Chapter 90: Best Foreign Language Film! Dying to Survive Shocks Hollywood!
Due to the producer and lead actor being in China, the North American premiere of Dying to Survive was originally only going to be attended by Xu Can and the company's production staff.
Given North America's natural aversion to foreign language films, Xu Can didn't expect Dying to Survive to achieve much at the North American box office.
Even an attendance rate of less than 10% in cinemas would be understandable.
Due to the inherent advantage of quickly reading Chinese characters, Chinese people are accustomed to subtitled movies.
Foreigners find it more difficult to watch English-subtitled movies, and most cinemas do not display subtitles, so few people choose to watch foreign language films in cinemas.
Currently, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which ranks first on the North American foreign language film box office chart, only grossed 130 million USD.
A film of such quality as Life Is Beautiful only grossed 58 million USD.
Director Zhang Yimou's Hero earned 54 million USD, and that was due to its large-scale visual effects.
Comparatively, Xu Can's purely Chinese drama film truly faced a hellish difficulty.
Before the film's release, Hollywood media commented on the trailer's effect.
"From the quality of the trailer, Xu Can is attempting a new genre. His cinematic language and narrative style are quite mature and sharp. Perhaps this is a film with outstanding word-of-mouth, even an Oscar contender."
"However, a serious foreign language film, from a box office perspective, might go against the norm and fail to continue Xu Can's box office appeal."
The full house at the premiere screening did not confirm the film's box office potential; it only indicated that Xu Can had many loyal fans.
Moreover, many of those who came to watch were Chinese people from the Los Angeles area.
His influence among the Chinese community in North America had surpassed Yao Ming, even becoming the spokesperson for the entire Asian community, the Light of Asia.
China, Japan, and Korea were all willing to come and show their support.
When Xu Can walked into the cinema hand-in-hand with Taylor Swift and Stone Sister from the red carpet, the entire audience collectively rose, applauded, and cheered, welcoming the protagonists of the night.
"I still don't understand, why are you two here to join the fun?"
After sitting down, Xu Can complained.
They had nothing to do with this film, at most they were "boss's wives"?
Attending the premiere roadshow of the main creative team was indeed a bit far-fetched.
"I thought she was coming, so I followed along," Emma Stone said, a little aggrieved.
"I also thought Emma was coming. Besides, didn't you say yourself that you'd let me attend the next premiere?" Taylor Swift pouted, speaking confidently, "What, you don't welcome us?"
"Welcome, of course, welcome."
Xu Can smiled faintly.
One was a popular young actress and Golden Globe Awards Best Actress; the other was a rising star in the music industry. They could indeed bring a lot of buzz to the film.
Xu Can would not dislike them accompanying him to the event.
As long as there was no 'Shura Field', everything was fine.
Soon, when Xinghe Entertainment's spaceship opening animation appeared, it signaled that the movie was about to begin!
...
[This film is adapted from a true event]
[Produced by Star River Pictures]
[Producer: Xu Can]
[Director: Xu Can]
[Screenwriter: Xu Can]
[Leading actors: Xu Can, Song Qian, Wang Chuanjun, Zhang Yu, Yang Xinmin, Wang Jianhui…]
[Dying to Survive]
Seeing the title, Taylor Swift and Stone Sister were a bit puzzled.
Dying to Survive? Is it some kind of action movie?
Although the media and audience in the cinema had learned about the film's content in advance, they also frowned deeply.
At the beginning of the film, Xu Can used a rather stark cinematic language to show everyone an ordinary corner of a Chinese city street.
There was no excessive beautification, nor any BBC filter.
The street corner where the protagonist Cheng Yong sat was completely typical of ordinary Chinese daily life.
Smoke curled from breakfast shops, the streets were packed with pedestrians, commuters cycling to school and work, elderly people strolling along the roads...
This scene might seem commonplace to Chinese people,
but the North American audience in the cinema felt as if they were there, transported to a Chinese city thousands of miles away.
The camera gradually focused on a storefront.
The protagonist Cheng Yong, played by Xu Can, was sitting in an old knitwear shop, his eyes listless, beard disheveled, and face full of the marks of time.
His current weathered appearance was slightly different from that in john wick.
The assassin's weariness still carried a gloomy handsomeness of someone who had retreated from the martial world,
but this current down-and-out small boss was completely an ordinary disheartened middle-aged man, one who had completely lost hope in life.
He wore worn-out flip-flops, with his feet propped on the counter, showing no regard for his appearance whatsoever.
"Pfft..."
Taylor Swift and Stone Sister almost spat out their cola when they saw Xu Can in this scene.
The greasy man on the screen was completely different from the well-dressed, graceful Xu Can sitting next to them!
"Honey, did you really act this?"
Stone Sister looked at him several times, unable to believe it.
"What do you think?"
"Wow..."
Stone Sister had originally thought her acting skills were good enough to catch up to Xu Can.
Now it seemed, just this one shot, his entire demeanor and temperament perfectly interpreted the character.
If it were her playing a down-and-out woman, it might be difficult to act without any flaws.
Now that she thought about it, her performance still had a long way to go!
Stone Sister couldn't help but grasp Xu Can's hand, her beautiful eyes sparkling as she glanced at him.
"You truly are the man I've set my sights on."
On the other side, Taylor Swift caught a glimpse of this scene out of the corner of her eye, let out a soft snort, and likewise took Xu Can's other hand.
Caught in the middle, Xu Can once again felt the 'Shura Field'.
Watch carefully, all of you!"
He warned in a low voice, and the two of them became more restrained.
Regarding the protagonist's setup, Xu Can did not directly copy the original "Dying to Survive".
The original protagonist, Cheng Yong, selling "Brother San's Holy Oil" indeed had more dramatic tension.
From the character's initial slovenliness and disdain for others, to later saving patients and spending all his family's wealth to help others,
This character possessed a complete character arc, which conformed to the basic techniques of film creation.
However, this also deviated from the character's real-life prototype, Lu Yong, leading to Lu Yong's family later suing the film in court, claiming it defamed Lu Yong.
Xu Can here intended to respect the character's prototype, so he set the protagonist, Cheng Yong, as a small boss in the textile business.
Due to suffering from leukemia, his survival instinct led him to buy exorbitantly priced medicine for treatment, exhausting his family's wealth.
Currently, he barely supports his family with the textile shop, and occasionally gets one or two export orders through connections with Brother San.
Their life was quite impoverished; his wife, besides taking care of the child, also had to work part-time.
Only some furniture and items visible in their cluttered home proved that the family had once been wealthy.
Through simple dialogues with the landlord, client, wife, and child at the beginning, the background story of the protagonist, Cheng Yong, was fully explained.
It shaped an image of someone who had lost hope in life and was numb to it.
Both versions had their pros and cons; Xu Can's version was simply more realistic.
Using perfect cinematic language, it extracted delicate emotions from the mundane,
Even North America audiences could quickly empathize with the protagonist and not feel bored.
"I finally understand Xu Can's strength."
Veteran film critic Roger Ebert was also watching the premiere, and he felt quite shocked just by watching the beginning.
He used to think that Xu Can, whether acting or Director, was good at using special effects and grand scenes to attract attention, hence he was called the "King of Box Office Magnets."
Even la la land had handsome dances and excellent song segments.
But today's "Dying to Survive" had no gimmicks, only the most ordinary characters and stories.
It could actually generate stronger appeal than before!
"This is master-level! I still underestimated him!"
William, the film critic who had once disparaged Xu Canin his writings, was equally shocked, nodding repeatedly.
"Exactly! He always brings new surprises!"
Amateurs watch the spectacle, while experts watch the craft. The film critics present were already sitting upright, observing Xu Can's work with an academic research attitude.
...
Due to years of consuming imported medicine, the store's income could not cover its expenses. The protagonist, Cheng Yong, struggled daily with his illness, burdening his family with suffering.
On this day, Cheng Yong was contemplating selling his store to gather some money to leave for his wife and child,
Then he would find a way to end his life, once and for all.
The landlord led a young man, wearing a mask, refined, and slender, into the store.
"Don't worry, I'm not here to collect rent. This young man is looking for you."
"What could he want with me?" Cheng Yong still looked lifeless.
"He's also my tenant, Lu Shouyi. I heard you sometimes go to Fanguo and want your help to bring back some medicine."
"Smuggling? No, I won't do it." Cheng Yong instinctively refused.
He was already planning to die; he didn't want to go to a place like Fanguo at all, what if it brought trouble to his family?
However, the landlord was also kind, introducing business to Cheng Yong so he would have money for rent.
Through the glass, Lu Shouyi bowed and scraped, carefully removing his three layers of masks, his face gaunt.
His small actions couldn't help but touch the audience; this person must also be extraordinary.
"Have an orange."
Cheng Yong initially scoffed at Lu Shouyi, wanting only to quickly send him away.
But when he heard the generic medicine cost only 2000 yuan, nearly one-twentieth of the original medicine, he was tempted.
