It's a Whole New West: The Making of 'Wild, Wild West'
It's a Whole New West: The Making of 'Wild, Wild West'

Movie spotlight

It's a Whole New West: The Making of 'Wild, Wild West'

1999
Movie
14 min
English

This is a promotional behind the scenes featurette that originally appeared on HBO. A lot of the usual interviews and behind-the-scenes clips, but enjoyably, there are a few shots that look at how the FX were filmed.

Insights

IMDb4.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes17%
Metacritic31/100
Google Users40%
Director: Barry SonnenfeldGenres: Action, Comedy, Western, Sci-Fi

Plot Summary

In this behind-the-scenes look at the making of the 1999 film 'Wild Wild West,' audiences get an inside perspective on the challenges and creative decisions involved in bringing this ambitious steampunk Western to life. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, the film stars Will Smith as a technologically advanced frontier marshal and Kevin Kline as the eccentric President Ulysses S. Grant. The documentary explores the fusion of Western tropes with anachronistic science fiction elements, the extensive special effects, and the comedic chemistry between the lead actors.

Critical Reception

The film 'Wild, Wild West' itself was met with overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics and audiences alike, widely considered a critical and commercial disappointment. It was criticized for its convoluted plot, weak humor, and overreliance on special effects. The behind-the-scenes documentary likely highlights the production's struggles and aspirations amidst this poor reception.

What Reviewers Say

  • The production faced immense pressure to deliver a blockbuster with a unique blend of genres.

  • Efforts were made to create groundbreaking special effects and a distinct visual style.

  • The documentary likely touches upon the challenges of balancing spectacle with narrative cohesion.

Google audience: Viewers often found the film to be a chaotic mess, with many disliking the nonsensical plot and the forced humor. While some appreciated the visual inventiveness, the overall sentiment was that the movie failed to live up to its potential.

Awards & Accolades

The film 'Wild, Wild West' was nominated for and won multiple Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Picture, Worst Director, and Worst Actor for Kevin Kline. It received no significant positive awards.

Fun Fact

The mechanical tarantula featured prominently in the film was one of the most expensive props ever built for a movie at the time, costing an estimated $5 million.

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