Chapter 154: Hired Gun?

[Chapter 154: Just Afraid of the Cultural Thing]

"The ups and downs of the plot, the heart-shaking score, the sharp and varied editing, and the excellent performances of several actors; after the warmth of Eric Williams' previous work, he brought us a distinctly stylized black symphony."

"From the mysterious chanting at the opening to the tragic symphony at the end, the beautiful score ran through the entire film without ever feeling overwhelming. The tightly packed plot was full of tension, with not a single redundant shot. This two-hour visual feast instead left viewers feeling an internal peace."

"Sex and blood have always been two elements that can evoke adrenaline in the audience, but many films often resort to sensationalism, putting sex for the sake of sex and blood for the sake of blood. In this film, however, the use of blood felt completely unforced. Every time Tom Cruise appeared on screen coughing up blood, I could hear the gasps of heartbreak from female fans around me, mixed with a thrilling excitement. A handsome, gentle, and somewhat mysterious man had already stolen the hearts of most women at first sight. Eric Williams was not content with that; he added a thrilling blood-spitting trait to the protagonist. I'm certain that the character Andy, as portrayed by Cruise, would inspire a lot of filmmakers to imitate in the future."

"The brilliant performances of the two leads did not overshadow the shine of the supporting cast. Joe Pesci's raised eyebrows and sarcastic expressions were just hilarious, while the return of Brooke Shields, after several years of absence, was truly refreshing. Perhaps it was due to her years at Princeton, but Shields' acting was no longer superficial; it gained a depth and restraint. Though her appearance was brief, it made a lasting impact, and I believe this time, even if Shields didn't win any major performance awards, the Razzie judges certainly wouldn't consider her as a nominee. I am eagerly looking forward to her performance in future films."

The next morning, with the gentle sound of pages turning, Eric sat in the restaurant chair, engrossed in the fresh reviews from that day's newspaper. Meanwhile, Nicole buzzed around, occasionally bringing finished breakfast to the dining table.

Soon, Drew, looking bleary-eyed and wearing slippers, floated into the restaurant and pulled out a chair at the dining table. She rested her chin on her hand, squinting at Eric as he flipped through the newspaper.

"Why aren't you sleeping more?" Eric asked without looking up.

"I'm hungry," Drew said as she reached for a small basket of bagels placed in the center of the table, but Eric's rolled-up newspaper halted her attempt. "Did you brush your teeth?"

"After I eat?" She blinked and pouted.

"Brush first, eat later," Eric shot her a stern glance, indicating he wouldn't give in, swatting the air with his newspaper, ready to do so again.

"Fine, fine, honestly, you sound like an old crank," Drew sighed, getting up softly and drifting away. She had a bit too much fun at the party last night and didn't eat much, making her look rather wilted.

...

Nicole stood by the kitchen counter, listening to their exchange and feeling a twinge of envy. Although they didn't share any intimate words or actions, their mundane conversation exuded a warm familiarity that felt exclusive to family. In contrast, even though Eric always treated her with politeness, he never truly regarded her as one of his own. She had made efforts in that regard, but to little effect.

As she brought the prepared oatmeal into the dining room, she started serving breakfast. She placed a bowl of cereal lightly in front of Eric, casually looking up, only to see him frowning slightly at a piece of newspaper.

"What's wrong?" She asked softly as she took a seat.

Eric shook his head lightly. "Nothing, just a review."

Nicole glanced at the newspaper in Eric's hands and asked quietly, "Is someone criticizing?"

"Yeah," Eric nodded. "It feels bizarre. It's like this person has it out for me, and I don't even remember provoking them." He then shifted his gaze down, hoping to find some information about the author. Some newspapers often attached the credentials of well-known critics at the end of their reviews to enhance the perceived authority.

"Ah, just a magazine's dedicated film critic, graduated from Columbia University's journalism program," Eric muttered. Hearing the name made Nicole's heart race. "Eric, can I take a look?"

