Hollywood Road - Chapter 708

After leaving Venice, Murphy did not return to Los Angeles, but went to Canada with the entire crew to participate in the Toronto Film Festival which opened on September 1.

Although “Focus” can no longer participate in the competition unit of the film festival to compete for the People’s Choice Award, the Toronto Film Festival has always been the back base for American films. The popular films here will have an even greater impact on North American audiences and the upcoming awards season. huge.

If participating in the Venice Film Festival is aimed at Catholicism, then Murphy brought the film to the Toronto Film Festival, which is really creating momentum for the film’s publicity and reputation.

“Focus” has won praise at the Venice Film Festival. In today’s highly developed era of the Internet, the explosion of word-of-mouth has long spread to North America.

As the distributor of the film, Twentieth Century Fox arranged a total of ten screenings of “Focus” at the Toronto Film Festival. From the first screening, the venues were full, even though Murphy and Stanton did not appear. In the next few games, the attendance rate also reached more than 95%!

In the cinema industry, such attendance rates can also be classified as one hundred percent.

On the first day of the Toronto Film Festival, “Focus” was screened for a total of three times. Even the opening film “The Imitation Game” was also screened at the same time. Pressed down.

In particular, the mainstream media in North America have just finished a verbal battle with the Catholic Church, and the old and new hatreds are still in their hearts. Now a fairly good quality film exposing the Catholic scandal has come out, and each one is as excited as a chicken blood. I scrambled to stand up for this film.

“If “Focus” is changed to another director, this story may be filmed as a heroic figure, but in the hands of director Murphy Stanton, Weiye has been subtracted. This is a film without a starring role. The story is The real protagonist, this is a film without dazzling skills. Excluding complicated shooting skills, the soundtrack is basically only piano music, and even the fierce dramatic conflicts that often occur in this genre are rare. This expression of cold restraint , It also has the shocking effect of listening to thunder in a silent place.”

-“Los Angeles Times”

“I think it is a blessing for Hollywood to produce such a movie, because if you meet a vulgar director, the whole movie will surely add a lot of drama, and the movie is probably another keynote. Fortunately, this is a Murphy- Stanton deliberately made a subtractive movie. There is no excessive sensation, no fierce rhythm, no excessively vigorous music. There are only real things and low-key scene handling methods, and everything is a fair statement of the entire event for the audience. Consider a series of issues such as the role of the media in society and what is news value.”

“The proposition chosen by the director Murphy Stanton is ambitious. Maybe we still can’t realize the advantages and disadvantages. For countries with religious beliefs, the incident of a single priest infringing children is not enough to connect the heavy proposition of faith. Thinking about the final statistics and the range that can be inferred, this horrible thing is enough to destroy faith.”

–“New York Times”

“”Focus” is great. It’s not a flashy, boastful film. So are the reporters in it. They are people who can put their heads in the water to do practical things. This film is so confident, sophisticated, and satisfying. Director Murphy Stanton has found a rich, attractive, yet plain way to portray the basic work of reporters, conveying such a touch through filing cabinets and photocopiers.”

“Murphy Stanton produced a rare good film with clear levels and far-reaching intentions. He gave us a glimpse of the working conditions of front-line media people, expounding how a fair and free media can deal with social injustices and express The value of the media in society.”

–“Washington post”

The comments and reports of these media have attracted the attention of many fans in North America, especially some qualified fans, who even came to the Toronto Film Festival to watch the film in advance.

After all, the actual screening will not start until November in a few theaters.

As a die-hard Murphy movie fan, Justin came to Toronto on a special plane to get a glimpse of the true content of “Focus” in advance. Although the film looks a little flat, it is real and shocking…

“I really don’t understand, you Murphy fanatical supporter…”

At the end of the movie screening, Justin stood on the steps of the theater’s entrance and dialed Daisy’s phone, “Why turned her temper suddenly? Why don’t you care about Murphy’s new film?”

“I just don’t think this film is my food.” Daisy’s slightly cold voice came from the earpiece, “And there are things to do recently.”

Justin shook his head, “Well, this film is very good. It may be a seeded player for next year’s Oscar. When it is released in Los Angeles, we will see it again.”

Daisy’s answer over there was a little unexpected, “I’ll talk about it later.”

discuss later? Justin was stunned for a moment, this is not Daisy’s style in any way.

