The Best Director

Time flies, and "ia3" finally won the North American weekly championship from March 31 to April 6 with an opening box office of 85.36 million, with an average of 22,062 per venue (3869). It was very gratifying in the following week. From July 7th to 13th, it swept away 46.77 million (-45.2%), but this impressive result failed to allow it to retain the crown.

In its first week, "The Ghost Story 4" grossed 52.7 million at the box office, with an average of 16,869 per theater (3124 stores). You must know that its production cost was only 5 million! This made all the Lions Gate soldiers so happy that they almost held their heads and cried. It’s great, it’s great! Last year, "Phantom 3" had 55.13 million "just" in its first week! After making a huge mistake, they managed to save this magical fruit that they had regained. However, the critical response from the media and the public dropped sharply, which also made Lionsgate a little frightened.

The three indicators of Rotten Tomatoes for "Evil Dead 3" are 55%/50%/85%, with a final box office of 108 million in North America and a global box office of 108 million; the freshness of "Evil Dead 4" dropped to 45%/35%, but the scariest part The audience’s likeability is only 54%!

"Yawn, if it's your first time watching "Ghost", you may think it's OK, but you really should watch "Ghost", be careful not to be frightened." Clarence-e said; " Without Amazing Young, everything sucks, the horribly dull and unrelenting Sleep Sen-s says; "It didn't scare me, it was exactly what I expected, I've had enough of these stupid sequels, when you Without Wang Yang, you should stop. "Andy-C said; Calvin-R said: "Oh, dear, it's terrible and sloppy and stupid, not as good as an old "nanny" ghost story. "...

For a genre movie that has to operate and rely on the support of the "Ghost" community, this is a nearly devastating blow. Maybe "Ghost 5" will be a game-over!

Faced with accusations from movie fans, Lionsgate is really miserable. If there was still a chance to move Wang Yang emotionally and rationally to continue filming "Ghost" back then, is it possible now? His willingness to produce "Phantom 3" has given Lionsgate a lot of face!

Of course, we can't watch the "Ghost" series fall into the quagmire again. Lionsgate wants to shoot 8, 9, or 10. Jon Philtimer quickly called Magic Young for help: "Have seen "Ghost" 4"? What went wrong? How to shoot "Ghost 5"?" Wang Yang has been too busy recently, so how can he have so much time to care about him? Moreover, he had not seen "Phantom 4" in the theater, so he gave some official answers: "Pay attention to strengthening the suspense, not making it simple..."

Jon Philtimer was so impressed that he memorized all of Young's words and prepared them as an important reference for Lionsgate's production of "Phantom 5."

The casting of "The Departed" is one of the focuses of the media and the public these days, and the two supporting actresses are even more uproar. It is the only movie that shocked Hollywood because of a small role. This effect is also caused by the fact that the film will start filming soon and will be released at the end of the year. Although the public is very concerned about the audition situation, there is not much gossip news leaked.

Just based on what friends of some actresses revealed, no matter Emily Blunt, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jessica Biel... they all said that they need to think carefully about Magic Young's advice.

The four big names that received the most attention, Hathaway, Scarlett, Knightley, and Natalie, all invariably remained silent, with no news at all. Wang Yang, who was interviewed by "The Hollywood Reporter", said: "Everyone performed well, but we must make the most suitable choice." At the same time, he revealed that the starring lineup of "The Departed" will be fully released at the end of April.

The US version of "Infernal Affairs" has been titled the-departed.

After a period of consideration and selection, Wang Yang eliminated the-nameless (the nameless), the-fatal-ret (the secret that determines fate), and the-rtal-r (the life-or-death reputation) suggested by others and his own. , ng (fatal, intolerable) and other names, which determine whether the American version of "Infernal Affairs" will be named the-departed (the dead).

The meaning of this film title is very broad and the effect is very lucky. More importantly, the sentence "losing identity means becoming dead" is the common point between the Hong Kong version and the WB American version. It is a good interpretation of this double undercover story. WB " Although "Infernal Affairs" uses themes to talk about the importance of identity, the life changes brought about by different identities, and the pain caused by a life that runs counter to ideals, "Infernal Affairs" also includes these emotional connotations. Chen Yongren said: "To give I just have one identity, I just want to be an ordinary person." Liu Jianming said: "I want to change with him."