His own illness also happened to require this medicine!
He couldn't afford the original, but with generic medicine, he might still live, and selling it to others could also earn him a fortune!
So Cheng Yong tentatively went to Fanguo and contacted Brother San's generic drug manufacturer.
The drug factory boss looked at Cheng Yong: "Do you want to be a savior?"
Cheng Yong scoffed: "I just want to save my own life and make some money along the way. Life is money."
At this moment, he was like Walter White in "breaking bad," his initial goal very simple: for himself and his family.
He had no time to consider the lives of others.
After obtaining generic medicine from Brother San, to sell more medicine, Cheng Yong and Lu Shouyi found the patient group leader, Liu Sihui, who was currently working as a dancer in a nightclub.
The dancer played by Song Qian, performing pole dances, was indeed alluring,
But she did it to save her child, forced by life's circumstances.
Wang Chuanjun and Song Qian's acting also added much to this realistic film.
Then came the Priest and Little Yellow Hair,
Zhang Yu and Teacher Yang Xinmin also contributed exceptional performances.
They vividly portrayed the bitter struggles of small characters in a man-eat-man society, which was deeply moving.
The entire main cast showcased their acting prowess, and even North America audiences, who were not usually keen on foreign films, were deeply captivated by the plot!
Not to mention the chinese audiences far away in the East!
When the medicine-selling team was assembled and each member earned their first pot of gold performing their respective duties,
It felt somewhat like "Leverage" or "Ocean's Eleven"!
A serious film with narrative breakthroughs, no intense conflicts, and no grand scenes, yet it could feel like a thrilling blockbuster?
Both North America and China audiences found it incredible!
"I declare this the best film of the year."
The renowned film critic Roger Ebert, who had only seen half of it, exclaimed.
"I agree. This is the best foreign film I've ever seen! China cinema kicks ass! It's incredible!"
William's eyes were glued to the screen, afraid to miss any detail of this masterpiece!
Chapter 91: Xu Can: I'm Not Interested in Box Office. Hollywood Spits Blood in Shock!
"Dying to Survive" premiered globally simultaneously, with audiences worldwide watching this chinese film.
Although outside of East Asia, other countries rarely grasp chinese culture,
The hardships of the common people are universal, and the pain of struggling with terminal illness is also universal.
When the protagonist's team sold generic drugs through various channels and made huge profits,
Even foreigners could feel the profound emotions conveyed by the film,
There was no cool editing, no exhilarating battles, and even the entire film so far only had a brief 20-second alluring shot of the dancer's pole dance.
99% of the rest of the time consisted of plain and unadorned scenes,
But the plot development's ability to stir the audience's emotions was never boring; instead, it had a touch of passion!
At 34 minutes into the film, the first act's performance was comparable to any classic high-scoring movie.
Xu Can's Director skills and the entire crew's on-point acting were astounding!
...
Subsequently, the plot was consistent with "Dying to Survive"; in the process of making money,
The protagonist, Cheng Yong, saw a glimmer of hope in the numb eyes of those patients.
The more patients he encountered, the greater the impact on him.
Initially, when patients gave him a banner that read "Benevolent Heart and Skillful Hands Save All Beings, Leaving an Eternal Name in the Human World," Cheng Yong didn't take it seriously and treated it as a joke.
Looking back at the banner now, it carried a heavy weight.
Meanwhile, the protagonist's team's sales expanded, attracting the attention of the police.
Police Captain Cao Bin, played by Zhou Yiwei, began to investigate Cheng Yong's organization for selling fake medicine.
The alternating parallel of these two storylines also made the audience in the theater very tense,
Especially the soft-hearted Taylor Swift, who couldn't help but worry for the protagonist at this point.
"The police won't catch him, will they? Those people are too pitiful, why would they catch him? What happened to him later?"
Ah, this… you'll find out as you watch."
Taylor Swift, completely immersed in the plot, was like a young girl watching a movie with her boyfriend, always asking this and that.
Emma Stone, on her left, glanced disdainfully at Taylor Swift and shook her head helplessly.
"Seriously, how could Xu Can fall for such a simpleton? I'm clearly his confidante."
…
In the movie, Cheng Yong's team busted a fake medicine pyramid scheme, only to be reported by the scheme's leader.
The police showing up made Cheng Yong realize the danger, and he decided to disband the team, only buying generic drugs for his own use.
After all, helping others was a self-sacrificing act; he could make some money from it, but losing everything wasn't worth it.
The team erupted in arguments and fell apart.
Cheng Yong returned to his original life, but he could no longer find that numb mindset he once had.
Just by comparing the protagonist's micro-expressions in the first and second acts, it was clear that
Director Xu Can had meticulously revealed the protagonist's inner changes through detailed performances.
Even the most critical film critics couldn't find any fault with it.
"This performance could totally be used as a textbook for film majors."
"Exactly, I knew it when he played Joker. Being limited to superhero movies was a waste of his talent; only this kind of movie can fully unleash his abilities!"
"An Oscar-worthy performance!"
The film critics present had already started drafting their praises for Director Xu Can's acting.
For the first time, they elevated Director Xu Can's status to that of S-list actors like Marlon Brando, Tom Hanks, Morgan Freeman, and Al Pacino.
In the hospital, Lu Shouyi had grown even thinner; he was not far from death, his lips gray, lying weakly on the sickbed.
Wang Chuanjun also delivered a first-rate performance, which led many Chinese Directors to discover this promising talent.
Chinese audiences also discovered a good actor.
Everyone said that Chinese entertainment no longer had young actors, and the future market was gradually being replaced by popular young idols, with fewer and fewer talented actors.
Seeing the performances of everyone in this movie, Chinese audiences regained some confidence in Chinese film and television dramas.
…
His former comrades-in-arms, now in such a state, once again struck Cheng Yong's heart.
His mindset had completely transformed, from initially doing it for himself (afcb) to now beginning to save others.
Even facing police investigations, Cheng Yongdisregarded the danger and tried his best to contact channels to obtain medicine.
Through the thick smoke, Cheng Yong seemed to see his mission in the idol.
At this moment, he had completed his transformation!
From a selfish drug dealer, he transformed into the "dying to survive"!
After returning to China, Lu Shouyi died.
Lu Shouyi, who loved to offer tangerines, wore three masks, and spoke cautiously, died.
As he walked out after attending the memorial service at Lu Shouyi's home, numerous patients, wearing masks, watched Cheng Yong with numb but hopeful eyes.
Passing by pair after pair of eyes, each represented a vibrant life, and behind them, a family.
At this moment, the transformed Cheng Yong had made up his mind to do whatever it took to save more patients.
He reassembled his team, persuading them to return and continue helping patients.
"How much are you selling it for this time?"
"Two hundred."
Not only were the patients in the movie shocked, but the audience outside the screen also exclaimed!
Even the foreigners were holding their heads, unable to believe what the protagonist was doing!
The genuine medicine cost nearly 40,000, the generic medicine 2,000, and the protagonist Cheng Yong only sold it for 200 yuan?
He was practically doing charity!
He even reopened the knitting factory, using its profits to subsidize his medicine sales!
Even Cao Bin, the police captain who was gradually investigating them, realized something was off.
What kind of fake drug dealer loses money doing business like this?
"My family was ruined by my illness, and now that we finally have cheap medicine, you say it's fake."
"Whether the medicine is fake or not, how could we not know?"
"If you arrest him, we'll all have to wait to die…"
The cruel reality was thus mercilessly exposed.
Director Xu Can used a slightly shaky handheld camera to magnify the inner turmoil of police captain Cao Bin.
The audience was already immersed, experiencing the sorrow and helplessness of these low-income patients.
At the same time, everyone couldn't help but ponder internally,
Why did this situation arise?
Who caused it?
If you have a terminal illness, can those with money extend their lives while those without can only wait to die?
At this point, even the usually talkative Taylor Swift fell silent,
The entire cinema was silent; no sighs, no conversations, everyone quietly stared at the screen,
The silence was deafening!
Unfortunately, law outweighed compassion, and police captain Cao Bin could not persuade his superiors.
The arrest still had to proceed.
During the arrest, Yellow Hair was not dramatically hit and killed.
He was simply arrested, and due to emotional agitation, his blood vessels ruptured because of his leukemia, and he was sent to the hospital but died after failed resuscitation efforts.
The taciturn, fierce-looking delinquent youth, who was inwardly a kind and righteous teenager, unfortunately passed away like this, leaving the audience sighing with regret.
Due to the proliferation of generic drugs, Novartis, the original drug manufacturer, took notice, and they decided to sell off the generic drug factory to stop generic drugs at the source.
Even so, Cheng Yong continued to risk police investigation and supply cut-offs from manufacturers, constantly searching for generic drugs through various channels,
Selling them for 200 yuan to numerous patients, saving thousands upon thousands of families.
