily taking place in New York City. The film's visual effects were helmed by Industrial Light & Magic. The film's soundtrack contains the theme song of the same name, performed by Smith, as well as the score, composed by Danny Elfman.
Men in Black premiered at Pacific's Cinerama Dome in Hollywood on June 25, 1997, and was theatrically released in the United States on July 2. It received critical acclaim for its screenplay, humour, action sequences, and the performances and chemistry between Jones and Smith. The film was a box-office success, grossing more than $589.4 million worldwide and becoming the third-highest-grossing film of 1997 as well as the ninth-highest-grossing film of the decade. It won for Best Makeup and was also nominated for Best Art Direction and Best Original Score at the 70th Academy Awards, among numerous other accolades. A sequel was released in 2002, a third film was released in 2012, and a stand-alone sequel was released in 2019, with Jones and Smith absent.
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Tommy Lee Jones as Kevin Brown / Agent K: J's grizzled and humorless mentor.
Will Smith as James Darrell Edwards III / Agent J: A former NYPD detective, newly recruited to the MIB.
Linda Fiorentino as Dr. Laurel Weaver / Agent L: A deputy medical examiner, and later J's partner.
Vincent D'Onofrio as Edgar / The Bug: An abusive farmer who is killed and eaten by a giant alien insect, which then wears his skin in order to search for the Galaxy and incite a war from the Arquillians.
Rip Torn as Chief Zed: The head of the MIB.
Tony Shalhoub as Jack Jeebs: An alien arms dealer who runs a pawn shop as a front.
Siobhan Fallon Hogan as Beatrice: Edgar's abused wife.
Mike Nussbaum as Gentle Rosenberg: An Arquillian royal family member, posing as a jeweler, who is the guardian of "the Galaxy".
Jon Gries as Nick the van driver: the American smuggler who unknowingly carries a literal alien among his posse.
Sergio Calderón as Jose
John Alexander as Mikey: An alien who poses as a Mexican being smuggled across the border.
Patrick Breen as Mr. Redgick
Becky Ann Baker as Mrs. Redgick
Carel Struycken as Arquillian
Fredric Lehne as Agent Janus
Kent Faulcon as 2nd Lieutenant Jake Jensen
Richard Hamilton as Agent D: K's former partner who retires after deciding he is too old for the job.
Ken Thorley as Zap-Em Man, an Exterminator who is killed by Edgar the Bug
David Cross as Newton, Morgue Attendant
Sean Whalen as Passport Officer
Verne Troyer as the Alien son
Harsh Nayyar as News Vendor
Bernard Gilkey as himself (New York Mets outfielder)
Voices/Puppeteers
Tim Blaney as Frank the Pug: A smart-talking pug-like alien.
Mark Setrakian as Rosenberg Alien
Brad Abrell, Thom Fountain, Carl J. Johnson, and Drew Massey as the Worm Guys: A quartet of worm-like aliens that work for Men in Black.
