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Chapter 106: The Mainstream Commercial Film Lacking Surprise
🕑 Added 2024-11-06 19:33:18 +0000 UTCNot far from Boston, in New York, Bacher Luzi and his friend Evans had just walked out of the cinema.
"Evans, what do you think of the movie?" Bacher Luzi asked.
Evans replied honestly, "To be honest, the quality of this movie is actually quite good, but it's not the Gilbert film I was expecting."
Bacher Luzi agreed, "Yeah, this movie is too mainstream."
In their eyes, Gilbert was actually a non-mainstream director.
Perhaps it was his previous films' strong personal style that made Gilbert stand out, which surprised many fans.
This film, "Real Steel," leaned toward the mainstream; although the robot boxing matches looked exciting, it lacked a sense of surprise.
This feeling was not only shared by Bacher Luzi and Evans; far away on the West Coast in Los Angeles, Lewis and Sarati's fan community felt similarly.
The movie was quite good but lacked a sense of surprise, according to Sarati, who had become a fan after watching Gilbert's previous works.
The newly formed loyal fan base felt a bit disappointed after watching this film, but it was still enjoyable.
They were very excited after watching the trailer, but since the trailer was only a part of it, they could only say that the final film quality was decent, with no surprises.
Because of the battle with animal protection organizations, the reviews from casual viewers who paid attention to the film were much better.
Although the North American fan base was already the largest in the world, there were still many people who were watching a movie in a theater for the first time.
If it weren't for the hype surrounding the animal protection organization, which spread from entertainment news to politics, livelihoods, and even finance, these ordinary viewers might not have noticed "Real Steel."
Thus, on top of its existing fan base, "Real Steel" could be said to have brought more new viewers to cinemas.
Of course, the increasing number of viewers each year is a market fact and is not solely due to "Real Steel."
Additionally, the film's PG-13 rating was also a decisive factor.
New audiences entering the cinema were treated to a visually stunning film, a feeling that was simply indescribable.
This feeling was akin to how Chinese audiences would be awed by Hollywood's visual spectacle years later.
Now, North American box office statistics were complicated, but after the midnight screening, rough figures would emerge.
Gilbert was still awake, anxiously waiting for the box office data from the midnight show.
His previously filmed movies had proven successful in his past life.
However, "Real Steel" wasn't considered a success in the past, and Gilbert was unsure what the film's fate would be.
Soon, the phone rang; it was Robert Iger. "Gilbert, you're still awake, right?"
"Not really," Gilbert quickly asked, "How did the midnight show go?"
"Not bad; 6,250 screens in 3,000 North American theaters opened for midnight screenings, with an average occupancy rate of around 35%, grossing over $4 million in ticket sales.
Detailed data will come out in the morning," Robert Iger replied.
Gilbert sighed with relief. "That's good; it seems the midnight box office data is not bad."
Noticing Gilbert's concern, Robert Iger curiously asked, "What's wrong? You sound nervous?"
"Of course I'm nervous. If the box office performance is poor, it would be a disservice to everyone who worked hard for more than half a year," Gilbert made an excuse.
"Really?" Robert Iger sounded skeptical. "I remember you slept soundly during the last film, 'Speed.'"
"Uh," Gilbert quickly thought of a reason. "That's because 'Speed' had a production cost of $20 million, while 'Real Steel' cost $80 million."
After hearing this, Robert Iger laughed. "Haha, young man, relax. It's only $80 million.
If the film loses a bit, it's no big deal; you can earn it back through merchandise.
Besides, looking at the midnight box office data, the film's box office performance shouldn't be too bad."
"I hope so!" Gilbert still felt a bit anxious.
After hanging up, Gilbert looked out at the night view of Los Angeles, lost in thought.
A pair of hands wrapped around his waist from behind; it was Cameron Diaz.
"Darling, what's wrong? You seem a bit off," Cameron Diaz asked.
"Nothing," Gilbert turned around and hugged Cameron Diaz. "Is the dress ready?"
"Of course it's ready," Cameron Diaz glanced at the clock in the living room. "It's getting late; we should rest!"
"Mm..."