The difference is that the Hong Kong version of Chen Yongren and Liu Jianming were affected by their respective environments, experiences and experiences, and doubted their original beliefs, and were in painful struggle, especially Liu Jianming wanted to be a real policeman; while the wb version of Billy He is a blindly good guy. He has no real feelings for the gang, which is why the original version of "Stupid Strong" does not appear. Colin is a pure bad guy. He has no idea of ​​"I want to be a good person" and he will not feel guilty. He Pain is a complete "twenty-five-year-old boy".

Therefore, "Infernal Affairs" takes the confrontation between two undercover agents as the core of the narrative, slowly explores the good and evil of human beings, and finds more emotions to support the story. It has an added layer of "pain caused by loss of identity."

In the bright and violent world of "The Departed", no one is lost. Colin tries every possible means to maintain his identity as a police officer, like a shield; Billy, who is always thinking about getting rid of the gang, is like a spear, and the collision of contradictions forms a... It creates a huge dramatic conflict, which also directly results in the film not having so many people thinking about good and evil, which relatively enhances the sense of real life and dramatic conflict. In other words, the business is stronger, and it is a commercial art under the Hollywood system. piece.

This naturally involves the differences between Eastern and Western social culture, film culture, etc., so that there are two movies with the same core but completely different styles and connotations.

All in all, every character confrontation scene in "Infernal Affairs" is full of exquisite and elegant camera use and editing, the actors' sense of proportion in performance, that is, the control and mastery of fire, as well as refined and hidden lines, undercurrents and Competing emotional tension, and a delicate soundtrack that heightens emotions; in "The Departed", there is solid magic and editing, but composition techniques such as light and shadow, props, etc. are used to enrich the metaphors behind the shots, and there are also actors who are out of control. The characters, the fiery lines and actions, are more about external physical rather than internal conflict.

Wang Yang thought that he would have a choice. Regarding identity, the good and evil of people, and emotions... he would tell the story according to his favorite interpretation. "the-departed" with a sense of euphemism was just right.

However, it will be released in Chinese-speaking Asia at the end of the year. Judging from future information, will it also be translated into "The Departed" and "The Departed"? Wang Yang doesn't like these two titles at all, because they don't convey any interesting meaning at all.

Through rewatching Hong Kong police and gangster films such as "The Brinkman" these days, Wang Yang feels the charm of Hong Kong films more deeply and understands something more clearly.

"Only in an environment like Hong Kong can "Infernal Affairs" be filmed with a kind of obscure despair." Director Liu Weiqiang of "Infernal Affairs" once said that it is precisely in a city like Hong Kong that has a refined temperament, fashion and isolation, and has experienced Only a unique city with vicissitudes of change has its own narrative method and literary style. If its texture is copied to the United States, not to mention Boston in the 1970s, it would be nondescript in New York in the 1980s. Both Boston and New York have their own unique characteristics. temperament.

On the other hand, police and criminal films and gangster films have matured for many years in Hong Kong, China, and throughout Asia, and have cultivated countless Asian audiences who are highly capable of watching police and criminal films. As far as he knows, many young people of the same age watch "Goo Jai" After growing up in the series, some slang, tricks, rules of the world, etc. come naturally to them, and there is no difficulty in understanding them.

Therefore, in "Infernal Affairs", the narrative style is very concise, it can be said that everything is just to the point, and the audience can understand it. In "The Departed", a lot of things have to be explained to the audience in many cases. For example, in the section "Pretending to be a lawyer for interrogation", the Hong Kong version didn't say anything or make any hints, but the American version had to explain.

To put it bluntly, it's still a matter of cultural differences. American audiences have too little "cop, gangster, and gang background" but have a lot of investigation and investigation.

At the same time, "Infernal Affairs" contains a large number of implicit narrative methods that can only be understood but cannot be expressed. From the perspective of Eastern cultural aesthetics, these details that can be black or white, like Tai Chi, are quite fascinating (such as whether Sha Qiang knows Chen Yongren's True identity); "The Departed" is clear at a glance. American narratives don't like too deep hints, but want to be clear. This naturally includes the ending. Life is life, death is death. There is no living person like It's even worse to be dead.

All of these are due to different narrative strategies. All adaptations are to be more in line with American culture and highlight the theme of the film. Therefore, the plot of "The Departed" is simpler and clearer.

