Chapter 130: Fastest to Break 100 Million / Sony's Hope

"We're here, Scar."

The car came to a steady stop. Duke reminded the little girl in the backseat, "Don't forget your backpack."

"Got it."

Scarlett Johansson's ponytail swayed as she grabbed her backpack, stepped out, and shut the door behind her. She waved at Duke and headed toward her house without looking back.

"Is she mad?" Charlize asked from the passenger seat, watching her go.

"It's fine."

Duke waited until Scarlett disappeared into the house before starting the car. "She's always like this."

Although he could vaguely guess what was going on from the tone of that phone call, Duke kept his mouth shut. It was the Johansson family's private business, after all. Never mind him—even his mother, Scarlett's godmother, had no right to interfere.

"Let's go."

Duke turned the steering wheel, pulling out of the quiet lane and heading toward North Hollywood.

Upon reaching Laurel Canyon Boulevard, they found an upscale restaurant. They ordered, then sat at a window table, chatting as they ate.

"Congratulations on your film's massive success," Charlize Theron said, raising her wine glass. "You've already broken three North American box-office records in a row."

"And I'm getting ruthlessly trashed for it at the same time."

Taking a small sip of his red wine, Duke mocked himself. "Maybe by next week I'll become the worst director in Hollywood history."

"There are plenty of people who wish they could be collectively slammed by film critics like you," Charlize said, tucking her lengthening blonde hair behind her ear. She took a small bite of her dressing-free fruit salad. "You have no idea how many people in my acting class envy the cast of Independence Day."

"Opportunities will always come." Duke could easily hear the underlying meaning in her words. "Has your agent not been sending you to auditions lately?"

"He has. Why would he let me off the hook?" Charlize Theron looked troubled. "I've turned them down for now. If this keeps up, I feel like he's going to give up on me soon."

Leaning forward slightly, she brought her exquisite face a bit closer. "Duke, could you introduce me to an agent?"

Duke looked up at her. She didn't seem to be joking. After thinking it over, he said, "When you have the time, you can go to ICM. Just tell them I recommended you."

"Do you have any plans for tonight?" Charlize asked at just the right moment.

"Hmm..." Duke pinched his chin. There were certain activities that went without saying and didn't need to be rushed. He suddenly remembered a film that was once hailed as the greatest in history. "How about this: let's go catch a midnight screening together."

This answer seemed to take Charlize by surprise. She smiled. "Sure."

They chatted in the restaurant until quite late before stepping out together. Duke casually bought a baseball cap from a roadside sporting goods store and led Charlize Theron toward a nearby movie theater.

Although he and Independence Day were hot topics right now, there was no scene of paparazzi swarming them for photos like the rumors suggested. A director was still just a director. Compared to the stars on screen, his appeal and news value were far lower.

Of course, there might have been paparazzi hiding in the dark snapping pictures, but that wasn't something Duke cared about. He was neither married nor had a girlfriend. Even if someone deliberately photographed them, it was no big deal.

Laurel Canyon Boulevard was one of the most bustling areas in North Hollywood. Even as midnight approached, it remained brightly lit and crowded with pedestrians. After walking only a few hundred feet, Duke led the tall, sexy blonde into a theater by the street.

Perhaps because it was too late, or perhaps the movies opening this week lacked appeal, the theater wasn't very crowded. After buying two tickets, they entered the auditorium and took their seats together near the back.

"Have some water."

Charlize was very attentive, handing him a bottle of mineral water she had just unscrewed. "The Shawshank Redemption? You'd be interested in a movie like this?"

"Why couldn't I be interested in a movie like this?" Duke laughed.

"I thought the movies you liked..." Charlize pantomimed throwing a few punches. "...were all this kind."

After a few short exchanges, the midnight screening soon began. Because the film was largely familiar to him, Duke didn't focus entirely on the screen. He swept his gaze across the auditorium. Counting himself and Charlize Theron, there were fewer than ten people seated.

If this were a theater in a remote area, such attendance for a midnight screening would be decent. But this was Laurel Canyon Boulevard, one of the most prosperous districts in all of Los Angeles—the turnout was undeniably sparse.

However, this was also very normal. Midnight screenings relied on fan support, and this genre couldn't possibly boast the hardcore following of an action or sci-fi flick. Furthermore, neither Tim Robbins nor Morgan Freeman had many devoted fans to speak of at the moment.

The beginning of the film was very oppressive. Although it wasn't devoid of hope, it still felt excessively heavy. Before it was even halfway through, three twenty-somethings left the theater early.

Even when Tim Robbins's scene in the rain offered a release for that pent-up tension, it still didn't provide a truly cathartic sensation. A dull, suffocating weight lingered over the heart...

