After the recording of The Tonight Show, the audience gathered around once again. However, Hugo didn't stay because he had a tight schedule ahead. He hurriedly left with Joseph. After the recording of the other two programs was also completed, Joseph drove with Hugo towards the company. Joseph hadn't had time to handle things these days, and the audition schedule for "The Firm" still didn't have a clear plan. Joseph planned to give a call to Paramount Pictures.
Back at the company, Joseph busied himself at his desk while Hugo sat next to him, flipping through the latest issue of the Los Angeles Times.
Nicholas Allum was truly an interesting character. He had clashed with Hugo several times before, but after the release of "Scent of a Woman", he actively spoke in favor of the film. And this time, he had a different view on the prospects of "A Few Good Men".
"Rob Reiner, Hugo Lancaster, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore. It's hard to imagine what kind of sparks this combination will produce. From "When Harry Met Sally" to "Misery", Reiner's previous two works have shown us the ability of this bearded director. Actually, ever since Reiner's "This Is Spinal Tap" in 1984, he has never disappointed us in the director's chair. While not every film is a masterpiece, they are definitely above average.
So, this time, Reiner chose the script for "A Few Good Men", and we have reason to continue to trust his judgment. Although the screenwriter, Aaron Sorkin, is not well-known, the trio of actors is enough to give us confidence.
As one of the greatest actors in America, Nicholson's talent is unquestionable. Although he hasn't had any works released in the past two years, no one would doubt his outstanding acting skills. After the failure of two consecutive films since "Ghost", Moore's role as an ornament under the guidance of the two male actors is a given.
Lancaster is in a difficult situation. Not only did he convince Reiner to give him this important role, but he also completed this challenge in the face of Tom Cruise. This makes everything even more incredible. The success of "Scent of a Woman" made it clear why Reiner chose Lancaster, and that is talent. Although this talent still needs time to be verified, at least we don't have to worry anymore, fearing a repeat of the nightmare of "Hudson's Hawk".
There is no need to worry about Reiner's directing skills, and Lancaster, who is being mentored by Nicholson and showing signs of improvement, indeed increases our confidence.
However, the biggest highlight of the "A Few Good Men" script lies in the story itself. A courtroom drama, facing a mountain of evidence, how will the protagonist find loopholes to deliver justice and ensure that the criminals are truly punished by the law? This story inadvertently reflects the widely talked about Rodney King incident that has been going on since last year. People's sympathy for King easily resonates in "A Few Good Men", providing a psychological outlet. This will also be the biggest weapon for the film's success.
Although "A Few Good Men" will face tremendous pressure from the three-week run of "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York", there is still hope for a successful opening with a box office of $12 million. Perhaps this $40 million film will bring us new surprises."
From this review, it can be seen that Nicholas is optimistic about the prospects of "A Few Good Men". Although he highly praised Hugo, he still provided a positive and affirmative view. This subtle shift can be seen as a continuation of the positive impression left by "Scent of a Woman". However, it remains unknown how long this positive impression can last.
"Is the review positive?" Joseph asked as he noticed the smile on Hugo's lips.
Hugo nodded and said with a smile, "I think Nicholas deliberately expresses different opinions to attract attention..."
"I don't think so." Joseph put down the receiver in his hand and shook his head. "The reviews for "A Few Good Men" are half positive and half negative. The Los Angeles Times is just one of them."
Regarding the prospects of "A Few Good Men", some media outlets, led by the Los Angeles Times, believed that the film is likely to achieve good results. On the other hand, other media outlets, represented by Vanity Fairm didn't believe that Hugo could replicate the miracle of "Scent of a Woman" and instead think that he might drag down the entire film. After all, Demi Moore was also a ticking time bomb, and Jack Nicholson was just one of the supporting cast members.
Currently, eleven media outlets had conducted preliminary reports on "A Few Good Men", analyzing the film based on trailers, posters, promotions, themes, and story summaries, and making their own speculations. Although these speculations might not be accurate, they could still be treated as a media indicator.
Six media outlets continued to criticize Hugo, while five media outlets showed support. Although the situation was still not very optimistic, it was much better than before the release of "Scent of a Woman". It could be seen that Hugo's outstanding performance in "Scent of a Woman" had won him some recognition and reawakened the media's positive impression of him. Of course, it had also revived the nightmare of the past three years.