This part already had the audience secretly sobbing, and even the foreigners had sorrowful expressions on their faces.
Racial and cultural barriers disappeared at this moment.
The respect for life and the defiance of fate shown in the film, these emotions were universal.
Unfortunately, Cheng Yong was still arrested by the police, just like in reality.
What awaited him was merciless punishment.
When Cheng Yong got into the police car, ready to be taken to prison,
Countless patients he had helped filled both sides of the street, quietly watching him leave.
Director Xu Can also used that classic shot, filming the faces outside the car window as the camera passed in front of the protagonist Cheng Yong.
Such a clever composition instantly touched the hearts of all the audience,
Especially when it seemed as if his two deceased comrades were seen in the crowd, completely igniting the audience's final emotions.
The English title might be slightly weaker, but the Chinese title, Dying to Survive, brought enlightenment to the audience at this moment.
The protagonist Cheng Yong, is the "dying to survive"!
The film ended abruptly here.
Reality was similar; "Medicine Hero" Lu Yong was still imprisoned and had not yet been released.
However, Director Xu Can provided the story's ending through a photo Easter egg next to the film's end credits.
Cheng Yong was eventually acquitted and released a year later.
The medical insurance system was also reformed, bringing down the price of Novartis and including the medicine in medical insurance, allowing ordinary people to afford the genuine drug.
Countless poor patients who had been waiting to die finally found hope.
[A Director Xu Can Film]
[Star River Pictures]
…
After the film ended, the atmosphere was even heavier than at the premiere of la la land.
While Chinese audiences were still immersed in the shock and emotion, the more excited white men had already stood up, applauding and cheering.
Both in China's cinemas and North America's cinemas, the applause had now completely taken over.
This is the treatment Xu Can's films receive; everyone watches until the very end without fail, and they never hold back their applause and cheers.
Because his films are worth it!
Every one of Xu Can's works receives spontaneous applause from the entire audience.
This was his first time making a film with such a serious subject matter, and it didn't receive a cold reception.
On the contrary, the atmosphere in the cinema was even more enthusiastic than for special effects blockbusters like Spider-Man 2 and Iron Man.
Those films only touched the visual senses,
But this film touched the deepest, most fundamental emotions within!
Everyone has been sick, and everyone has encountered sick people around them.
Humans are born inseparable from illness, and everyone will experience moments of despair and helplessness.
Xu Can's film, using Lu Yong's true story, magnified this most basic emotion,
Even the most simple and unadorned shots and narrative techniques could bring immense shock!
During the media Q&A session, a reporter specifically asked Xu Can:
"Director Xu Can, is this story real?"
"Yes, the protagonist of the film is a real person, currently in custody, and the events in the movie are also real. If you're interested, you can search for related news to learn more."
"Around the world, there are many marginalized patient groups struggling, and they all deserve more attention."
Soon, film critic Roger Ebert also raised a question:
"Director Xu Can, you previously excelled at generating box office success with special effects blockbusters. This time you chose to try a realistic foreign language film, which might face poor box office performance. Are you worried?"
Xu Can smiled calmly:
"I know, but I still wanted to make this film. As long as this story can be seen by more people and provoke thought, that's enough."
I'm not interested in the box office."
The expressions of film critic Roger Ebert and the media present instantly turned strange.
Never before had a Hollywood filmmaker expressed disinterest in the box office.
It was simply Versailles!
Little did he know, this phrase, "I'm not interested in the box office," quickly became one of the hottest memes on foreign social media,
Used to describe situations of Versailles.
A box office machine, the highest-grossing filmmaker for two consecutive years in 2007 and 2008, the youngest member of the billion-dollar club in history.
You're telling me you're not interested in the box office?
Hollywood directors and actors who desperately chased box office success were all spitting blood!
However, an even more shocking situation emerged!
Dying to Survive's North American opening weekend box office, with a screening rate of less than 20%, surprisingly raked in 36 million US dollars!
Successfully surpassing Paul Blart: Mall Cop's 21 million US dollars,
Taking the weekend box office championship!
Not only that, good news kept pouring in from the Chinese market!
Dying to Survive's opening weekend box office was 159 million, strongly dominating the Spring Festival slot!
Chapter 92: Dying to Survive Triggers Global Discussion! Xu Can Once Again Ascends to Godhood!
"Dying to Survive's North American box office breaks 100 million US dollars, surpassing Life Is Beautiful to become the second-highest-grossing foreign language film!"
"Xu Can's new work Dying to Survive is a hit, with Cinemark, Regal, and AMC, the three major North American cinema chains, announcing increased screenings."
"Breaking doubts! Dying to Survive achieves both critical acclaim and box office success! IMDb score 9.2! Xu Can is still Xu Can!"
"An Oscar contender! Even if you're not Chinese, you should watch this movie!"
"Patient support groups across North America organize screenings of Dying to Survive, with crowds already marching to protest the FDA..."
"The chain reaction brought by Xu Can's film, the debate over the legality of generic drugs, has become the biggest issue in North America recently."
"Novartis protests Dying to Survive: Suspected of slandering pharmaceutical companies, legitimate drugs are not priced arbitrarily."
"Stock prices of many pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer, Novartis, and AstraZeneca fall..."
In Xu Can's estimation, the main box office for Dying to Survive would be in its home country, China.
In his previous life, it grossed over 3 billion yuan. Even if the market isn't as developed now, it should still easily rake in seven or eight hundred million, right?
The production cost was only 50 million RMB, or 7 million US dollars! A bargain price!
With Xu Can's many profitable films, plus the revenue from Galaxy-Music's signed artists' album sales, Starlight Digital's external order income, and Starlight TV's online streaming revenue,
7 million US dollars might be recouped in less than a month, a mere trifle.
This film was basically pure profit, and Xu Can hadn't considered its North American box office or influence.
In his view, foreigners might not understand this film at all, it might receive a cold reception upon release, and then become a niche classic after its run.
Only when it received Oscar nominations next year would this film gain some buzz.
That's what Xu Can thought, but the actual situation far exceeded his expectations!
He greatly underestimated his influence in North American cinema.
In his previous life, Christopher Nolan, despite the mixed reviews for Tenet, released a seemingly dry biographical film oppenheimer, which still managed to gross 449 million yuan in mainland China.
On its opening day, it defeated No More Bets to take the daily box office crown, with 35 million yuan!
After that, screenings decreased.
Some Chinese audiences found oppenheimer utterly boring throughout, with some even leaving halfway.
This did not prevent the film from making money in China.
The film itself was of sufficiently high quality; while the form was dry, the content was not at all boring, especially the dialogue between oppenheimer and Einstein at the end, which delivered an impact no less than the atomic bomb explosion in the middle.
In addition, Nolan's previous highly acclaimed works had earned him many fans in China.
This shows that "dry and boring" foreign language films do not necessarily hinder box office performance.
The situation for Xu Can in North America was similar; Dying to Survive itself was of sufficiently high quality, and coupled with the emotional impact of the film, even foreigners could empathize.
Most importantly, Xu Can's previous fan base, built on high-quality films like Spider-Man, the dark knight, john wick, and la la land,
Led countless North American audiences to blindly buy tickets and enter cinemas,
And then, through strong word-of-mouth, a continuous chain reaction formed.
Despite a screening rate of less than 20% on its opening weekend, it managed to defeat Paul Blart: Mall Cop and win the weekend box office championship.
After that, it continued to win daily box office championships, with the film's attendance rate and screening volume constantly increasing,
The box office surpassed 100 million US dollars in less than a week!
As for word-of-mouth, it goes without saying; IMDb opened with a score of 9.2/10, expected to stabilize around 9 points.
Most North American audiences gave it a 5-star rating.
"It's said this is a true story. I have a leukemia patient near me, and the situation is almost identical to the film. Director Xu Can exposed a bloody reality. 9/10"
"This is not just a movie; the director's filming techniques, the actors' performances, and the quality of the costumes and props clearly brought reality to the screen! 8.8/10"
"After watching, I realized that it's not just Eastern society; the FDA also has huge problems. We in North America also need to reflect! 9.5/10"
"Outstanding work! Masterpiece! Script, direction, acting, editing, production are all impeccable! I actually fell in love with a foreign language film! 10/10!"
"In past films, everyone praised Xu Can's acting, but even so, everyone still underestimated his performance. If he doesn't win the next Best Actor Oscar, I'll question the Oscar's fairness! 9.5/10!"
"To have such an excellent film at the beginning of the year, what am I going to do for the rest of the year? This incredible Chinese story has a lot of staying power! 10/10!"
Of course, there were a few viewers who gave low scores,
"Can't understand foreign language films," "Can't keep up with the subtitles, what are they saying?" "No big scenes at all," "Maybe I should learn Chinese properly."
Especially many extreme "rednecks," who are inherently prejudiced against foreign language films and question them without even watching, were then attacked by more movie fans online, leading to heated arguments on social media platforms.
