Chapter 777: The Best Film Director in My Heart

Even though the movie was ninety minutes long, Tony Cross didn't feel bored for a single second from start to finish. When it ended, he only wanted to see more; he didn't want it to be over!

As an ordinary young man, he neither understood nor cared to study things like a film's deeper meaning. He only knew it was one of the best viewing experiences of the year. The movie's visual effects made him suddenly realize that the highest realm of special effects was not noticing them at all.

"I really thought everything was happening in space. It was so real."

"I feel like it was entirely special effects, yet it seemed like there were none. That's the highest realm of visual effects."

Walking out of the theater, Tony Cross overheard these comments. They matched his own thoughts perfectly. If the two strangers hadn't walked away so quickly, he probably would have run over to chat with them.

In another IMAX Cinema, Katherine Kennedy stood up with the rest of the audience and applauded. Through its exceptional 3D effects, audiovisual technology, and cinematography, Gravity had given her a truly immersive, full-body experience of being in space.

In terms of its outstanding visual effects, this was a typical Duke Rosenberg film. But in every other aspect, it wasn't.

Katherine Kennedy was absolutely certain of this, and she believed many others would share that view.

The advanced camera transitions in the film had reached the absolute pinnacle. This wasn't Duke Rosenberg's typical style, but his use of long takes was just as stunning as his fast, sharp editing.

The opening long take, in particular, left an indelible impression on her. From the vast, silent reaches of outer space to the distant shuttle, fuselage, and equipment, then to the astronauts, and finally down to the fine detail of a single screw—it instantly plunged the audience into the magnificent cosmos. The realism was incredible.

Not far from Katherine Kennedy, Sarah was also clapping hard. The film didn't have a complicated plot. Aside from its minimalist cast, the story was relatively simple. It could easily be summarized in a single sentence: the story of an astronaut overcoming all odds to return to Earth.

But this simplicity was truly minimalist without being basic.

Only after finishing the movie did she fully understand it: while sitting in a comfortable theater seat and occasionally shifting her posture, the sudden surges of tension on screen would make her involuntarily sit up straight, just to ease her already tight breathing.

The remarkable thing about Gravity was how it used a minimalist cast and incredibly tense dramatic pacing to execute such a seemingly simple story.

Looking back on it now, she had almost uncontrollably projected herself onto the screen during the viewing, substituting herself into the role of the female lead, Scarlett Johansson. Feeling as if her own body and mind were suspended in midair, she experienced the heart-pounding suspense that cropped up time and time again. Her breathing had quickened and her heart had raced, just like the female lead trapped in her rapidly depleting spacesuit.

Even the best films must come to an end. Sarah followed the crowd out of the theater. As she passed the entrance, she saw Frank Pierson giving an interview. Moved by a sudden thought, she quietly stopped nearby, wanting to hear what this conservative figure of the school faction thought of Duke Rosenberg's new film.

"Majestic beauty is the brightest backdrop of this lonely adventure. The portrayal of human insignificance and solitude in space kept the beauty of the cosmos and Earth from being reduced to hollow, pale scenic postcards."

This old-school veteran seemed to highly appreciate the film.

"The most outstanding aspect is the film's classic narrative, which seamlessly connects every plot point. The film's visual effects and camerawork, much like those classic narrative paradigms, make the cuts nearly imperceptible. To exaggerate a bit, it's like experiencing the protagonist's adventure in a single, continuous ninety-minute take."

He emphasized, "I think Duke Rosenberg's progress in this film is very obvious. He has walked back onto the correct path of cinema."

Hearing this, Sarah—who understood Duke quite well—couldn't help but roll her eyes. This film was just a special case. A movie utilizing this many long takes would probably be very hard to get from Duke Rosenberg ever again.

Seemingly delighted that those who had strayed were being reformed by them and finally returning to the right path, Frank Pierson praised another person who had done just that.