"It's a very moving film."

Compared to Duke, Charlize Theron had watched very intently. As the credits rolled, she was deeply moved. "I feel... I feel like the movie has this indescribable quality to it..."

She seemed unable to find the right words.

"Let's go."

Without waiting for Charlize Theron to continue her reflections, Duke pulled her along toward the exit. When they reached the lobby, he declined a survey questionnaire from the polling staff and slowly walked outside.

A voice drifted from behind; it sounded like another moviegoer speaking to the surveyor.

"The Shawshank Redemption is fantastic. It's the best movie I've seen all year. On plot and emotional impact alone, the currently playing Independence Day doesn't even come close. But I've got this weird feeling—watching this movie in a theater just felt strange..."

As if suddenly figuring it out, the male viewer added, "This kind of movie doesn't really fit the theater atmosphere. You should be tucked away at home alone or in some other quiet place, savoring it bit by bit. A cinema environment completely contradicts the movie's themes."

As they stepped out of the theater, Duke was still pondering the man's words. The reasons behind the original box office failure of The Shawshank Redemption were highly complex, and its unsuitability for a theatrical release was definitely one of them. As for the marketing and promotional issues brought up by many, those actually weren't the main problem. After all, the advertising budget before its initial release hadn't been low relative to its production cost. Moreover, after its loss at the Oscars triggered an overwhelming wave of sympathy—and it was even crowned the greatest of all time by the media—the distributors pushed a second promotional campaign for a re-release. Yet its second run in theaters still ended as a massive flop.

"What are you thinking about?"

Getting into the car, Charlize asked Duke curiously, "You've been spacing out ever since we left the theater."

"I was wondering..." Duke fastened his seatbelt and turned to look at her. "...what kind of delicious late-night snack we should get tonight."

"As long as it's not a sandwich like last time," Charlize said with a shrug. "I'm fine with whatever. I've been on a diet recently."

Actresses, excluding a few character actors, basically spent all 365 days of the year dieting.

Having been in this industry for a while, Duke was gradually getting used to this reality. After all, people in this world who could eat endlessly without gaining weight were the minority among minorities. For the vast majority, maintaining a good figure started with controlling what they ate.

The car drove slowly down the street in search of a suitable restaurant. Duke didn't have any particular dietary demands, but Charlize Theron refused to eat any high-calorie foods. Fortunately, despite the late hour, there were still plenty of open restaurants. After turning onto another street, the two found a restaurant that specialized in vegetarian dishes.

The Friday sun rose into the sky. Inside the headquarters of Sony Columbia Pictures, there was not a trace of holiday relaxation—only busyness.

Sitting behind his desk, Ralph rapidly flipped through major North American newspapers, searching the film review columns for critiques on The Shawshank Redemption.

"A long road to freedom, a deep cleansing of the soul, an immortal inspirational classic. The Shawshank Redemption brings unchanging true friendship, the unyielding forging of the spirit, and the eternal fire of destiny! This is a great film!"

In his column for the Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert not only gave his iconic thumbs-up but directly awarded the film a perfect ten!

"The film touches upon eternal human themes and unavoidable contemporary dilemmas. The cinematic structure is more refined than the original work, its dialogue more rhythmic, deeply deliberated, and meaningful. The character portrayals are more vivid and powerful than their source. With a rich and clever artistic text, the director hoists the spirit of freedom high for all to see!"

David Denby, a film critic for The New Yorker known for his biting sarcasm, gave it a high score of 9.5!

Similarly, other film critics heaped praise onto the movie.

"The film fuses the soul of freedom and redemption into its very bones, creating an irresistible, touching emotional resonance."

"The Shawshank Redemption is the most powerful footnote on hope."

In the print media's review columns—especially among the most prominent critics—The Shawshank Redemption received unanimous acclaim. Professional ratings were mostly nines or tens. It was undeniably the most critically praised film in recent years.

However, everything he saw in the newspapers failed to excite Ralph. Even before his secretary brought in the papers, he had already seen The Shawshank Redemption's midnight screening numbers.

$970,000!

Even considering the genre and the cast's lack of a fan base and box office draw, such a figure was undeniably low, especially during the moviegoing frenzy of the North American Summer Season.

Still, Ralph held out some hope. According to surveys, although few people had seen the film, the word of mouth was equally outstanding. It held a nearly ninety percent A-grade approval rating, which was the exact kind of audience reception typical of a massive blockbuster.

Perhaps through word of mouth and brewing hype, the daytime box office would rise?

Though they knew they were competing against a juggernaut like Independence Day, the hopes of Ralph and Sony Columbia Pictures had not been shattered.