"Are people still hating on Xu Can these days?"
"If you don't understand Dying to Survive, please go to college first."
"Anyone who has a sick person around them who can't afford medicine will feel the power of this movie."
"If you only watch popcorn movies, don't try to compare with this film."
"Xu Can is not just a superhero specialist; he is truly the most conscientious filmmaker in Hollywood. Remember to bring your brain before buying a ticket."
North American netizens supporting Xu Can and Dying to Survive still accounted for the vast majority.
Due to the internet controversy, this film gradually gained traction, attracting even more audiences to cinemas.
As a result, a serious foreign language film surprisingly had more screenings than Hollywood popcorn movies like comedies, action, and thrillers!
And the attendance rate for each showing remained above 40%!
This is already terrifying data; Xu Can's film almost turned the cold winter slot into a summer blockbuster!
Not only did netizens praise it, but Roger Ebert, known as "Xu Can's die-hard fan," also wrote an article evaluating Dying to Survive.
"This story is not just about the protagonist fighting against the social medical system, against large pharmaceutical companies, against life and death..."
"This film is also about the protagonist's growth, from a selfish middle-aged man to a modern-day knight-errant."
"The East has always had a spirit of chivalry, similar to a superhero-like savior complex, which is fully embodied in the protagonist."
"Xu Can uses calm and restrained shots, as well as performances that blend into the character's soul, to vividly present this story."
"Previous films might have shown Xu Can showing off his skills, but the restraint in this film is the mark of him becoming a master."
"In addition, the other characters in the movie are all brilliant; each person is not a flimsy paper cutout, but a living, breathing human being with their own soul."
"I didn't expect China to hide so many excellent actors. Hollywood should feel a sense of crisis, otherwise, sticking to old ways will sooner or later lead to being surpassed..."
"Overall, this is a film worth savoring, worth rewatching repeatedly, and worth sending to film academies."
"Xu, you did it! You are already a dominant force in Hollywood that cannot be ignored. The only regret now is that there is still a year until the next Oscar Awards Ceremony, so we can't give you an award immediately."
Roger Ebert's two thumbs up were also the consensus of all film critics.
Even if some critical film critics liked to nitpick and found some minor flaws in the film,
It is undeniable that the core of the film and its completeness are highly commendable, and even the most demanding person would find it hard to give a forced negative review.
The Rotten Tomatoes critics' index also maintained a freshness of 90%.
Even though 2009 has just begun, it can already be confirmed that Dying to Survive will rank among the top 5, or even top 3, best films of the year!
In the blink of an eye, Xu Can's Dying to Survivesurpassed 160 million US dollars, overtaking Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon to firmly secure the top spot in foreign language film box office.
The social issues triggered by the film are also escalating, which was unexpected by Xu Can!
"No movement over there?"
"No, the media and public opinion are indeed fiercely discussing the Lu Yong case, hoping for an explanation... Unfortunately, there has been no response from above for now."
Xu Can called Director Ning Hao, the producer, to discuss the domestic situation. The film seemed to have sparked some discussion, but it was not enough yet.
The box office for Dying to Survive in China, after its opening weekend of 159 million, became unstoppable during the Spring Festival!
Before the screening, experts were still debating that Chinese New Year's Eve should be a happy New Year's film.
How could such a tear-jerking serious film achieve high box office?
But experts overlooked the Chinese market's craving for good stories.
Even if Dying to Survive's subject matter was serious, the film's plot was full of twists and turns, serious but not boring, and directly hit people's hearts.
More and more people went to cinemas during the New Year, and they actually made the Spring Festival slot popular!
Until the fourth and fifth day of the Lunar New Year, people were still queuing to buy tickets at the cinema, and the occupancy rate consistently remained above 30%!
Even because of the popularity of Dying to Survive, some platforms began to study online seat selection and ticketing models.
While Dying to Survive topped the box office in North America, it continuously broke through 200 million, 300 million, and 400 million in China.
In less than a month, Dying to Survive miraculously surpassed 700 million RMB!
Becoming the most phenomenal film in recent years!
Previously, Spider-Man's box office in China surpassed Titanic, reaching a new record of 600 million.
The media thought it could be maintained for 10 years,
Unexpectedly, it was easily broken in just two years by a biographical drama, Dying to Survive, and the numbers are still growing!
The potential of the China film market startled the experts!
"Could it be... that the box office ceiling in China can exceed 1 billion?"
The era where the highest was 400 million might have to climb to over 1 billion!
Xu Can once again shocked the entire China film industry!
"No rush," Xu Can remained relatively calm, "After all, it's just one movie; it can't sway the opinions of those above."
"How the Lu Yong case will turn out still needs to be determined according to procedure; it cannot be controlled by public opinion."
"That's true, we can only play an entertainment role, making money is enough."
Director Ning Hao also came to terms with it. The box office share he earned from producing Dying to Surviveand collaborating with Xu Can might even be higher than what he made from crazy racer.
Even if crazy racer's box office exceeded 100 million, only 30 million would be distributed to the production company, and it would be difficult for him to get even 10 million in his hands.
Dying to Survive is aiming for 1 billion!
Even a small spill from Xu Can's box office earnings would be enough for Director Ning Hao to make a fortune!
Director Ning Hao even doubted his life, working tirelessly to make films in the China entertainment industry, perhaps it's not as good as just following behind Xu Can and getting a share of the profits.
The two chatted casually for a few minutes before hanging up. Xu Can randomly clicked around on the webpage and saw many new North American news stories constantly emerging.
Due to the influence of Dying to Survive, while there was no movement in China yet, North America took the lead in launching a wave of protests against A.
Countless patients suffering from AIDS, leukemia, lung cancer, and other terminal illnesses took to the streets to protest the FDA's stringent review process, which prevented many life-saving drugs from being legalized.
North American citizens also faced the dire situation of being unable to afford genuine drugs and unable to take generic drugs.
Some media even mentioned Ron Woodroof, the founder of the "dallas buyers club," in 1987.
He, like Cheng Yong, exploited legal loopholes, selling generic drugs at low prices to save many patients, while continuously fighting against the FDA.
It wasn't until 2012 in his previous life that the FDA implemented a new bill, approving some groundbreaking life-saving drugs.
Now, due to Xu Can's Dying to Survive, North American society is widely discussing the FDA's new drug approval bill and vindicating the dallas buyers club.
As CNN News stated:
"Xu Can's films always spark widespread thought and discussion, but they are far from the impact of his new film."
"Dying to Survive might trigger a revolution in North America. If the FDA bill can be implemented, Xu Can will become the most brilliant name on the honor roll! It would not be an exaggeration to erect a bronze statue of him!"
"This is the most influential Chinese person in North America right now!"
Just as the relevant discussions in North America were escalating, the media was buzzing, and society was widely concerned, on the eve of the Oscar Awards Ceremony,
News finally came from China!
On February 2nd, the day of "Dragon Head Raising," Dying to Survive's box office surpassed the 800 million mark! Lu Yong was acquitted!.
Chapter 93 Xu Can on news broadcast! Hidden thoughts on the Oscar red carpet
On the day of the Oscar Awards Ceremony, good news came from China, across the ocean.
The "Lu Yong case," which had been controversial for over a year, finally ended with Lu Yong's acquittal.
Furthermore, relevant departments are studying new medical insurance measures and are negotiating with pharmaceutical companies like Novartis to bring down the price of expensive genuine drugs, so that ordinary people can afford life-saving genuine drugs.
Both domestically and internationally, a widespread social discussion formed almost simultaneously.
North America was still holding hearings and haggling with departments like the FDA.
Here in China, relevant agencies have already held a press conference, announcing a new round of measures that will be fully implemented within the next three years.
Even the truly divine programs, news broadcast and Focus Interview, aired special reports on this day.
"Next, please see a brief report: The film Dying to Survive, directed by Chinese Director Xu Can, is currently a hit. This film exposes the pain points and difficulties of the current medical system."
"The situation where hardworking people with serious illnesses cannot afford medicine directly strikes at people's hearts."
"A spokesperson for the relevant department stated that we are actively seeking solutions to ensure that more people can afford medicine and receive medical treatment."
"Currently, the film is still showing, and the effect of high word-of-mouth has led the film's box office to break the 800 million yuan mark, setting a new historical high..."
...
"Recently, the Spring Festival film Dying to Survive has caused a huge social reaction. The problem of people's difficulty in seeing doctors and taking medicine has once again become a focus."
"In response to the problem of high drug prices from large pharmaceutical groups and ordinary people's inability to afford medical treatment, our country's relevant departments held a press conference and urgently initiated procedures to improve relevant systems..."
"In addition, the film's prototype, Lu Yong, has been acquitted, and at this moment, he has reunited with his family."
"Next, let's learn more about this hot topic..."
...
"Mr. Xu, we are reporters from Southern Weekend, can we have an interview?"