The lights in the living room went out as they walked hand in hand into the bedroom.
The first week of "Real Steel" happened to coincide with the day of the third MTV Movie Awards, and Gilbert brought Cameron Diaz along to attend.
Of course, they were joined by another companion, Charlize Theron.
The opportunity to walk the red carpet was something Charlize Theron had requested.
Ever since their pleasant chat last time, Charlize Theron had naturally begun to approach Gilbert.
Although they hadn't gone to bed together yet, this South African diamond was ready to present herself at any time.
However, before she could climb into Gilbert's bed, she was given the chance to walk the red carpet with him.
In reality, bringing a female companion was a hard requirement from Disney and Warner Bros.; it was mandatory.
But when they heard that Gilbert was bringing two female companions to the MTV awards ceremony, the publicity teams from Disney and Warner Bros. could only give a thumbs up, praising Gilbert for his good judgment.
The MTV Movie Awards' red carpet might not attract top-tier stars, but it was a huge opportunity for Charlize Theron.
If she were fortunate enough to be interviewed and said a few words, it could leave a lasting impression on the audience.
At the very least, it could add to her resume.
The MTV Movie Awards are an annual film award event hosted by MTV, and unlike the Oscars, the awards are entirely determined by the audience.
Thus, the trophy awarded at the ceremony is also quite interesting, shaped like popcorn, and is hence called the Popcorn Award.
Due to its strong entertainment attributes, viewership ratings have been steadily increasing since its inception, making it a very popular awards ceremony.
Of course, there are significant differences between the MTV Movie Awards and the Oscars, primarily in service to the audience, with categories like Best Kiss that would never appear at the Oscars.
The most popular stars here are typically Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Meg Ryan, and so on.
After the success of "Speed," Keanu Reeves is also included in that list now.
Gilbert's "Speed," directed last year, received multiple nominations at this year's MTV awards, including Best Film, Sexiest Actor, Best Kiss, Best Villain, Best Action Scene, and Best Screen Duo.
With so many nominations, "Speed" had become a strong contender for the awards this year.
Notably, last year's box office champion "Jurassic Park" received only one nomination for Best Film, and nothing more.
Perhaps the dinosaurs couldn't be considered people, so it was not nominated for any award related to humans.
Charlize Theron was fortunate enough to get an interview with a reporter, but the questions were related to Gilbert.
"Miss Theron, may I ask?" Luckily, this reporter knew Charlize Theron's name; otherwise, the question could have been a bit awkward.
The reporter continued to ask, "What was it like to collaborate with Gilbert on your first film?"
To be honest, this wasn't Charlize Theron's first film, but her previous roles were not significantly stronger than those of background actors.
So Charlize Theron smiled sweetly, looking at Gilbert beside her, and spoke with admiration, "Working with Director Gilbert feels like a dream come true.
I've dreamed of being an actress since I was a child; thank you, Director Gilbert, for giving me this opportunity."
The reporter then asked, "Are you and Ms. Diaz currently in a love triangle with Director Gilbert?"
Who would usually care about a director's gossip? This was simply because Gilbert's popularity was too high, so the media was very interested.
Charlize Theron wisely avoided directly answering this question: "A man as outstanding as Director Gilbert is surely the dream lover of all women."
Though she didn't answer directly, her ambiguous attitude was enough to provoke speculation.
These days, there are quite a few actresses openly expressing their feelings for Gilbert; just a few days ago, an adult star from San Fernando Valley publicly declared her love for Gilbert, stating that he was better than Donald.
In this way, Gilbert completed his intersection with Donald.
The host of this year's MTV awards was Will Smith.
Will Smith previously made his mark in the rap scene and even won a Grammy. In recent years, he ventured into the film industry, becoming a comedic actor.
Black individuals often have talent in rap and comedy, and Will Smith is no exception.
As Gilbert walked the red carpet with Cameron Diaz and Charlize Theron, the atmosphere was more natural and relaxed as he interacted with fans.
This was Charlize Theron's first time experiencing the cheers and screams of fans; although she knew it wasn't directed at her, she was still enchanted by the feeling.
"One day, I will also enjoy these cheers," Charlize Theron thought to herself.