As for box office analysis, the media had only provided a rough range for now, and the real predictions would have to wait until after the film's premiere. Currently, only four media outlets have predicted the box office, with the highest estimate being 12 million from the Los Angeles Times and the lowest being 6 million from Vanity Fair. The gap was significant, making it difficult to paint a clear picture of the prospects of "A Few Good Men".
"So what? They haven't even seen the movie yet." Hugo's attitude has progressed now. Although he still cares about these reviews, he also knows that the media's words only count after they have watched the film. It's just a trend prediction for now. "Are you done with your tasks?"
Joseph finally snapped out of it. "Oh, yes. The audition schedule for "The Firm" needs to be pushed back. I guess they want to see the box office performance of "A Few Good Men" first." Joseph said uncertainly. But it was only natural for investors to have such concerns. If "A Few Good Men" was successful, the chances of Hugo being cast in "The Firm", where he had to play a lawyer again, would skyrocket. On the contrary, Hugo might have to withdraw from the competition before the audition.
Hugo could only sigh helplessly. From "Desperate Hours" to the Razzie Awards, the "debts" accumulated during this period could only be slowly repaid. Although he had taken on two projects consecutively and gained a certain level of fame and popularity, it was not easy to truly return to the peak.
"Then let's wait." Hugo sighed and looked around. "Do you have anything else? If not, let's go home."
Joseph glanced at his watch. "Yes, there's a meeting at five."
"Why am I here then? There's nothing to do. I might as well go home and check out the original novel of "The Firm"," Hugo exclaimed, widening his eyes. Who knew how long this meeting would take?
Joseph stood up, gesturing for Hugo to follow him. "No, you're also attending this meeting." Joseph led the way, taking the elevator to the eighteenth floor. Since they were in a shared office, there was no dedicated conference room for them. They could only use the public conference room on the eighteenth floor. "Paramount attaches great importance to your presence at the premiere of "A Few Good Men". They hope you can attend in style."
"Dressed up? How else should a man dress up? Just a suit. Are they asking me to wear a Scottish plaid skirt?" Hugo muttered, clearly not understanding why there was a need for a meeting to select clothing.
Joseph chuckled at Hugo's amusing remark. "Choosing outfits is not that simple."
In Hollywood, there are many different ways to select clothing. The most basic way is for actors to go to stores themselves, as Hugo did before attending the premiere of "Final Analysis". In addition to that, there are sponsors who come forward or cooperating brands that reserve clothes in advance for the actors. There are also professional designers who specialize in creating outfits or even exclusive high-end customizations.
These methods vary based on the actors' level or the level of the occasion. For example, there is a difference between top-tier actors and ordinary actors attending premieres. Similarly, all actors attending the Oscars red carpet probably receive sponsorships, with differences in the level of sponsorship. If it's a female actor, the competition is even more intense, but the choices for male actors can be equally overwhelming.
Entering the spacious conference room, thirty-three feet long, the room appeared empty and tidy. One could almost imagine the scenes of numerous important meetings taking place here. Shortly after Hugo and Joseph sat down in the conference room, they could see assistants coming in one after another, pushing clothes-laden racks into the room. Soon, every corner of the conference room was filled with these racks, and as Hugo looked at the dazzling array of clothes, his eyes couldn't help but widen. "Is it necessary to make such a fuss?"
Joseph smiled and nodded. "Of course, this is the official nationwide premiere. Columbia Pictures intends to make it as grand as possible, and as the male lead, you are the center of attention. These brands hope you can choose their attire."
In fact, Hugo's clothes for the premiere of "Scent of a Woman" were also sponsored. Compared to before, he had made significant progress. And this time, the level seemed to have risen even higher, making Hugo once again marvel at the extravagance of the Hollywood world.
Hugo's gaze scanned the clothes above, but eventually landed on a man. After carefully pondering for a moment, he tapped Joseph's arm. "Why does that man look so familiar? The one standing at three o'clock."
Joseph followed his gaze, thought for a moment in silence, and then uncertainly said, "Isn't he the manager of Armani's branch... uh, Frank?"