"Hello Director Xu, I am Liu Shishi's agent. Do you have any film shooting plans recently? We can find time to discuss cooperation."
"Mr. Xu, excuse me for bothering you, we are Sohu News reporters, and we would like to take a minute or two of your time for an interview about recent hot topics."
Vanessa has been quite troubled recently, with her phone ringing non-stop in the middle of the night, mostly from Chinese media or agents.
After Xu Can's Dying to Survive was released, it created a huge social impact.
Although his previous Spider-Man had high visibility, it hadn't yet broken into mainstream circles.
Now, Xu Can has truly entered the mainstream with Dying to Survive. From high-ranking officials to ordinary street vendors, everyone in society is talking about this recently popular film.
A Sino-American co-production blooming on both sides, a renowned Hollywood Director, turned out to be a pure-blooded, native-born Chinese!
If he hadn't dropped out of Beijing Film Academy, he might still be an extra in the China film industry!
Who would have thought that a young Chinese man, who hadn't even graduated, would achieve such great fame in Hollywood, where even big names like Jackie Chan, Li Lianjie, and Yang Ziqiong couldn't make a breakthrough?
And now he's about to attend the Oscar Awards Ceremony?
What? He's already garnered 14 Oscar nominations?
Overnight, Xu Can's name began to resonate across China, letting more people who didn't follow movies know that such a figure existed!
Many entertainment media outlets immediately couldn't sit still. Given Xu Can's success, the pressure from above was nothing!
What if I interview and report on him?
If I don't interview him soon, someone else might beat me to it!
Thus, the Chinese entertainment media, which had previously ignored Xu Can, swarmed his agent, Vanessa, with calls, like a disturbed hornet's nest.
Even his initial agent, Happy, received numerous calls.
Some even disregarded the time difference, waking Happy up in the middle of the night, causing Happy to complain bitterly to Xu Can.
"I say, my master, why don't you just accept their interviews? Otherwise, they'll call every day."
"Block them. If that doesn't work, get a new phone card."
Xu Can wouldn't face this group of fair-weather entertainment media.
Besides generating some traffic for him on the internet, what else could they do?
Xu Can wasn't preparing to be a traffic idol; he could create his own traffic!
He refused all domestic interviews and wouldn't discuss any cooperation intentions!
Liu Shishi was fine; at least she was pleasing to the eye.
What about Zhang Han, Huang Xiaoming, Huang Shengyi, Tang Yan, and the like, who all came looking for him? Where did they get their confidence?
He refused them all!
Xu Can's main base was still in Hollywood, but this time, for "Dying to Survive," considering its China story background, he invited Chinese actors.
In the future, when he achieves sufficient dominance, he will collaborate with more powerful Chinese actors.
For example, Zhang Songwen, Zhang Yi, Huang Bo, Baoqiang, Duan Yihong, Qin Hao, Li Bingbing, Zhou Xun, etc.
Xu Can doesn't make movies based on a particular star; he casts actors based on the movie's needs, selecting suitable ones.
Regardless of domestic or international, to him, there are only actors, no stars.
So, it was useless for those agents to call him to discuss cooperation.
"Alright, I'll get a new phone card," Happy said helplessly. "Oh, by the way, there's also an actress whose mother is her agent. She's currently in Los Angeles. You can meet her if you have time."
"Oh?" Xu Can raised an eyebrow. "What's the actress's name?"
"I think her surname is Liu. I forgot her Chinese name, but her English name is Crystal..."
"Got it. Send me her number, and I'll contact her myself when I have time."
Xu Can had just finished his call on the balcony and returned to bed, ready to catch up on some sleep.
In the afternoon, he still had to be bothered by makeup artists and stylists for half a day to attend the Oscar Awards Ceremony.
Given Xu Can's appearance, just washing his face would be enough to go out, but the company insisted on arranging a makeup artist.
Vanessa repeatedly emphasized that Xu Can was the face of Xinghe Entertainment and must outshine everyone at the ceremony.
Xu Can didn't care; makeup was fine, as long as it didn't affect his rest.
As soon as he pulled back the covers and lay down, a pair of cold small hands wrapped around his waist from behind.
"Hiss—"
Xu Can jolted, turning to find it was Taylor Swift.
The young girl was still asleep, and feeling Xu Can return, she subconsciously hugged him.
The reason Xu Can needed to catch up on sleep was that he had played games with her too late last night and hadn't slept for many hours.
Speaking of which, Taylor Swift also wanted to attend today's Academy Awards with him.
Last time, Taylor Swift accompanied him on the red carpet at the Golden Globe Awards, and she had enjoyed it so much that she wanted to continue being by Xu Can's side this time.
Otherwise, if only Emma accompanied Xu Can, it would be too much of a loss!
Moreover, Taylor Swift was a performing guest at this year's Oscar Awards, so she had a legitimate reason to appear with Xu Can.
Soon, she would also have to get up early to prepare her makeup and styling.
Once both of them were ready, Xu Can would pick up Stone Sister, and the three of them would walk the Oscarred carpet together.
With a precedent set, Stone Sister basically acquiesced to this.
Even if she disagreed, what could she do? She couldn't bring herself to leave.
To voluntarily withdraw and give up the red carpet opportunity to Taylor for nothing, wouldn't that be a huge loss?
Xu Can held Taylor Swift and slept for an unknown amount of time until the alarm rang, indicating it was time to get up.
His shoulder was a bit numb from Taylor Swift's weight, and his entire left arm felt like it was electrified, with countless tiny prickling sensations constantly flaring up, a mix of soreness and pleasure.
After regaining some sensation, Xu Can was about to pull his arm away, but Taylor Swift clung to him tightly.
Xu Can tried to pull again, but Taylor Swift pulled him back again.
After several attempts, Taylor Swift finally woke up, mumbling sleepily:
"What are you doing? Don't move around. Lie down obediently."
"Don't sleep anymore. Get up and get ready."
"No... I want to sleep more."
Xu Can felt like he was about to burst and needed to go to the bathroom urgently, but Taylor Swift still held onto his arm, refusing to let go.
Helpless, Xu Can had no choice but to use his ultimate move.
"Aw... Stop it!"
Taylor Swift was most afraid of being tickled; she instantly sobered up, begging for mercy in a sweet voice.
Xu Can almost couldn't control his AK; this little vixen was too deadly.
"Hurry up and get up. The makeup artist and stylist will be here soon. Get up and have some breakfast."
"Kiss me and I'll get up, just a kiss!" Taylor Swift, who had just woken up, pouted with her eyes closed.
Xu Can leaned over and gave her a perfunctory peck.
"No, that doesn't count!" The blonde girl, like a little girl, shook her shoulders and acted spoiled.
"Alright, alright."
Xu Can leaned in again and gave her a French kiss, nearly suffocating Taylor Swift.
"What are you doing? Are you trying to murder your girlfriend?!"
"Didn't you ask for it? Is that enough?"
"Enough, enough. You go quickly."
Taylor Swift said, kicking Xu Can off the bed and burrowing back under the covers to continue sleeping.
"She's really getting more and more lawless! My Emma is still the gentle one!"
Xu Can was in a hurry to relieve himself, so he could only go to the bathroom first and deal with this little girl later!
...
Inside the extended black Lincoln luxury sedan, Xu Cansat in the center in a white suit, flanked by two gorgeously dressed, dazzling ladies.
Today, Xu Can's styling referenced a suit from "la la land."
In the 7-minute fantasy sequence, the male lead, Seb, dances with the female lead, Mia, in a white suit.
At that time, Xu Can's styling had already attracted the attention of fashion magazines like "Vogue," "Playboy," and "GQ," and other media outlets.
They listed Xu Can's styling as one of the retro fashion trends.
It even led to a bunch of YouTubers and video bloggers imitating Xu Can's white suit styling to dance, garnering a large number of likes and views.
Today's Oscar theme was "la la land," so Xu Cannaturally wore the white suit from the movie.
It was a bit flamboyant, but looking handsome was all that mattered.
At this moment, Emma Stone and Taylor Swift were secretly sizing each other up, competing in private.
Stone Sister wore a simple bright yellow gown, also mimicking the attire from "la la land."
Taylor Swift, on the other hand, wore a dazzling diamond gown, shimmering under the lights.
"What are you looking at? Isn't my dress beautiful?"
Seeing the other person constantly staring, Taylor Swiftraised her chin, secretly pleased.
Stone Sister just rolled her eyes helplessly at her.
"Your zipper is open."
What?" Taylor Swift reached for the back of her neck, but couldn't quite reach it.
"Don't move, I'll do it."
Stone Sister couldn't stand it anymore, so she sat next to Taylor Swift and helped her zip up.
Taylor Swift's beautiful neck curve and delicate skin made Stone Sister envious.
And Stone Sister's gentle movements also warmed Taylor Swift's heart.
The two, who had been wary of each other, were brought a little closer by this small gesture.
Unfortunately, Xu Can was busy sending emails on his phone and missed this scene.