If it weren’t for the very familiar voice, he would doubt if the person on the other side of the phone was that Daisy.

“Okay, Justin, I have something else.” Daisy over there was about to hang up, “I’ve been busy recently, and I may not have time to watch a movie.”

“All right.” Justin couldn’t force Daisy, “I’ll contact you again.”

Justin hung up the phone, stood on the steps at the entrance of the theater, frowning. From a few months ago, he felt that Daisy was weird, always acting mysteriously, and it seemed that it was not the same Daisy as before.

“Maybe everyone will become mature.” Justin sighed, “After all, everyone will grow up slowly.”

He stopped staying, turned and walked down, probably because he was still thinking about Daisy in his head. He walked a little too fast and rubbed the shoulder of a guy who seemed to be interviewing someone.

“I’m sorry.” Justin was not the kind of unreasonable person, and immediately stopped and said, “I’m very sorry.”

The person he rubbed against had black hair, dark eyes and yellow skin. He looked like an Asian. The Asian waved his hand and said in slightly blunt English, “It’s okay.”

The two were polite. Just as Justin was about to leave, the Asian suddenly called to him and asked, “Sir, did you just watch “Focus” directed by Murphy Stanton?”

“Yes.” Justin nodded, “I’m a Murphy fan.”

“Can you tell me what you think about this movie?” The Asian hurriedly introduced himself, “I am a reporter from across the Pacific…”

Although he didn’t know which newspaper the other side of the ocean came from, Justin said, “Yes.”

The Asian reporter immediately took out a small tape recorder and pressed the record button. Justin smiled and said solemnly, “The authenticity of the film is shocking! The torture of the Catholic Church system, the portrayal of the reporter’s work, and the progress of the incident. Instead of indulging in cheap lyricism, Murphy set an example for the highest standards of this type of social biographical drama with the restrained portrayal of several major journalists from different angles and attitudes.”

As an important member of the IMDB discussion group, Justin commented that the film is still of a certain level, “Murphy has demonstrated the social responsibility that an artist should have through this film!”

The Asian reporter did not expect that an ordinary movie fan would have such a unique view. After thinking about it, he asked, “This film and the report as the origin of the film have seriously violated the interests of the church. They have not been suppressed by the church. ?”

“As far as I know, there must be!” Justin knows something about this. “But Murphy and the reporters resisted. What can the Catholic Church do? Hollywood and the media have free speech. Would they still use guns to intimidate me? Isn’t Faye going to make this movie? Let alone the church, even the pigs in the White House can’t do it…”

When an American described his country’s leader this way, the Asian journalist was a little speechless. He had been running domestic film news before and paid little attention to international films, especially Hollywood films. This time he came out and saw such a provocation. Powerful movie…

If he remembers correctly, Catholicism is the main belief of Americans!

“Is there anything else?” Justin saw that the reporter was suddenly silent, and pointed to the distance, “If it’s okay, I will go.”

The Asian reporter hurriedly recovered, “It’s okay, thank you, your words are very helpful to me.”

Justin opened his mouth and smiled again, “You are too kind. Goodbye!”

“Goodbye!”

The Asian reporter waved goodbye to Justin, and then sought out other fans who came over to continue to collect their views on the new film “Focus” by super director Murphy Stanton.

Back at the hotel, Justin immediately took out his mobile phone and posted what he had just said to the reporter on his Facebook page, and then looked through the comments of many fans who had read “Focus”.

Although the film is not a commercial film, it is basically well received.

“The theme is too shocking, and the script is very solid; the opening of the play is slightly gentle, and gradually enters the perfect state; the cocoon type, the group play is very exciting; not deliberately sensational, the end is shocked.

“Murphy’s creation erupted in peace, and behind the gentle narrative was the terrible truth. When I discovered the facts with the film and reporters, when I thought that this was a real event, I would be full of doubts about the world. But in the end, look. Some people felt hope when they broke through all obstacles to discover the truth and uphold justice. In addition, the film was very real and touching.”

“The subject matter is king! Murphy’s “Focus” has no special effects, but it has an overwhelming momentum. It is like a thousand horses.”

Just when Justin was excited about “Focus” to win a burst of word-of-mouth, the Asian reporter returned to this hotel with all the information he collected.