*Warning: May contain spoilers*
One-hit wonders Mickey and Sylvia made their shot at posterity with “Love is Strange”, a haunting melody with a latin rhythm section and an unforgettable guitar riff used later by the likes of Buddy Holly and The Beatles. That was before the oh-so-neutral Wikipedia honchos decided to neuralize the entry of the song, it was properly called “a cosmic convergence”, a big no-no for the site.
It is not a surprise then that the song is heavily featured in the new Will Smith blockbuster “Men in Black 3”, since the cosmic convergence is virtually the main theme of the movie. Deeply self-referential, it reflects the hopes of a Will Smith returning to acting since his 2008 Seven Pounds disappointment. He surely is tired of constantly being snubbed for Oscar consideration and his milieu there were doubts about his bankability and status.
Maybe this is another lousy year for box-office records (except for the Avengers, until now), but “Men in Black 3” deserves more success and attention. The plot is noticeable better than its predecessor, and the final act has the classic sentimental touch that characterizes most of Will Smith’s movies.
And the music… well, I thought I never wanted to hear “2000 light years from home”, but it was surprisingly well used in the movie, as The Velvet Underground’s anthem “I’m Waiting for the Man” obviously was. I surely missed a few obscure references, but the CRM 114 was a classic. President Obama was referenced in more than one occasion, especially when Agent J’s pay grade is referred by other characters. In that way, “Men in Black 3” was like a Beatles album.
And the acting… well, impeccable. From the main villain Jermaine Clement to Tommy Lee Jones to Emma Thompson to Will Smith, absolutely everybody delivers, with the plus of an almost kiddie fare free screenplay (Frank the Pug, the worms – almost – and Jack Jeebs were conspicuously absent from the film).