He looked up and found the two sitting intimately together, feeling a little surprised for no reason.
"Are you two good friends now?"
"No way!" "Her?" Stone Sister and Taylor Swift said in unison, feigning arrogance.
Xu Can was confused.
How come their relationship is sometimes good and sometimes bad? When will they finally reach the hidden ending?
...
On the Oscar red carpet, Xu Can, Emma Stone, and Taylor Swift shone brightly, dazzling the entire venue.
Even the glow of Hollywood veterans like Aunt May, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, and Al Pacino was overshadowed by the trio.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, the couple, were a bit awkward.
They were originally posing for photos in front of the billboard, but as they were shooting, all the photographers ran off, with only one or two who couldn't get a spot staying behind to take pictures.
This left them in a dilemma, not knowing whether to leave or stay.
Scarlett Johansson, from a distance, still wanted to go up and chat with Xu Can, but unfortunately, there were too many media surrounding him, so she couldn't squeeze in.
Originally, Scarlett Johansson had a higher status in Hollywood; she was considered a senior.
Unexpectedly, Xu Can, this junior, overtook her with a curveball, leaving her so far behind that she couldn't even see his taillights.
Scarlett Johansson's looks, character, and depth are all first-rate, but she seems a little insecure in front of Xu Can.
With even younger and more beautiful girls like Taylor Swift around,
Scarlett Johansson felt that she might be getting further and further away from Xu Can, and it might end before it even began.
"He is indeed dazzling." A beautiful woman with long black hair and big eyes came to Scarlett Johansson's side, her tone somewhat wistful, "Isn't he?"
"Yes, that's just how Xu Can is."
Scarlett Johansson nodded, looking at Anne Hathawaybeside her.
So she was also a disheartened person...
However, Anne at least had a past with Xu Can, playing a couple in a movie, even if it was just acting.
What about herself? What was she?
As the two looked at Xu Can from a distance,
Emma Roberts, Blake Lively, Kristen Stewart, and Amanda Seyfried, the "Four Little Actresses of Hollywood," all appeared on the red carpet.
They were also watching Xu Can in the distance.
"Emma, aren't you on good terms with him? Why aren't you walking the red carpet with him?"
Amanda teased.
Emma Roberts just shook her head helplessly: "He probably forgot about me."
"Yes, this guy is a philanderer, falling in love with everyone he sees."
Kristen Stewart said resentfully.
"Hmm?"
Emma and Blake both caught the jealousy in her tone.
Could it be that she also...
Amanda Seyfried looked at the three beautiful girls with different looks beside her, and her expression couldn't help but become strange.
Could it be that they all have a crush on Xu Can? Is this man really so charming?
Three of the Four Little Actresses have fallen for him?
Chapter 94: Xu Can Dominates the Oscars! The Youngest Best Director in History!
The 81st Academy Awards ceremony will be broadcast live to over 200 countries and regions worldwide.
Although other countries may not necessarily watch...
In China, due to the previous promotion of "dying to survive," the news that Xu Can was about to win Awardsat the Oscar had spread throughout the internet.
Many of Xu Can's fans, or netizens interested in the Oscar, got up in the middle of the night to watch.
Many netizens watched the live broadcast through Xu Can's streaming platform.
Relatively speaking, Xu Can's platform is the clearest and least prone to lag across the entire network for live broadcasts.
The Oscar Awards ceremony further boosted their loyal paid users.
Xu Yuling naturally waited in front of the computer on time, waiting for her brother to go on stage to receive the Award.
This time, she was finally not alone; the Xu Can fan group, which originally had only a few dozen people, had now expanded to more than a dozen groups, with a scale of tens of thousands of people.
Everyone in each group was excitedly discussing how many Awards Xu Can would win at this Oscar.
"He's definitely taking all 14 nominations, breaking the records of "the lord of the rings 3" and "Titanic"!"
"slumdog millionaire" is also very strong, there's still suspense this time!"
"At least the technical and music Awards are definitely fine."
"It's estimated that the Oscar judges are still relatively traditional, and "la la land" may not necessarily win an Award."
"There must be a dark horse!"
Chinese netizens were hotly debating the outcome of Xu Can's Awards contention, with optimists and pessimists equally divided.
Xu Yuling herself was uncertain, so she could only nervously watch the screen, waiting for the Awards to be announced.
When the countdown ended and the Awards ceremony officially began,
Taylor Swift, dressed in a diamond gown and shining all over, appeared with a microphone, gracefully walking in from outside the Kodak Theatre, bringing a well-designed opening show.
"Wow! Taylor Swift is so beautiful!"
"She really lives up to being Xu Can's partner."
"Absolutely stunning!"
Taylor Swift's opening show amazed netizens.
Xu Yuling was equally excited; influenced by Xu Can, she had also become a fan of Taylor Swift's music.
The thought that Taylor Swift might be Xu Can's girlfriend made Xu Yuling excited!
Wouldn't she have a chance to meet her in person?
Compared to meeting Xu Can, she was more eager to meet Taylor Swift.
"I- stay-out-too-late! got-nothing-in-my-brain"
At the Oscar opening, Taylor Swift brought her latest single!
"Shake It Off"!
Taylor Swift had kept a little notebook of all the media that had criticized her acting and insulted her performance!
Now, on the Oscar stage, Taylor Swift was essentially giving them a powerful counterattack with her song!
On set or at home, Taylor Swift usually showed her girlish side,
But Taylor Swift on stage was so radiant that even Xu Can and Emma couldn't take their eyes off her.
"Is that really her on stage?" Stone Sister murmured.
"'Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play"
"And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate"
"Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake"
Taylor Swift was radiant on stage, singing and dancing, delivering an excellent live performance.
The moving melody and simple, lively lyrics also ignited the atmosphere of the entire venue.
Even many Hollywood superstars, Leonardo DiCaprio, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and others, couldn't help but dance to the music.
The entire Oscar venue turned into a giant disco.
After the song, Taylor Swift made a grand curtain call, and the entire venue erupted in thunderous applause!
"Welcome to the Hollywood Kodak Theatre!"
Let us witness the 81st Academy Awards ceremony together!"
Accompanied by the jazz band's melody, "Wolf Uncle" Hugh Jackman, the host for the evening, walked onto the stage with a smile.
"Wow, that song and dance was truly exhilarating!"
"Seriously, Xu, I envy you for having such a female companion… did you save the world in your past life?"
"Oh, I almost forgot, you're Spider-Man. I want to be a Hero too!"
"Of course, if it's a musical, I'm in. I can even sing Chinese songs."
"Give me a bowl, can you or can't you…"
Wolf Uncle started by teasing Xu Can, singing a few lines of Chinese songs awkwardly to liven up the atmosphere.
Then, he gave a brief introduction of the evening's big award favorites through a stand-up comedy routine.
As one of the main characters of the evening, Xu Cannaturally received more close-ups.
"As everyone knows, the world economy has been in recession since last year, and Oscar couldn't afford a real host, so they let me stand here."
"Oscar also said there's no budget for an opening show tonight. Taylor Swift's appearance was only possible because they begged Xu Can."
"Never mind, I'll put on an opening show even without a budget."
Wolf Uncle joked, connecting 2008's popular movies with songs.
slumdog millionaire, The Reader, the curious case of benjamin button, la la land,
The main actors of each movie came on stage to participate in the performance.
Even Xu Can went on stage to show off a tap dance from la la land, causing the female actresses in the audience to scream repeatedly, their eyes sparkling.
"Wow, seriously, you absolutely cannot let Xu Canperform. He's stolen all my thunder as the host, buddy, give me some face."
After another round of teasing, Wolf Uncle finally got to the main topic.
"First, let's welcome Tilda Swinton to announce this year's Best Supporting Actress…"
The Awards began with Best Supporting Actress, and Penélope Cruz won the first Oscar Award of the night for Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
Then more Awards were announced, and in the competition for Best Original Screenplay,
milk, wall-e, In Bruges, Happy-Go-Lucky, and la la landwere mentioned in succession.
Ultimately, the presenter awarded the Award to the screenwriter of milk.
Xu Can's first Award was unfortunately missed.
milk is a biographical film with an LGBT theme, which is quite in line with Oscar's politically correct leanings.
"It's over, I guess la la land is in a tough spot."
"Yeah, I guess Best Picture will be slumdog millionaire…"
"Understood, from now on I'll specifically make LGBT-themed movies, they're sure to win Awards."
China netizens began to complain about Oscar's particular bias; themes that are even slightly related to LGBT are more likely to win the favor of Oscar judges.
Everyone gradually started to be pessimistic about la la land.
Its competitor, slumdog millionaire, won the Best Adapted Screenplay Award, taking an early lead.
wall-e defeated Kung Fu Hustle and Bolt to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film.
Finally, in the "Best Art Direction" Award, "Sweetheart" Jennifer Aniston read out the winning film.
