QUEENS ON THE SCENE: THE LOCATION OF THE ACTION COMEDY MEN IN BLACK

The science fiction comedy Men in Black by Barry Sonnenfeld was released in 1997. Critically acclaimed as the best film of the ‘90s, it perfectly captured the spirit of then-New York. This timeless classic tells the story of a secret organization that monitors extraterrestrial activity on Earth. The movie was partially shot in Queens. Read more at queens-trend.

PLOT

The film is based on the Marvel comic series of the same name. Police officer James Edwards III (played by Will Smith), while stalking a criminal, attracts the attention of Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) from a secret bureau called the Men in Black. K erases James’s memory but leaves his business card. After regaining his memory, the officer follows the address indicated on the card. There, he demonstrates his outside-the-box thinking. James becomes K’s apprentice at the most crucial moment when the Earth is in grave danger. The newcomer gets the name J.

Federal agents K and J, also known as the Men in Black, monitor aliens in New York and try to save the world. They provide immigration services and oversee everything that exists on Earth. Secretly living on the planet in human form, countless extraterrestrial refugees peacefully coexist with the city’s residents. The agents uncover a deadly conspiracy by an intergalactic terrorist who is on a mission to kill two ambassadors from opposite galaxies who live in New York.

FILMING LOCATIONS

The filming of Men in Black took place mostly in Manhattan, but Queens can also be seen in many scenes. For example, the agents chase Edgar to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, where two alien spaceships are hidden in the observatory. Edgar takes off in one of the ships and flies over the Citi Field baseball stadium located in this park. J and K try to shoot down the ship above the stadium. They hit the target and the spaceship falls to the ground, crashing into the Unisphere, the park’s most famous sculpture.

The masterful touch of imagination in the film is revealed when J realizes that the 1964 World’s Fair was a cover-up for the construction of an alien landing site and the observation towers served as pillars for alien ships. In real life, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park was once a city dump until it was converted into a park specifically for the 1939 World’s Fair. Another fair was held there in 1964.

Additionally, the Queens-Midtown Tunnel, which stretches under the East River and connects Manhattan to Queens, appeared in the picture. Some scenes, besides New York, were filmed in California.

WHAT MAKES THE FILM A PHENOMENON?

Men in Black is a bright example of blockbusters in the 1990s. With its unforgettable characters and witty dialogues, the film captured the attention of audiences worldwide, grossing over $589 million (although rumor has it that the film didn’t did not pay off at all). Its popularity became the reason for the creation of several sequels (works of art that continue the plot of another well-known work) and spin-offs (artistic works whose characters were featured in previous works). 

Moreover, the success of the movie led to two sequels (Men in Black II and Men in Black III), the opening of a themed attraction at Universal Studios in Florida and the creation of toys and video games.

The picture conveys the spirit of the era through a combination of humor and action, making it interesting for audiences of all ages. It raises questions about the place of humankind in the universe and understanding of extraterrestrial life. The cutting-edge visual effects in Men in Black seamlessly integrate alien characters into the real world. The film features an array of extravagant futuristic weapons, the most famous of which is the memory-erasing device. The special effects and makeup earned the movie an Oscar in 1998.

Sonnenfeld introduced his unique visual style, creating a distinctive and memorable image of the Men in Black universe. The exceptional alien characters demonstrate the diversity of creative and interesting extraterrestrial creatures.

This film made Will Smith one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, establishing him as a leading actor and opening doors to many other roles. Smith performed the iconic song in Men in Black. The cheerful song topped the charts for a while and became synonymous with the film. Smith received a Grammy for his rap solo performance, and the music video gained almost as much popularity as the movie itself.

10 INTERESTING FACTS

1. Steven Spielberg is one of the executive producers of the film. The legendary director played a crucial role in promoting Men in Black to the big screen.
2. The film’s script was remade several times before the start of production. Its creators diligently improved the story to ensure the perfect blend of action, comedy and science fiction elements.
3. Clint Eastwood was initially supposed to play Agent K, but he declined. Tommy Lee Jones also didn’t like the script at first, but the filmmakers managed to convince him. The role of J was first offered to Chris O’Donnell. However, Sonnenfeld really wanted to see Will Smith on screen and lied to O’Donnell to make him refuse.
4. Most of the actors went through the usual audition process, but not Linda Fiorentino for the role of Laurel Weaver. She got it while playing poker with Barry Sonnenfeld. The prize was a part in the film.
5. The film features a cameo by Sylvester Stallone. In an unexpected twist, this famous actor and director appears as an alien in an intergalactic immigration episode.
6. The cockroaches used in the film were trained and lined up in a row using tiny wires. The American Humane organization made sure that no insects were harmed. The moment where Agent J crushes cockroaches is shot and edited to look realistic. Will Smith actually stomped on mustard packets, which is an imitation of insect guts.
7. The director complained that Tommy Lee Jones ruined several takes by mouthing gunshots during shooting scenes. Jones himself didn’t notice this, while Will Smith laughed every time the director caught his colleague creating his own sound effects.
8. Sunglasses for the actors were provided by the Ray-Ban company. To hide the logo, the prop designers added an anti-glare coating to the lenses. Despite Ray-Ban’s requests, the filmmakers refused to mention the brand name. The only reference to the sunglasses is found in Smith’s song lyrics. Nevertheless, this was enough to significantly boost sales by 3-5 times.
9. During the filming process, the pug Frank lived like some of the biggest Hollywood stars. The dog flew business class, had his own bed in hotel rooms, drank bottled water, walked on red carpets and ate five-star meals.
10. In the original versions of the script, many actions in Men in Black took place underground. Washington, Columbia, Nevada and Kansas had to become film locations. It was Sonnenfeld’s idea to choose New York, particularly because of its architecture and his belief that New Yorkers wouldn’t be surprised by the presence of aliens.