Chapter 177： So-called freedom

"Mr. Gibson, don't you think it's too much for you to portray William Wallace, a recognized traitor in Britain, into a hero?"

As soon as he walked out of the premiere theater, Mel Gibson was surrounded by dozens of reporters. These people seemed to be waiting for him here, and the questions they asked were carefully prepared.

"Do you really like a traitor and informer?"

"Mr. Director, should you check the historical data before making the film? The film must conform to the minimum historical records?"

Mel Gibson, who was already rebellious, opened his eyes, looked at the reporter who asked the question, and answered coldly, "History is written by the victor..."

Before he could finish his words, he was pulled by the PR that followed. This kind of remark shouldn't appear in public.

The reporter next to him became even more excited. A reporter with a "Sun" sign said loudly, "Mel, do you think the recorded history of Britain is all false? Do you think Scotland should be independent? You do. Doesn’t the act of blatantly interfering in the internal affairs of Britain feel excessive?"

"If, as you said, history is written by victors, then there is no recorded history in the United States and Britain? Nor does the Second World War?"

Remember ∞♀, the person seized the opportunity to chase and fight, all kinds of big hats without money, and desperately threw Mel Gibson's head, almost to say that he himself was a traitor and informer.

Mel Gibson closed his mouth tightly and said nothing to stop responding to these sensitive questions. He was relieved until the car came and got into the car.

"The reporters are basically from Warner, Disney and News Corporation, and some are from Fleet Street."

After closing the car door, the public relations reminded him, "Meyer, the subject matter of the film itself is somewhat sensitive. Although your intention is to gain attention from controversy, you cannot respond to sensitive issues like the one just now."

After working hard in Hollywood for so many years, Mel Gibson, who has calmed down, still understands these truths. The reporters obviously want to lead him into the ditch. This kind of public opinion trap sometimes has to be careful.

Damn bastard!

His eyes passed through the car window glass. Looking in the direction of Hollywood, what happened just now must be inseparable from the other crew.

"Kiel, have you received the feedback from the premiere of "Saving Private Ryan"?" Mel Gibson asked the assistant on the co-pilot, "What's the response?"

"The audience stood up and applauded twice during the film screening."

The assistant could see through the rearview mirror that Mel Gibson's face was not very good, "and the applause time is relatively long."

"It doesn't mean anything!"

As a person in the industry, Mel Gibson is very clear, find some support to mix in the audience. Using the special scenes of the film to drive the audience to applaud and even applaud is something that most crews will do. For example, when William Wallace yelled ‘freedom’ for his own film, he was actually driving the audience to applaud.

Although this kind of shouting will inevitably please the old guys in the college, it actually affects the audience.

"Anything else?" he asked again.

"After the screening of "Saving Private Ryan", the applause lasted for more than ten minutes." The assistant no longer looked at Mel Gibson's face, but said the real situation. So that the employer can make a prepared judgment, "Duke Rosenberg and Tom Hanks led the crew for four consecutive curtain calls. The audience refused to leave!"

"What?"

Mel Gibson's face became very serious, such a long applause, such a long curtain call, absolutely cannot be brought about by the trust, there is only one possibility, the film has aroused strong emotional resonance among most ordinary audiences!

Could it be that film. Better than they want, and even lethal?

When he returned to his mansion, Mel Gibson was still thinking about this when he was lying on the bed, while in Chicago. Roger Albert and Gene Siskell, who just walked out of the theater, have confirmed this.

They all participated in the trial screening of "Brave Heart", so they chose "Saving Private Ryan" directly in the midnight show. After watching, the two of them tensed and walked into the theater hall silently.

"Is this still Duke Rosenberg's work?" Siskell couldn't help but said first. "No speeding, no exaggerated explosions, no sharp camera switching... This doesn't look like him at all. The style of the three films."

"But this is indeed his work!" Roger Albert blinked his eyes, as if he was still recalling the content of the film. "You should have seen it, Gene. There are many explosions in the film, but some are totally unnecessary. , The director who can put so many unnecessary explosions into the movie, besides Duke Rosenberg, who else?"

"Michael Bay!"

It seems that I want to use a joke to ease the atmosphere, "Isn't someone saying that the director of "The Jedi Men" that was screened last month was Duke Rosenberg?"

"Let's talk about this movie," Roger Albert nodded to the fans who occasionally waved to him, and said softly, "He does grow up, and we are all laughing at him. What happened?"