Just as "The Departed" (1987) is like "Reservoir Dogs" (1992), and "The Departed" is like "The Departed", these are two different societies and countries, with two cultures with completely different textures.

As "another" American version, Wang Yang naturally has to consider the feelings of the American audience. The explanation must be explained, the clarification must be clear, and the artistic conception must be shaped when it should be shaped... He really won't be like Martin-Scott. Coses is so rough.

Why "Infernal Affairs" is a classic of the times among the endless stream of Hong Kong police and gangster films is that it does not rely on hot action scenes like before, but mostly literary dramas. It is an "intelligent action film" and a "psychological action film". It's not like the previous emphasis on the opposition between black and white, but it's all messed up, and the characters are all gray. Because of Scorsese's personal style, "The Departed" focuses on gangsters, which makes it not a police film, but a gangster crime film.

Wang Yang doesn't have much interest in gangster crime movies for the time being. Not this time. Specifically, his version will not strengthen the role of the gang boss. He believes that although Jack Nicholson's performance is superb, it is actually a bad one. , due to the old man's crazy grab for the scene, the performance of the two undercover agents was suppressed.

There is also one thing that is causing him a lot of headaches now, female characters! ! In "Infernal Affairs" there are three female characters: Liu Jianming's fiancée Mary, Chen Yongren's psychiatrist Li Xin'er, and Chen's ex-girlfriend May; "Infernal Affairs" has only one, the police station psychiatrist, Colin's fiancée, and Bi Li's lover Madeleine, in fact, this is easy to understand. Women deepen the importance of "identity" and strengthen the collision of contradictions.

If possible, Wang Yang really wants to treat "The Departed" like "I Am Legend", without a single female character! Oh, there are still some. Neville's wife is played by Will Smith's wife Jada Pinkett Smith, and Neville's daughter is played by Willow Smith. No one can compete.

However, he chose two for the film, Colin's fiancée, a colleague from the police station, and Billy's psychiatrist. It seems lucky that there are two, otherwise his head would be more painful.

"Yang, I'm wondering if I can also shoot at the same time? What do you think?" Rachel suddenly called a few days ago, and her enthusiastic words startled Wang Yang. He said anxiously: "No! No!" Rachel, my head is about to explode! I really want to do an all-female version of "Infernal Affairs," damn it!" He and Rachel had nothing to hide their thoughts, and they immediately expressed some of their troubles, and Rachel laughed crisply. He stood up and said, "Then it's them! Don't you have the confidence to convince them all? You are a charming man!"

The audition and interview work has long ended. Frankly speaking, everyone in the group of women is qualified, and Knightley and Natalie performed the best. Faced with his troubles that day, the two of them were almost completely Unmoved, sharp-tongued, full of confidence, and devoted to his performance...if he hadn't kept a straight face and occasionally found the right opportunity to say a few words, the two of them would have left laughing. In fact, they were also smiling. Go.

Who is the better choice? Since everyone is so good-looking, the crew, who have a choice, have to consider more, such as the tacit understanding with the director, the on-screen chemistry with the rival actor, the role of commercial box office, the role of publicity topics, and the impact on other auditioners. persuasiveness...

After this, Wang Yang came to the conclusion that Knightley + Natalie are an excellent match! Not to mention their best audition performance, not to mention their box office appeal, fan popularity and the historical connection of "Star Wars Episode 1"; only the similarity in their faces provides a way for the makeup artist to deliberately Creating a screen image with a similar look creates a wonderful contrast; at the same time, Natalie and he have a very tacit understanding, and Knightley's ability is enough to cope with it.

"Yang, I don't mean anything else. You know, if Knightley joins the crew, you can kick me out! Anyway, there are so many good actors. It's not that I'm not professional enough. I really can't stand her... You have that great plan, let’s make a movie together? Ha, ha, ha, give it up!”

Natalie's angrily words echoed in Wang Yang's ears a few days ago. He knew that Knightley meant the same thing, "With Natalie Terman, without me!" I really don't know what happened to them? Why do you suddenly look so incompatible with each other? His idea was to invite Natalie to play the role of a psychiatrist and Knightley to play Colin's fiancée, but Knightley auditioned for the role of a psychiatrist. Will she accept it? And losing to Natalie? If accepted, will Natalie accept it?

Thinking of Rachel's words, Wang Yang picked up the phone speechlessly and called Natalie first. ! .