More Movies With: Will Smith

Maybe you hated "Hancock." Maybe you want to erase it from your memory and remind yourself that Will Smith has made better movies during his career. Or maybe you really liked "Hancock," and it made you want to see more of Will Smith's work. Either way, More Movies With: can help.

This series looks at earlier, lesser known, but worthwhile movies by actors and directors making entertainment news. It's meant to be a guide to filling out your NetFlix list with stuff you might have missed the first time around.

We try to avoid the obvious stuff, and that's not easy with Will Smith. From his breakout roles in 1995's Bad Boys, and especially Independence Day in 1996, Smith has been a major star and almost every one of his movies has been a major event. Going back through the list of his films, they're almost all things you've either seen or at least are pretty familiar with. Movies like I Robot and Men In Black.

But we did manage to track down a couple early films, from before he became Will Smith, international movie mega-star. While Smith was appearing on TV in Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, he was already taking some interesting movie roles. While these films aren't the big summer blockbusters that would become the staple of his career, it was obvious even from these early movies that Smith had charisma to spare and a talent that was going to take him places.

Six Degrees of Separation (1993 - Drama)
An upscale New York couple (Donald Sutherland and Stockard Channing) discover a young black man with a fresh wound and a bloody shirt at the door of their expensive apartment. He claims to be the son of Sidney Poitier, a friend of their children from Harvard, and in need of help because he was just mugged in Central Park. The couple invite him in, and he proceeds to charm his way into their social circle. By the time they realize they've been had, they're fascinated by how easily this stranger was able to manipulate them and set out to learn who he really is.

Although Stockard Channing and Donald Sutherland are pretty major actors themselves, this is a film that was always going to rise or fall based on the performance of "Paul," the stranger at the door with the winning smile and the social graces. And Smith absolutely nails it. He's fascinating to watch here.

Six Degrees of Separation is based on a stage play, and it shows. And the third act, where Smith's character gets a little too caught up in his adopted persona and is gradually destroyed by it, is a bit much. But still, this is worth watching even if just for Smith's performance. It was no summer blockbuster like Bad Boys, but it was an unmistakeable announcement that Will Smith was going to be a movie star.

Also look for supporting performances from Ian McKellen, Heather Graham and Anthony Michael Hall. And Doug, one of the college kids? That's J.J. Abrams, creator of Lost, Alias and, oddly enough, a series called Six Degrees that also plays on the idea that we're all connected to everyone by no more than six people.

Where the Day Takes You (1992 - Drama)
A small movie about a pack of teenage runaways trying to get by on the mean streets of Los Angeles, Where the Day Takes You was packed with actors who were going to make it big - Dermot Mulroney, Sean Astin, Balthazar Getty, Ricki Lake, Lara Flynn Boyle, David Arquette. And that's not even mentioning Kyle MacLachlan, Laura San Giacomo or Christian Slater. But Where the Day Takes You was also the film debut of Will Smith.

Smith plays one of the street kids, Manny, who's lost both legs at the knee and is confined to a wheelchair. This doesn't stop him from chasing someone for blocks down a crowded street in one scene. But it's a definite disadvantage for someone who's already facing plenty of challenges. Manny is tough and brash, very proud, and these are qualities that are eventually bound to get him in trouble.

Manny is one character in a pretty big ensemble cast - Smith isn't the guy we're here to see as he is in Six Degrees of Separation. But even among so many characters, being played by so many well known actors, Smith holds his own and creates a memorable character.

Where the Day Takes You is a moving and deeply sad film, but one filled with bravura performances. (Pay attention to Sean Astin as well as Smith.)