The film's Premiere

May 22nd, an extraordinarily ordinary day.

Yet, for some film enthusiasts and fans, it was a long-awaited day.

Because today was the nationwide premiere of the film "Miscreant".

Endorsed by the successful market performance of "3 Idiots" and "Fury", Director Lyman's credibility had been established. Moreover, with A-list stars like Tom Cruise and Nicolas Cage on board, the film garnered attention from cinema chains upon its initial release.

On the first day of release, a total of 2,886 cinema screens were allocated, a testament to their commitment. Be it screen time allocation or prime-time slots, the film received substantial attention and was widely anticipated.

From the buzz created from promotions to its Cannes screening, the film had made an impression with its lead actors' popularity and impressive reviews.

Of course, the media also took great notice, preparing for both outcomes—whether "Miscreant" would perform well or not. Regardless of whether it was truly a critically acclaimed film or merely hyped up, they were in a win-win situation, armed with material to report on.

In the case of a poorly received film, it might even attract more attention. They could wholeheartedly criticize and mock it.

Such was reality, and the media were the prime players in this.

As the night fell, after a busy day, Dwayne and his girlfriend Mariah arrived at a cinema near a university. They took their place at the end of a long queue that had formed in the ticket hall, ready to purchase two tickets for "Miscreant".

The cinema had scheduled two showings for the film: 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM and 10:00 PM to 12:00 AM.

Gazing at the long line, Dwayne sighed. It was only Thursday, a workday. Typically, students or people occupied with work the next day wouldn't come to watch movies. Still, the queue was impressively long.

"I hope the film lives up to what people are saying online," Mariah murmured. "So far, Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb haven't posted any reviews or ratings. We don't know what the situation is like."

"The public premiere has just begun," Dwayne explained. "And many film forums have already mentioned that the film received positive feedback from its screening at Cannes. Plus, Nicolas Cage is in it."

Indeed, he was a fan of Nicky.

Those who showed up on the first day to support the film were generally fans and audience members. This was quite normal.

On the other side, at a cinema in Chicago, Bella wore a light long shirt. She looked at the promotional poster in the display case, focusing on the line that read "Director: Lyman Lattes" for quite some time before shifting her gaze away and heading to the ticket counter.

She had always been very attentive to his films.

Naturally, for this premiere, she wanted to be among the first to see it.

"One ticket for "Miscreant", please." After waiting in line for over ten people, it was finally Bella's turn.

The Caucasian ticket vendor handed her the ticket. After Bella paid $6.5, she received the ticket and turned toward the screening hall.

Once inside, Bella scanned the area as she sought her seat, keeping an eye on the seating arrangement.

The cinema hall wasn't particularly large, accommodating around 600 people. Except for a few vacant seats towards the back, it was nearly full.

It seemed this film was indeed quite popular. Bella silently rejoiced and found her seat.

The film hadn't started yet, and the theater echoed with buzzing conversations.

"Do you think Tom Cruise's performance is really that good?"

"Nicolas Cage is in it, which makes me anticipate the film even more."

"Is this actor named Heath Ledger the one who played Norman? He looks familiar from the poster."

"Why hasn't the film started yet?"

"Can you grab some popcorn and drinks for me? I need to use the restroom."

The surroundings were filled with noise, then gradually grew quiet.

The lights dimmed, and the screen gradually lit up.

"What will this film bring me this time?" Bella adjusted her posture and murmured.

Although she greatly admired Director Lyman's directing ability, as a film critic, she had to maintain objectivity.

Well, she would strive to maintain a certain level of fairness and objectivity.

Ever since watching "3 Idiots", she felt she couldn't say anything bad about his films. Her principles had long been shaken, witnessing his growth step by step, and she even harbored a sense of inexplicable anticipation.

But a film was a film. If the story itself was bland or unlikable, Bella wouldn't go out of her way to praise it. She might just brush it off as unremarkable and perhaps not pay as much attention to Lyman's future path of development.

After the opening animation and the screening logo, the screen first went black and then quickly illuminated.

A gloomy face appeared on the screen. Heath, playing the role of the second-in-command, had the right expression and aura. The subsequent scene showed how ruthless and cunning the secret society members were toward those who obstructed their path.

A mild surprise echoed through the cinema as the disturbing sight of a living person being sealed in a large metal barrel and submerged in the sea sent shivers down people's spines.

However, Bella's focus wasn't on that. She looked at Heath, having seen several of his films directed by Lyman. She had a deep impression of this actor. Now, he portrayed the head of the secret society with a changed image and demeanor, and it didn't feel out of place.

"That meek and silent rookie Norman is completely unrecognizable. Impressive," Bella thought in amazement.

Before the audience could recover from their astonishment, the scene shifted away from Heath Ledger.

Amidst the sound of pounding rain, a conversation at a police station introduced the film's backdrop. The underground power struggle in Los Angeles had been unified by the "Golden Gate Group", becoming the most significant hidden danger within the city.

Subsequently, a scene of a car accident on a rainy night set the stage for suspense, teasing the question of who was in the other car.

These overt and suggestive shots naturally captured the audience's attention.

Only when Tom's role as an undercover agent appeared did the hints start to piece together.

Bella's interest had been fully engaged. She watched the plot unfold, occasionally jotting down her impressions on her notebook.

Between the two rival factions, the transformations in characters' stances, personality analyses, and conflicts were her main focus.

Among them, Tom's role as the undercover agent presented the greatest contrast. Even his eventual rebellion carried a sense of understanding, which undoubtedly affirmed the director's exceptional skill in character development.