Chapter 224: I Love Him

Answering the phone, Murphy went straight to the point, "Bill, have you got the stats?"

"Miramax just sent them to me," replied Bill Ross, knowing what Murphy was keen on, "For the 2,000 advance screenings, 'Sin City' has made $4.12 million at the box office."

"Good!" Murphy nodded, barely containing his excitement, "Very good!"

Bill Ross on the other end also burst into hearty laughter, clearly in a great mood.

Such advance screening box office figures were a huge success by any measure.

After discussing a few more things about the movie and the potential challenges he and Gal Gadot might face, Murphy hung up the phone, stood up, and stretched, looking forward to a good night's sleep.

Since there was no work or promotion scheduled for Friday, Murphy slept in until eight o'clock the next morning. After freshening up, he checked his phone and saw a message from Gal Gadot sent at seven, telling him she was off to training and not to call in the morning, while also reminding him to eat breakfast.

Feeling cared for was always pleasant. Murphy went downstairs, made himself two fried eggs, and used leftover toast and bacon from the day before to whip up a homemade sandwich, which he paired with milk from the fridge for a hearty breakfast.

He grabbed the latest newspaper from the mailbox outside and, with a plate of milk and his homemade sandwich, went to the study on the second floor. Settling in his spacious desk, he opened his computer, planning to browse the latest internet news about "Sin City" while eating.

He first visited Yahoo Entertainment. The front page headline was about "Sin City," and to Murphy's surprise, it featured a prominent photo of him and Gal Gadot walking the red carpet together.

"Miramax's second major production of the year, 'Sin City,' premiered yesterday. Hollywood's up-and-coming director Murphy Stanton walks the premiere red carpet with his girlfriend!"

Murphy knew that the first production was "Kill Bill," possibly influenced by him, as it was released in North America earlier this year.

Beneath the photo were related news headlines, but Murphy only glanced at them before closing the webpage. He continued scrolling down Yahoo Entertainment's page, seeing many gossip headlines like 'Shocking: Murphy Stanton's Girlfriend is Miss Universe Israel,' but he didn't click on them. Such gossip was often exaggerated just to catch the eye.

One can't take tabloid stories too seriously, especially if they are about you; otherwise, it could lead to daily frustrations.

Compared to his own gossip, Murphy was more concerned about the internet's impact on the film's reception. Yahoo Entertainment's column rated "Sin City" very highly.

"Murphy Stanton has created a film unlike any other. 'Sin City' is extreme in style yet delicate in artistic expression, with outrageous character personalities peppered with conspicuous loneliness and tenderness."

"Unique young director Murphy Stanton presents us a rare comic adaptation masterpiece. While the film's style might overshadow its content, the emotional elements are undeniable. Many felt a rock concert-like thrill at the advance screenings, followed by subtle, heart-stirring emotions intricately woven into their hearts. Viewers will likely appreciate the truly touching elements Murphy Stanton delivers and hail the film as a cult classic."

Internet media's influence on the public is ever-growing, and online reviews increasingly impact a film's market prospects. Yahoo Entertainment's positive review is beneficial for the film's future promotions.

However, the internet is not just a platform for professional media; ordinary moviegoers also share their opinions online.

Murphy closed Yahoo Entertainment and opened IMDb, looking up "Sin City" and clicking on the relevant link. The first thing that appeared was IMDb's rating, which was astonishingly high at 9.3, likely due to the advance screening audience being fans of this genre.

Scrolling down, the review section was flooded with high praise:

"Stunningly beautiful. From the first second, the combination of black and white captured my eyes. The depiction of twisted sin and love, and Robert Downey Jr.'s performance, was so good it was despairing."

"Weird, bloody, unique, a black hymn of praise!"

"Each story carries a temperature. The first is ambiguously warm, the second is a call of passionate red amidst endless dark confusion, and the third made me laugh and feel an adrenaline rush. It's boiling hot under the night, each scene is so enticing!"

These viewers unanimously gave the film nine or ten points.

Of course, not everyone loves this genre, but even they offered fair critiques:

"The visuals are cool and impactful. Such extreme stylization will either be loved or hated. Strong stylistic choices can easily overshadow or conceal flaws. I'm neutral about this comic movie, as it's visually stunning but not my cup of tea."

"Cool, yes, and dazzling. The stories are great, with subtle links between them. Murphy Stanton's execution is full of tension. Each violent scene offers a sensory thrill. But the deeper message of the story isn't fully conveyed, which is a pity. It might be due to the genre, not my thing."

Even those who weren't fans gave passing grades of over six points.

However, most comments were akin to "the most shocking film" and praised the actors. Jessica Alba, whom Murphy insisted on casting, received widespread acclaim.

"Amazing visuals, violent and sensual plot, it's exhilarating. Jessica Alba's performance is at her peak!"

"Jessica Alba blew me away!"

Murphy scrolled back up to find his name also linked. Curiously, he clicked and found his IMDb column.

"I didn't know IMDb had this feature!"

Having rarely followed English websites before, Murphy was now discovering new things.

He casually browsed his IMDb column and found a discussion group dedicated to his fans. The latest messages were enthusiastic about "Sin City."

"Certain to become a cult classic!"

"Murphy took color contrast to the extreme, unprecedented!"

"Comparable to the classic 'Pulp Fiction'!"

"Simple and brutal! Typical Murphy style, the ultimate in violent aesthetics!"

Clearly, these were his staunch supporters.

Like all directors, Murphy had gathered his own fanbase after three films.

The discussion group wasn't just random; it even had a moderator. Murphy then saw a post from the group leader, "Daisy Loves Murphy," directly related to "Sin City," highlighting several key points of the film.

"First, Jessica Alba is so sexy it's mind-blowing. Even as a woman, I'm drooling. Second, Murphy's use of color is incredibly lifelike; the Yellow Bastard's blood is disgusting. Third, the Yellow Bastard's character design is so cool. Fourth, Gertie's red dress is stunning against the black and white. Fifth, Sienna Miller's blue eyes are mesmerizing. Sixth, Marv's look is insanely cool. Seventh, Seth Rogen, who plays Marv, is outstanding. Eighth, all the girls in Old Town are too enticing. Ninth, the bullet through the head, blood splatter, hitting the policewoman, is beautiful. Tenth, the repeated black and white silhouette scenes are gorgeous..."

"Daisy..."

The name seemed familiar, but Murphy couldn't place it. He shrugged it off; Daisy was a common name in both the U.S. and the UK.

After browsing more online, mostly positive news, Murphy knew well that much of the internet praise and positive messaging were the work of online public relations and promotional teams.

Just like he'd said, online campaigns are no secret in Hollywood. Ever since the release of "The Blair Witch Project," Hollywood studios have been extensively using online influencers to guide public opinion.

A low-cost yet highly influential method, Hollywood wouldn't ignore it.

Closing his browser, Murphy remembered his breakfast. After finishing his sandwich and milk, he started reading the newspaper.

He subscribed to nearly all widely circulated newspapers in Los Angeles. As the biggest film release of the weekend, "Sin City" was naturally the focus of these newspapers' entertainment sections.

Kenneth Turan of the "Los Angeles Times" commented, "This is more than a comic adaptation; Murphy Stanton has infused the comic book with life and 'chicken blood'."

He gave the film a perfect score!

"New York Magazine's" critic professed their love for "Sin City" almost crazily, "I love Murphy Stanton's masterpiece. Or rather, I love it! I love it! I love it!"

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