"Let's congratulate la la land! They've won their first Oscar Award of the night!"
The big screen behind showed scenes from the movie, with four girls in various long dresses dancing on the road, which was indeed pleasing to the eye.
Xu Can's la la land pulled one back!
Immediately after, in the "Best Costume Design" Award, la la land won again!
2:1!
In the technical Awards, la la land began to rake them in!
"Best Original Score," "Best Original Song," "Best Visual Effects," "Best Sound Mixing," and "Best Cinematography" were consecutively won by Xu Can!
7:1!
Oscar had just begun less than halfway, and Xu Can's la la land had already won seven Awards!
Although these were all technical Awards, they still excited Xu Can's fans.
Unfortunately, the Best Film Editing Award was lost to slumdog millionaire, making the score temporarily 7:2 in the competition!
Finally, the most important Awards were about to be announced.
Best Actor and Actress, Best Director, and Best Picture—these major Awards are the most crucial and valuable at each Oscar ceremony!
Even Emma Stone next to Xu Can became nervous.
Her hand had just started to tremble, but Xu Can gently held it.
Just like at the premiere of Spider-Man, Xu Can also held her hand.
Emma Stone no longer trembled, no longer felt nervous, because Xu Can was by her side.
The two didn't speak, just exchanged a knowing smile.
Having collaborated on so many movies, Xu Can and Stone Sister had long formed a sufficient understanding.
Taylor Swift, who was next to them, pouted slightly, looking displeased.
"I want to hold hands too."
"You're not up for an Award, what are you doing messing around here?"
Xu Can complained, but still reached out and held Taylor Swift's hand.
Sitting in the row behind Xu Can was Scarlett Johansson.
She watched Xu Can holding the hands of two female stars on either side and couldn't help but reach out and poke Xu Can's back.
"What's wrong?"
"Be mindful of the impression you're making." Scarlett Johansson looked at Xu Can with her beautiful eyes.
"Do you want to join in too?" Xu Can turned back to meet her gaze.
"Get Lost, go away, go away." Scarlett Johansson rolled her eyes in annoyance.
Xu Can turned back contentedly, continuing to hold the hands of the two girls.
He felt that Scarlett Johansson was very amusing; she always ended up being teased by him, yet she always liked to tease him.
Be careful, next time I might just turn into Hulk and take you down.
Let you personally experience the Hulk's wrath!
Speaking of which, The Avengers project should be pushed forward as soon as possible. captain america 1, Iron Man 2, and Thor, which were supposed to be released in 2008, still haven't been released.
It is expected that these three movies will meet the world before this summer, and then The Avengers is expected to be released at the end of the year at the earliest, or in early 2010.
At that time, the world will see what the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a box office harvester, is all about!
Xu Can was contemplating the upcoming release schedule when another Hollywood beauty, Charlize Theron, appeared as a presenter to announce the winner of this evening's Best Director.
"All the nominees present today are excellent Directors. Let's see who will win the Award."
She carefully opened the envelope and read the name on it.
"Bright Xu Can! Congratulations to our Spider-Man for winning Best Director! la la land is a masterpiece he brought us!"
103 la la land won another major Award!
Xu Can also received his second Oscar statuette in his life as a Director!
"Please welcome our youngest Academy Award for Best Director in history!"
Amidst the applause of the entire audience, Xu Canconfidently walked onto the stage, embracing Charlize Theron and giving her a cheek kiss.
"Congratulations, Xu, I really love this movie."
"Thank you, we'll have a chance to collaborate in the future."
Receiving the statuette from Theron's hand, Xu Canlooked at the audience, revealing a charming smile.
"I have a feeling I'll be back up here later."
His confidence and elegant demeanor once again drew warm applause from the entire audience.
Soon, there would be two more important major Awards: Academy Award for Best Actor and Best Picture. Xu Canindeed had a great chance.
Everyone in the audience, including those watching the live broadcast on television, couldn't help but feel excited.
"Wolf Uncle" Hugh Jackman was flustered.
"Xu, you're making the Oscar ceremony much shorter… Never mind, being handsome is enough. Now, let's announce the Best Actress!"
Emma Stone became nervous at this moment. She was about to compete with Aunt May, Kate Winslet, Angelina Jolie, and Anne Hathaway for this year's Best Actress crown!
A high-level King's game!
The presenters for the Academy Award for Best Actress were previous winners Marion Cotillard, Halle Berry, and Nicole Kidman.
"Oh my god, I feel like this year's Best Actress nominees are even more formidable than the three of us," Nicole Kidman exclaimed.
"Yeah, if I were here this year, it would be difficult to win," Halle Berry said with a smile, praising the nominated lineup.
"Let's reveal the answer," Marion Cotillard decisively opened the envelope.
The three Best Actress presenters leaned in to look... and couldn't help but smile knowingly.
At the same time, the live broadcast screen was split into five by the director, showing their nervous expressions.
"Emma Stone—, from la la land! Congratulations!"
"Ahhhhh! I won!"
An excited Stone Sister pounced on Xu Can next to her, cupping his face and kissing him in front of the whole world.
Just like at the Grammy Awards, Taylor Swift kissed Xu Can in front of the live camera.
Taylor Swift, sitting nearby, instantly changed her expression:
"Oh, you, Emma! Are you still holding a grudge from back then?"
The unyielding Taylor Swift had already begun to plan: next time she found an opportunity, she would definitely announce it to the whole city even more publicly!
Xu Can is mine! He is Taylor Swift's man!
Chapter 95: Youngest Academy Award for Best Actor! Xu Can Crowned Again!
"The person I'm most grateful to is Xu Can. When we were filming Spider-Man, the original female lead was MJ..."
"It was Xu Can who suggested to the crew that the female lead be changed to Gwen Stacy, and then they asked me to audition."
"Without Xu, I would probably just be making cameo appearances in various campus youth films, and it would be difficult to get invitations for lead roles."
"It would be even more impossible to be standing here now, holding an Oscar statuette and giving a speech to the world."
"This statuette has half of his credit. Xu Can, I—really—love—you."
The camera broadcast this scene to the world: Emma Stone held the statuette, her eyes welling up with tears as she confessed her love to Xu Can.
She was crowned Academy Award for Best Actress for the first time, becoming the second youngest Academy Award for Best Actress in film history.
She was only surpassed by Marlee Matlin, who won the Academy Award for Best Actress at the 59th Oscar in 1987 for milk, at 21 years and 218 days old.
Stone Sister, at 21 years and 252 days, ranked second, surpassing the legendary Best Actress of the 1920s, Janet Gaynor.
In the 21st century, Stone Sister is indeed the youngest Best Actress, and it will be difficult for anyone to catch up to this record for a long time to come.
Her heartfelt confession excited all the guests present and the audience watching the live broadcast on television!
A huge scoop!
Before this, even if Stone Sister and Xu Can were intimate, they had never officially announced their relationship; their relationship could be interpreted as good friends.
But now it's clearly a romantic relationship! Stone Sister's "Love U" was not just a friendly one.
Anyone with eyes could see that she truly loved Xu Can; she had even kissed Xu Can deeply before accepting the award.
So the question arises: Taylor Swift had also publicly shown affection for Xu Can, and both of them were seated next to Xu Can, and they even walked the red carpet together as a trio.
What exactly is their relationship?
The entertainment reporters who saw this scene had already imagined different versions of the story.
The male and female guests at the venue also looked at Xu Can with various expressions; it was obvious that this Oscar moment would become a hot news topic later.
The other Academy Award for Best Actress candidates, Aunt May, Halle Berry, and Kate Winslet, all looked at the two with congratulatory gazes.
They were all convinced by Stone Sister winning Best Actress; Stone Sister's performance in la la land was indeed excellent.
Especially the final audition singing segment, Stone Sister's solo performance was truly moving.
Kate Winslet cried several times watching it.
The only one who seemed off was Anne Hathaway; she lost to Stone Sister in the Best Actress competition.
And in the game of love, she also couldn't compete with Stone Sister and Taylor Swift.
She simply didn't have the courage to publicly show her love for Xu Can like Stone Sister did.
Anne Hathaway could only stare blankly, her eyes unfocused.
As the people involved, Xu Can and Stone Sister looked as usual. When Stone Sister walked off stage, Xu Caneven stood up and hugged her.
"I was too excited just now..."
"It's okay, you don't need to explain anything, I love you too."
Emma was originally worried, would such a public display of affection have any impact on Xu Can?
Would he be unhappy?
Now it seemed her worries were unnecessary; Xu Can's love for her was the same as before.
At this moment, Emma Stone felt even more happiness than when she had just won the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Taylor Swift sat nearby watching this scene, seemingly seeing Peter Parker and Gwen, and then Seb and Mia's Happy Ending.
Her mood was very strange, both intensely jealous and happy for the two of them, almost schizophrenic.
After Xu Can returned to his seat, he tried to continue holding Taylor Swift's hand.
