I'm not a drama freak, I can really see through the script

Chapter 410, First Day Box Office: Three-Way Split! Another Record Broken!
On the screen, Cheng Yong's face overlapped with the image of Shiva.

Destruction and rebirth.

Mortals and gods.

Inside the screening room, Lu Chuan unconsciously sat up straight.

He understood the shot.

Li Xuan didn't use any lines to explain the protagonist's change of mindset, but he used this brilliant scene to say it all.

This is the charm of cinematic language.
There are no lines.

Use visuals and actions to drive everything.
Cheng Yong once fought for his "personal desires"—for money, for his father, and for his own fabricated illness.

When all these external driving forces disappeared, what made him embark on this path again?

It is "divinity".

It was the purest thought of "saving people" that was forced out of his mortal body after witnessing Lü Shouyi's extreme pain and holding that bag of cold oranges.

“In the first half, he makes the audience believe that this is the story of a ‘human being’.” Jiang Wen’s voice rang out softly in the darkness of the back row, more like he was talking to himself than to anyone else. “Now, he’s going to tell you how a ‘god’ was born.”

This "god" is not the god who sits in a temple and receives offerings from people.

Rather, it is a god who walks among men, bearing a cross, and possessing flesh and blood.

From this moment on, the film's rhythm completely enters another dimension.

Gone is the lighthearted humor of the first half, replaced by a sense of oppression and urgency, a race against time.

Cheng Yong gave away all his wealth to sell medicine at prices far below cost.

He reunited with his former team members, including Huang Mao, Liu Sihui, and Pastor Liu.

This time, it's not about the money.

It was for... life.

On screen, the audience's emotions were firmly gripped.

If the exhilaration of the first half made them laugh out loud, then the oppression of the second half made them even more careful with their breathing.

Lu Chuan stared intently at the screen.

He witnessed Li Xuan's formidable skill in dispatching.

The police investigation, the drug dealers' obstruction, and the death of a fellow patient—he weaves these clues together and moves forward methodically.

Every shot is packed with information, and every scene builds up a sense of impending doom.

This is no longer a simple linear narrative.

This is a network structure that wraps all the characters and all the conflicts in a large net called "fate".

And Cheng Yong is at the center of this network.

"Zhang Changlin's line was handled brilliantly," Jiang Wen said again, his tone tinged with admiration. "Why was he arrested? Because he used to sell counterfeit drugs, and nobody took it seriously. Now, he's selling effective, genuine drugs, which has threatened the profits of legitimate pharmaceutical companies, so he's been targeted. In short, he's revealed the entire chain of interests and the full picture of social reality."

Lu Chuan felt a chill run down his spine.

He got it completely.

Li Xuan's scripts are never wasted.

Think about it carefully and you'll understand.

The role of Zhang Changlin is not merely that of a tool to push Cheng Yong to "step down," but also a key to revealing the cruel logic behind the entire incident.

The climax of the movie came unexpectedly.

Huang Mao, the guy with dyed yellow hair, always taciturn, the most inconspicuous "little brother".

To cover Cheng Yong's transfer of the last batch of medicine, he drove a truck and drew the police away.

A tense car chase scene that's almost suffocating.

Ultimately, the truck overturned and was completely wrecked.

When Cheng Yong rushed over like a madman and dragged the blood-covered boy out of the driver's seat...

Huang Mao looked at him, blood still oozing from his mouth, but with his last bit of strength, he smiled at him.

"elder brother……"

He pulled a crumpled train ticket out of his pocket.

"I... want to go home..."

Then, his head lolled to the side, and he fell silent.

"..."

The screening room was deathly silent.

Immediately following was an uncontrollable chorus of sobs.

Lu Chuan felt his eyes burning.

He recalled his experience filming "The Last Supper," where he used countless grand scenes and ingenious compositions to portray the complexity of Liu Bang and the tragedy of Han Xin.

But what about Li Xuan?

With the simplest and most unassuming sacrifice, with just a small train ticket, he powerfully conveyed the sorrow of separation and death, and the unpredictability of the fate of ordinary people, striking the hearts of every viewer.

This is a most primal and most powerful force.

emotion.

A genuine, pure emotional resonance that transcends all social classes and all techniques.

Jiang Wen did not cry.

But his hand, which was resting on the armrest, had unconsciously clenched into a fist, and his knuckles had turned slightly white from the force.

He thought of Lao Liu from the movie "Let the Bullets Fly".

He used an absurd and extreme method to express the desolation of dissecting one's heart to prove one's innocence.

Li Xuan, in the most realistic and down-to-earth way, tells you how heavy the death of a teenager is.

The two methods achieve the same result through different means.

They all point to the same core issue—the human heart.

At the end of the movie.

Cheng Yong was arrested.

On the way to prison.

The police car drove slowly down the street.

The streets were lined with people.

The patients who had previously bought medicine from him all came.

They took off their masks, revealing faces that had suffered from illness, yet still held hope and gratitude.