"Duke Rosenberg did not evade the **** violence of war, nor did he describe it from a strategic perspective. He only captured the most direct executor of the war-reflecting the war from the perspective of ordinary soldiers, using the simplest and most simple The simple method truly shows all aspects of the battlefield."

Because this is just a private conversation between the two of them, Gene Siskell did not hide his true opinion, "There has never been a movie that directly described the cruelty of war, the rain of bullets, the blood and the rain, the wailing, the picture The authenticity of this makes people afraid to look directly."

Nodding to agree with an old friend, Roger Albert said, "The film's reflection on war has also been greatly sublimated in cruelty. The so-called justice and injustice are so fragile in the face of death. Duke? Rosenberg also made a deep excavation of human nature. Soldiers in the war are brave, courageous, weak, or withdrawn. Human nature is exposed. The deep thinking and shock brought by the movie are worthy of repeated recollection."

"Roger, how should we evaluate?" Gene Siskell was unwilling to say, "What this film criticizes..."

"Don't criticize, it will only cause us trouble." Roger Albert shook his head. "Don't forget, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the victory of World War II. There are a series of commemorative events all over the world, including North America. The political and value orientation of the film is so correct. Our criticism will only outweigh the gain."

He looked at Siskell, "Ignore it. Neither praise nor criticize, just as if this film never existed!"

"we can only do this."

Stepping out of the theater and getting in the same car, Siskell changed the subject, "Mel Gibson is in big trouble during the awards season."

They have participated in the preview of "Brave Heart" and talked to Mel Gibson himself, knowing that this ambitious Australian is not only targeting the summer market, but also the major awards for next year's awards season.

"In my opinion..."

Although the eyes flashed with anger towards a certain director. Roger Albert’s words are still quite calm, "If Duke Rosenberg is ten years older, with this special time period and the special themes of the film, as well as the advantages of his own descent, next year’s The Oscar for best director, Golden Man must be his possession."

"It's a pity..." His voice turned sharply, "We can be silent now, but the award season will not be silent!"

"Snipe him with all his strength?"

Hearing Siskell's words, Roger Albert nodded slowly but firmly.

The black car crossed the streets of Chicago. We drove to the suburbs, passing by an independent cinema on the way. The theaters are still brightly lit, and the popularity of the midnight scene does not disappear at all.

Chriswell is the owner of this theater. Because it is an independent theater, he often has to put more energy in business operations, especially on weekends when major productions are released, and he often insists on until the early hours of the morning.

Today is no exception. Even if "Saving Private Ryan" ended, he did not intend to leave, but let the staff randomly understand the feelings of the audience watching the two newly released films.

This is a very helpless thing. It is naturally impossible for an independent theater like him to hire a special investigation company. If you want to adjust the appropriate filming rate the next day, you can only find a way by yourself.

He himself stood at the exit of the theater, listening to the audience's reaction.

"Excellent plot, excellent actors, perfect visual and sound effects, "Saving Private Ryan" is simply the best war movie!"

Those who walked out first were the audience of "Saving Private Ryan". Many people looked tired, their eyes were red, and they seemed to cry...

"I... Duke Rosenberg, the movie he made is so aphrodisiac, he made me cry!"

"I want to scold him too. He made such a war movie. How can we watch other war movies in the future!"

"And Tom Hanks, the look in the eyes of Captain Miller when he died makes my heart still hurt!"

There is also an older movie fan who is not as impulsive as young people and looks extremely calm. "In the past, there were always films claiming that they were a strong alliance. The result was disappointment after the release. Duke Rosenberg and Tom ? What Hanks brought this time is the real strong alliance!"

Listening to the real reactions of the fans, Chriswell kept nodding. Duke Rosenberg is indeed the guarantee of summer income!

A few minutes later, "Brave Heart" also ended.

"The film is okay, but this is a film about Scots and has nothing to do with us in America."

Some fans shook their heads and walked away. Other fans said, "Mel's performance is very shocking, but the director's skills are average, and the plot is too slow and too procrastinated."

Finally, a male audience of about 30 years old said, "The sensational way of the film is too crude. We all know the importance of freedom, but there is no need to shout it in that way. Freedom's shouting is too false, let me watch. I feel like nausea. In this land, I think the monkeys in the zoo are more real and freer than William Wallace’s exaggerated cry of freedom!"

Back in his office, Chriswell immediately called in the manager of the sales department, "For the daytime screening next year, the filming rate of "Brave Heart" will drop by 10% from the original plan, and "Saving Private Ryan" will increase by 10%. Percentage points!" (To be continued...)