But Taylor Swift dodged several times, stubbornly refusing to let him grab her.
How could this stump Xu Can?
Super reaction speed, activate!
No matter how fast Taylor Swift pulled her hand away, Xu Can held it firmly.
She stared at Xu Can with a complicated expression, yet didn't let go at all. After a moment of stalemate, Taylor Swift finally gave up resisting and allowed herself to be held by him.
Tired, let it be, whatever happens, happens.
Previously, Stone Sister chose to give up after being provoked by Taylor Swift; now Taylor Swift, threatened by Stone Sister, also seemed to be giving up and letting things slide.
Let's see what happens next.
After the small interlude, it was time for another major event: the Academy Award for Best Actor!
Previous Best Actor winners appeared together as presenters.
Robert De Niro, Adrien Brody, Ben Kingsley, Anthony Hopkins, Michael Douglas;
The lineup of past Best Actor winners was extraordinarily splendid, and only such a lineup could present this year's Best Actor award.
Meanwhile, the large screen behind began to play clips of the nominees' performances.
Richard Jenkins, The Visitor;
Sean Penn, milk;
Brad Pitt, the curious case of benjamin button;
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler;
Xu Can, la la land;
"Nobody likes jazz, not even you!"
"Maybe you just like me when I'm down and out, it makes you feel superior;"
"You have to give up everything, because that's your dream, including giving me up."
"I will always love you..."
"Welcome to Seb's..."
The big screen behind the stage stopped at the classic final shot of Seb, the male lead from la la land, a gaze that lasted for eternity.
Amidst the fervent applause from the audience, the past Best Actor winners jointly opened the envelope to reveal this year's Academy Award for Best Actor.
"Will Sean Penn win Best Actor again, or will another nominee be crowned king for the first time? Let's see who this lucky person is..."
"Oh my god!" Adrien Brody smiled.
"Now, with our warmest applause, congratulations to the birth of the new Best Actor!"
"la la land—Xu Can!"
Upon seeing this, both foreign internet forums and chat groups in China exploded!
Xu Can's fans around the world cheered madly, celebrating Xu Can's first Best Actor coronation!
"The youngest Academy Award for Best Actor in history!"
Before Xu Can, Adrien Brody was the youngest Academy Award for Best Actor, the only Best Actor under 30.
He was crowned for his outstanding performance in The Pianist.
This moment was quite memorable, as it was Adrien who handed the statuette to Xu Can!
And also handed over the title of "Youngest Academy Award for Best Actor" to Xu Can, at 20 years and 141 days old!
At the 81st Oscar Awards Ceremony, Xu Can set two unprecedented records!
The youngest Academy Award for Best Director and the youngest Academy Award for Best Actor!
After going on stage, Xu Can held the Oscar statuette, his graceful smile almost captivating countless young girls in front of their televisions.
Even the Hollywood actresses present were completely drawn to him.
"First, Emma, I love you too."
Xu Can's first sentence caused a wolf-like howl of screams from the audience.
Emma had just finished expressing her love, and Xu Canpublicly responded, which made all the actresses incredibly envious.
Then Xu Can thanked his parents and the entire crew. After a conventional acceptance speech, Xu Can looked at the Oscar statuette in his hand and suddenly felt as if he were dreaming.
"I don't feel that I am any nobler than any other nominee or anyone else present, because we share the same love—that is, the love for movies."
"As a Chinese, I have been questioned from the moment I entered Hollywood until now, and I believe there will still be questions in the future."
"This Oscar statuette is just the beginning. I will use my subsequent films to tell everyone, I'm the king of movie! I am the King of Movies."
When James Cameron won Best Director for Titanic, he shouted to the world, "I'm the King of the World!"
Xu Can, here, merely stated a fact in a calm tone.
The entire audience was stunned for a moment, then gave the most enthusiastic applause of this Oscar Awards Ceremony, with the sound decibels reaching a record high!
No one felt that Xu Can was boasting; on the contrary, Xu Can was dominating Hollywood, dominating cinema!
Look at the recently released Dying to Survive; it can clearly contend for next year's Oscar!
Moreover, he is continuously releasing more and better quality films!
His claiming to be the "King of Movies" is not an exaggeration at all! It only proves that Xu Can has not lost his ambition for film!
This is good news for Hollywood and movie fans worldwide!
The 81st Oscar Awards Ceremony reached its climax here!
...
"Do you regret not winning Best Picture at the Oscar Awards Ceremony?"
That night, in Emma Stone's bedroom.
After playing games, the two lay side by side, cuddling and chatting.
Yesterday, he had spent time with Taylor Swift, and today it was the Stone Sister's turn.
She had been bothered by the loss in the Best Picture competition.
la la land was clearly on the verge of a sweeping victory, but unexpectedly, in the final Awards, it lost to "slumdog millionaire".
"This is normal. I had anticipated it before the Awardsceremony; the probability of this happening was at least over 80%."
Xu Can was quite nonchalant.
"If we had won Best Picture, it would have been unexpected instead."
"Why? It's clearly much better than that "slumdog millionaire"..." Stone Sister was still feeling indignant for Xu Can.
Xu Can dotingly rubbed her nose.
"You can't say that. "slumdog millionaire" is also an excellent film, and the themes it explores are more in line with the preferences of the Oscar judges."
Compared to love and dreams, Oscar judges prefer social issues, racial conflicts, and wealth disparities.
Therefore, compared to la la land, Dying to Survive has a much higher chance of winning Best Picture next year.
"Alright, but even so, we've already won." Stone Sistersmiled again.
la la land received 14 nominations this time and won Best Director, Best Actor and Actress, and seven other technical Awards.
A total of 10 major Awards! It almost swept the Oscar Awards Ceremony!
It was just one step away from the lord of the rings 3 and Titanic's 11 Oscar Awards!
la la land truly deserved to be called the biggest winner of this Oscar Awards Ceremony!
The next day, major North America media outlets almost frantically reported the news.
The youngest Best Director in history, the youngest Academy Award for Best Actor, and the youngest Best Actress!
Xu Can and Emma Stone, this publicly acknowledged couple, received all the accolades!
CNN, NBC, and BBC major media stations were also continuously broadcasting the major news of this Oscar Awards Ceremony.
The stir Xu Can created this time was indeed explosive enough!
For a time, Xu Can's popularity in North America soared again, becoming a national idol on par with Bruce Lee! One of the most famous Chinese!
The same was true in China. news broadcast reported Xu Can's news again in less than a week.
News anchor Kang Hui, facing the national audience, earnestly spread this good news across the land of China!
"The 81st Oscar Awards Ceremony concluded early this morning. Our Chinese actor Xu Can, with his film la la land, received the Academy Award for Best Director and the Academy Award for Best Actor!"
"He also became the youngest Best Director and the youngest Academy Award for Best Actor since the Oscar Awards Ceremony was founded."
"This is a victory for all Chinese performing artists!"
"Xu Can stated in his acceptance speech that he will continue to work hard and deliver even more wonderful works to movie fans worldwide..."
Appearing on news broadcast twice in one week—now that's a statement!
Subsequently, local satellite TV channels, portal websites, and traditional newspapers and magazines all reported the big news of Xu Can winning Best Director and Academy Award for Best Actor on their front pages.
In his previous life, when Yang Ziqiong won Best Actress, the media reported it frantically.
Xu Can's achievement was of a higher caliber than Yang Ziqiong's; these days, news about Xu Can was almost overwhelming.
For a time, Xu Can, who never mingled in the Chinese entertainment circle, surprisingly overshadowed popular male stars like Hu Ge, Huang Jiaozhu, Chen Kun, Deng Chao, Lu Yi, and Sun Honglei in terms of exposure!
Of course, Xu Yuling told Xu Can all of this later.
Xu Can didn't pay attention to domestic entertainment news; he was busy filming and busy with the post-production of source code!
On the second day of the Oscar Awards Ceremony, while Xu Can was basking in glory, he did not attend events, did not take on advertisements, and did not attend various social dinners.
Xu Can, during his most popular phase, completely immersed himself in the company's post-production studio.
Los Santos Times and New York Times wanted to schedule exclusive interviews but couldn't find him.
Even talk shows like The Oprah Show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Conan couldn't book Xu Can's schedule.
So much so that Jimmy Fallon helplessly told the media:
"I'm sorry, I can't invite Xu Can for now. He's really too dedicated to movies; he's rejected all invitations."
"It's said that this film is a sci-fi movie and will be released on Easter. I can't wait to see it!"
The more mysterious Xu Can was, the more North America anticipated his next move.
What kind of work would source code be?
Could Taylor Swift's acting skills be up to the task?
With the newly crowned Academy Award for Best Director, Academy Award for Best Actor, Academy Award for Best Actress, plus the Grammy pop princess,
The cast of source code suddenly became incredibly luxurious!
Just as everyone was eagerly anticipating, Xu Can finally released the first trailer!