They didn't speak, they didn't shout slogans.

He simply bowed deeply in the direction of the police car.

The camera slowly pans across each face.

Old people, children, men, women...

Silent faces formed a silent ocean.

Cheng Yong sat in the car, watching the scene outside the window.

He smiled.

As I laughed, tears started to flow.

At this moment, he was no longer the failed shop owner, nor the opportunistic smuggler.

He is their God.

A sinful "medicine god" who was elevated to a divine status by mortals.

The screen went black.

The end credits slowly rolled.

The lights came on in the screening room.

No one spoke.

No one got up.

Everyone was still caught up in that immense sadness and emotion, unable to pull themselves out.

Only faint, suppressed sobs remained in the air.

A long, long time passed.

Lu Chuancai let out a long, long breath.

He didn't look at Li Xuan beside him, but stared at the now-off screen and murmured something.

"You are very strong, stronger than I imagined, very good."

"It's really, really good."

Without excessive elaboration or language
After the movie ended, everyone went their separate ways.
I don't care about those words of praise.

After all, we've all reached this level.

It's not hard to tell whether someone possesses something or not.

Does it possess quality?

Words of praise no longer matter.

Everything is left unsaid.

Li Xuan thought so too.

What will be the outcome of everything?

I'll see what level of box office it achieves in the end.

What kind of feedback?

"In fact, the works of the three of you almost represent three different paths."

Uncle Wei Ming paused for a moment.

"Three different wills."

As a spectator, Wei Ming had a clearer perspective.

Elite.

noble.

people.

"Indeed. When you reach our level, external factors like quality and acting skills have already reached their peak."

It has reached this level now.

It all comes down to whose film conveys a message that can convince others.

Let's see what the truth is hidden within.

Can it be done for people?

Immersive recognition.

Jiang Wen's narrative of the elite, Lu Chuan's narrative of the aristocracy, and his own narrative of the peasants.

These are the three narrative logics.

Who can reach the "truth"?

Just look at the box office numbers.

What did you think of the movie?

"Very strong, very outstanding. It has to be admitted that, given his background, it's truly astonishing that he has achieved what he has today." At this moment, Wang Lei looked at Lu Chuan and waited quietly for his next words.

Sure enough, the conversation took a turn.

Lu Chuan then said.

"But it's not certain who will win or lose. We've taken different paths, so let's see whose true nature will prevail."

Wang Lei was not surprised by this.

Li Xuan was so strong that he was willing to give up everything to gamble.

Using Huayi Brothers' equity.

As a bargaining chip in a bet.

This movie.

And then the big prize event is about to begin.

At this moment, Wang Lei asked.

"Have you ever considered the possibility of losing?"

"I thought about it."

"Let me show you what the price you'll pay if you lose this time."

"I've thought about it..."

The pain of losing fame and fortune

"It's not the pain of losing fame and fortune."

Wang Lei was somewhat surprised.
If it's not the pain of losing fame and fortune, then what is it?
At this moment, Lu Chuan spoke softly.

"That proves that my life beliefs, which I have always adhered to, were wrong. That is much more painful than simply losing fame and fortune."

"I want to beat Li Xuan."

"I want to prove I'm right."

At this moment, Han Ping was watching the uproar on the internet...
"In terms of popularity, you don't have much of an advantage during these three slots this month."

"Popularity always has a diminishing marginal effect. Add to that the money spent on media promotion, and in many ways, everyone is pretty much the same; the differences aren't as big as you might imagine."

Jiang Wen was looking at Han Ping at that moment.

"You went to see Zhang Yimou's movie, what did you think of it?"

"Low-budget arthouse films, we won't compete with you for the overall box office."

Even Han Ping.

I have to admit it.

These three movies are currently scheduled for release.

Even if Zhang Yimou came, he still couldn't beat Jiang Wen now.

This is the pinnacle of talent in "Let the Bullets Fly".

It would be difficult for anyone to match him.
Just watch
How's the box office performance?

The day after the film's premiere, in the early morning.

Before the first rays of dawn pierced the night sky over Beijing, the entire Chinese-language film industry had already exploded with excitement.

Countless industry professionals are paying attention.

Lu Chuan, the seventh generation leader.

Jiang Wen, the future king of movies.

There's also Li Xuan, who climbed out of the mire and possesses unparalleled talent—the Li Xuan who made a bet with Wang Lei!

The first to reveal the suspense was Lu Chuan's "The King's Feast".

Opening day box office: 4213 million!
Initial rating on Douban: 8.8.

An achievement that is undoubtedly worthy of being recorded in history.

The celebration party in Beijing lasted from midnight until the early hours of the morning. Wang Su held a wine glass in his hand, and his smile never stopped.

"It's a success! Lu Chuan, that kid, has really succeeded!" He shouted to Zheng Long and his old friends beside him, "He's got both art and commerce figured out! 8.8 points! Do you know what that means? This is the spirit of our Beijing circle, a feast for those who understand it!"