At the awards ceremony, Gilbert saw Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, whom he had just met a few days ago.
The success of "Speed" had brought both of them great fame. Charlize Theron was right; the feeling of being in the spotlight was indeed intoxicating.
When Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock appeared together, they received the loudest cheers and applause of the night.
Tom Cruise rose to fame thanks to "Top Gun," and Keanu Reeves became a household name through "Speed."
Gilbert heard from Robert Iger that both Touchstone Pictures and Warner Bros. were planning a sequel to Speed.
With such a successful summer blockbuster, it would seem a shame not to make a sequel.
However, Gilbert wasn't optimistic about the sequel. He recalled that in his previous life, Speed 2 had a high budget but disappointing box office returns.
So when Robert Iger asked if Gilbert was interested in directing the sequel, he declined without hesitation. He had his own projects to focus on.
In a way, this worked out well. If Speed 2 flopped, Keanu Reeves' asking price might drop, making him more affordable for another project down the line.
This year's MTV opening was exciting. It kicked off with a performance by Will Smith's rap group, earning cheers from the entire crowd.
Then, Dr. Dre took the stage to perform the theme song for Real Steel.
This wasn't surprising; Disney and Warner Bros. were both sponsors of the MTV Movie Awards, so the organizers had no issue with them promoting their films.
Moreover, Dr. Dre was already a famous rapper across America, and his impressive performance only added to the entertainment of the MTV Movie Awards.
After the opening, Will Smith came on stage to host. He started with a stand-up routine, mentioning all the special guests attending that night.
When it came to Gilbert, Will Smith playfully expressed his envy, saying, "Wow, looks like our director Gilbert is quite popular, surrounded by two beauties!"
Cameron Diaz and Charlize Theron, playing along, kissed Gilbert on each cheek, stirring up cheers and whistles.
In such a fun setting, everyone assumed the trio was just putting on a show to play along with Will Smith.
Will didn't forget to promote Gilbert's film, saying, "Gilbert's Real Steel is out now in theaters. Make sure to go show your support!"
He then jokingly added, "I'm pretty good at boxing too, Gilbert! Haven't you thought about casting me?"
Will struck a boxing pose as he spoke.
Gilbert grinned, mouthing, "Sure, if you want in, I'd definitely cast you."
However, what the fans and viewers seemed more interested in was whether Gilbert, Cameron Diaz, and Charlize Theron were genuinely involved.
Thankfully, Charlize was almost nineteen, sparing Gilbert from any issues with underage relations or intervention from the Child Protection Association.
Even if it were true, it wouldn't be a big deal. Gilbert already had several rumored girlfriends—Naomi Watts wasn't even here.
Fans were more than used to Hollywood stars and directors switching partners frequently.
In fact, if a Hollywood figure didn't switch partners a few times, people might start wondering if something was wrong with them.
The MTV Movie Awards assigned Gilbert the task of presenting the Best Actor award.
This year's Best Actor Award had a slight similarity to the Oscars—it went to Tom Hanks.
Before announcing the winner, Gilbert seized the chance to promote his own film: "My new movie, Real Steel, is now showing in theaters. I hope everyone goes to see it."
When Tom Hanks accepted the Golden Popcorn from Gilbert, he joked, "Actually, Gilbert, I used to box, too. I was a boxer in high school, so maybe we could work together sometime."
Gilbert responded immediately, "Who wouldn't want to work with an Oscar-winning actor? I'm definitely in!"
Taking advantage of the moment, Tom Hanks showed his goodwill towards Gilbert. Whether they could actually collaborate would depend on further discussions.
What Tom didn't know was that Gilbert was seriously interested in working with him. However, since Tom Hanks was represented by CAA, it remained to be seen if his agent would agree.
Though Keanu Reeves missed out on Best Actor, he and Sandra Bullock won the awards for Sexiest Male and Female and took home trophies for Best Kiss and Best On-Screen Duo.
Dennis Hopper also snagged an award for Best Villain. Speed was undoubtedly a big winner at this year's MTV Movie Awards.
Meanwhile, Real Steel was enjoying a hot opening weekend.