Eric handed over the paper, and Nicole glancing at the author's name felt a surge of anxiety. It boldly read George Norse.

"...an implausible storyline, chaotic and pretentious music, and numerous repetitive meaningless shots cobbled together into a two-hour film. I feel that this film is simply wasting viewers' time and money..."

She barely skimmed one excerpt before hastily returning the newspaper. Her eyes flickered as she understood that this article had to be linked to her; after all, George Norse had initially viewed Eric favorably. Perhaps the coincidental events of the previous night left the critic feeling embarrassed, resulting in this vicious review.

If only she had made it clear to him to back off when he tried to chat her up, this wouldn't have happened.

Thinking this way only made her more anxious, and she cautiously asked, "Eric, you don't think this review will affect the box office, right?"

"It won't," Eric replied. "Most reviews have been positive for this film. An occasional negative one doesn't really matter, as long as the overall word-of-mouth remains good."

"Oh," Nicole sighed in relief.

Eric scrutinized her expression carefully. "Nicole, you seem to be worried about something?"

"No, not at all," she quickly shook her head in denial.

Eric didn't press further, hastily flipping through the remaining bits of the newspaper before starting his breakfast.

...

But George Norse wasn't ready to let up after just one critical review. On the second and third days, more articles appeared in various newspapers, each more aggressive than the last.

Eventually, he even began questioning whether the film was truly directed by Eric.

Norse first listed seemingly common characteristics from Eric's previous films, noting their heartwarming styles. Then he suddenly shifted gears, providing a detailed contrast with the dark, stark style of other films, leaving readers with a feeling that there was no relationship to Eric's earlier works.

Following that, Norse started commenting on similarities found in the works of many film masters, consistently instilling the notion that if a few movies were directed by the same person, even masters known for diverse styles could show common elements.

But they didn't. Thus, George Norse boldly insinuated that this film was actually not directed by Eric, but rather by a hired gun chosen by Columbia. It was nothing but a cash grab masquerading under the genius director Eric Williams' name, fooling the fans.

...

Upon reading this piece, Eric couldn't help but shake his head in resignation, fully grasping the saying that "an educated rogue is the scariest kind." The scrutiny of this article was astoundingly detailed, and the professional level so high that Eric found himself at a loss for words. No wonder he was an Ivy League graduate; Eric had to admit that the other's analysis was compelling.

Due to the influence of the newspaper that published George Norse's article, the "hired gun" theory surprisingly gained traction among the public.

With the summer box office competition being fierce, once the opportunity to undermine a competitor arose, other film companies jumped at the chance to amplify such doubt. Within just a few days, the media's questioning grew louder, forcing Columbia to take the situation seriously and urgently contact Eric for a strategy discussion.

"Perhaps we could sue that critic named George Norse for libel," one executive suggested in the conference room.

The legal department manager shook his head in counter-argument. "We've considered that method, but it's tough to pursue. Federal courts probably wouldn't even accept our lawsuit request. George Norse is far too clever; his article reads more like a scholarly paper. He never outright states that Eric didn't direct it; he only implies it in a very persuasive manner. Honestly, if I hadn't happened to see part of the filming process, I would probably have believed him myself."

"Right now, it's critical we clarify this. We can't let this theory fester."

"This sounds simple, but it isn't easy in practice. How do we clarify things for Eric? Are we going to have the TV network broadcast Eric directing something live? We've found some behind-the-scenes photos, but sadly, there are plenty of pictures of Cruise, Hanks, and even Brooke Shields, but very few of Eric. None of them carry much weight."

Just then, Eric pushed the door open and walked into the conference room, a cardboard box in his arms after being delayed by a few issues.

"Sorry, everyone. I got held up preparing these," Eric apologized, finding a seat.

Everyone's eyes instinctively shifted to the small box Eric placed on the conference table.

Noticing the curious looks, Eric elaborated, "Oh, these are videotapes that Drew gathered during her visits to the set. She had been fiddling around with a camera while shooting."

*****

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