Film critics almost unanimously gave it extremely high praise.

"An epic tragedy that requires you to calm down and savor it repeatedly."

"Lu Chuan used the most detached lens to dissect the darkness and loneliness deep within power. His sense of historical weight is unparalleled among the new generation of directors."

"The Last Supper is a lament for the aristocracy and a profound self-reflection on aristocracy."

However, just as everyone in Beijing's elite circle raised their glasses in celebration, thinking victory was assured, another tiger roared, its roar echoing through the mountains.

Wang Su and Zheng Long were both very excited about this.

After all, the results you see yourself don't count.

We need to wait for the results to be released before we can evaluate them.

The results are in.

In contrast to Nanjing.

This time, the King's Feast was definitely a brilliant comeback.

"The 7th generation leader can retain his position."

At this moment, Wang Suo said in an inspiring tone, "This time, we will definitely be able to protect our position!"

Lu Chuan remained silent at this moment.

Having seen the other two movies, he remained silent.
Moreover, this is only the box office figures for the first day.

It's not yet a definitive conclusion.

On the other side is China Film Group.

Let the Bullets Fly.

Opening day box office: 5123 million!
Initial rating on Douban: 9.1!

The moment the data was released, Han Ping slammed his fist on the table in his office at China Film Group, the force of which made the teacup vibrate.

"it is good!!"

His eyes reddened, not from excitement, but from an extreme sense of exhilaration.

He had waited for so many years, and finally Jiang Wen delivered this perfect answer.

The internet is in an uproar.

"Earn money while standing up!"

"This is what a movie should be like!"

"I declare that in the next ten years, 'Let the Bullets Fly' will be the Mount Everest of Chinese-language commercial films!"

"After watching it a second time, I realized that every line of dialogue is a joke, and every shot is full of hidden meaning. Jiang Wen, you are a god!"

Weibo, forums… almost every social media platform was flooded with lines and memes from the movie "Let the Bullets Fly." It spread like wildfire, completely penetrating all social circles and becoming a phenomenal cultural event.

Han Ping just watched.

Two champions, on the same day, reached the top in two completely different ways.

The entire market is buzzing with excitement over this clash of titans.

All the headlines in the media were reserved for these two films.

"A battle of two titans! Chinese-language cinema is entering its golden age!"

"Between Lu Chuan and Jiang Wen, who will have the last laugh?"

Amidst this overwhelming noise, everyone seemed to have temporarily forgotten that there was a third player at the card table.

The third player that Han Ping also needs to pay attention to.

Li Xuan.

"We'll see if you fall behind now, based on your grades."

……

at noon.

When the opening day box office and ratings for "Dying to Survive" were finally released.

The whole world fell silent.

Jiang Wen, who was on the phone with Han Ping, was stunned by the sudden silence on the other end of the line.

On the other side, Lu Chuan had just finished an interview when his assistant ran over, holding his phone, his face pale, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.

"Dying to Survive".

Opening day box office: 4982 million!
Initial rating on Douban: 9.0!

The whole network was in an uproar.

If the comment section of "The Last Supper" is an academic seminar, then the comment section of "Let the Bullets Fly" is a large-scale carnival party.

The comment section for "Dying to Survive" was a sea of ​​tears.

"I cried until I was dehydrated. I'm a grown man, and I cried like an idiot in the movie theater."

"The more I laughed in the first half, the more heartbroken I cried in the second half. Li Xuan, you have no heart!"

"This isn't a movie; it's reality happening around us. Thanks to Li Xuan for bringing their story to life on film."

"The best film of the year, no, one of the best films in the history of Chinese cinema! It has the exhilaration of a commercial film, the depth of an art film, and the courage and warmth to confront reality!"

There were no complicated interpretations, and no crazy memes.

Only the simplest, most sincere, and most surging torrent of emotions.

Countless viewers shared their viewing experiences on social media, along with stories of themselves or those around them battling illness.

This film, in a way that no one could have predicted, touched the softest and most sensitive nerve of the entire society.

Poor disease.

The theme that runs throughout the entire text.

One.

A topic that all ordinary people will face.

The immersive experience of this theme is unparalleled.
……

"A Three-Way Standoff! A New Era for Chinese-Language Cinema Begins!"

"Unprecedented! Three films grossed 50 million yuan on the same day—a feast for all movie fans!"

That evening, all media outlets changed their headlines.

Looking at the overwhelming news on the internet, Wei Ming paced back and forth in his room excitedly.

"All three have grossed 50 million yuan on their opening day! Xuan'er, we...we've made history!"

Li Xuan sat on the sofa, his expression calm.

He looked at the image on his phone, showing the three movie posters side by side.

Jiang Wen's narrative of the elite, Lu Chuan's narrative of the aristocracy, and his own narrative of being a peasant.

Three different paths meet at the same peak.

Who is right and who is wrong?

Maybe.

There's no need to distinguish between right and wrong.

(End of this chapter)