"Scarlett Johansson delivered the best performance of her career. You could even say she was the only candidate capable of playing such an impossible role. Her acting is an art. She took something that was repeatedly rehearsed and highly choreographed and performed it as if it were improvised. Almost no one can do that. I think people in Hollywood should understand that this is what true acting mastery looks like."

Was this meant to convey some kind of message? Sarah couldn't be sure. The only thing she could confirm was that Frank Pierson had perhaps been swayed by public relations and seemed ready to throw his support behind Scarlett Johansson.

Seeing Frank Pierson leave, Sarah didn't depart immediately. Gravity would undoubtedly become the focus of the entertainment media over the next few days, and she wanted to hear more people's opinions.

The TV reporter conducting the interviews didn't target another professional, instead approaching a regular moviegoer.

A fan cornered by the reporter seemed impatient to share his thoughts.

"A director like Duke Rosenberg is exactly the best film director in my heart. He's reached the absolute pinnacle technically, and his story is wonderful and profound."

Standing in front of the camera lens and facing the reporter's microphone, he was practically dancing as he spoke.

"Watching the film in the IMAX hall left me dumbfounded. I found the ultimate movie-watching experience. Every frame took my breath away, and every second gripped my heart."

He offered an exaggerated shrug and added, "Of course, the film's story is extremely simple, and what I didn't expect was that it would really be that simple. A sci-fi movie that usually takes over two hours was only ninety minutes. I had some doubts while watching, but they were resolved the moment the movie ended. It really didn't need anything more."

The man was incredibly talkative, chattering nonstop as if he would never shut up.

"From the moment Scarlett Johansson's oxygen was about to run out, my heart was in my throat. What would she do? Was there any oxygen left? Could she grab the spaceship? Maybe that's the charm of the movie—it always keeps you caring about the protagonist's fate! I never noticed how outstanding Scarlett Johansson's acting skills were before."

The reporter across from him had already started signaling him with his eyes to wrap it up, and the guy possessed at least a bit of self-awareness.

"All right, there's nothing more to say. A truly excellent movie—simple, profound, and beautiful."

Seeing the TV reporter leave to interview others, Sarah also walked out of the theater and returned to her car in the parking lot. But she didn't immediately start the engine and drive away. Instead, she took out her Mobile Phone, rapidly tapped the keys, and posted a tweet and an Instant Sharing update.

"Just finished watching Duke Rosenberg's new work, Gravity. The 3D space landscapes are so beautiful they make you want to cry."

"If you're expecting to achieve the same viewing experience on your home equipment, it's an unbelievable tall tale. The stereoscopic 3D effects of Gravity are incredibly powerful. When the space debris rushes at you, your hands will subconsciously block it, and your eyes will reflexively dodge. When the female lead, Scarlett Johansson, sheds tears in despair, the effect absolutely surpasses that water droplet in Avatar brushing past the protagonist's eyes just to highlight the three-dimensional space. And when Clooney strolls through space listening to music, you unexpectedly feel as if you're also suspended in the air taking in the scenery. Looking down at Earth from space, the rivers, land, sunrises, and landscapes are all vivid individuals. The ultimate, realistic cosmic spectacle is so beautiful it makes you want to cry!"

After posting, Sarah scrolled through Instant Sharing. Even though there were only fifty theaters showing the preview across the US, quite a few related posts had already popped up.

"When exploring the vast universe outside the helmet through Scarlett Johansson's perspective, you'll feel endless chest tightness right alongside her."

"You will feel as if you're in space yourself—dizzy, tense, terrified, oxygen-deprived, thrilled, shocked, and weak in the knees."

"Gravity is just incredible on every level. The goosebumps I got all over my body after watching Avatar earlier this year are back."

It was now the internet age, and even traditional media had launched online versions. While Sarah was driving back to the newspaper office, relevant reviews had already appeared on the web editions of some quick-reacting outlets.

Variety's reaction speed was certainly fast enough.

"Gravity is not a sci-fi film in the traditional sense. It's full of tension and surprising twists. Duke Rosenberg has created the most realistic and beautiful space movie. There are no aliens, interstellar battles, or dystopian plots—just a man and a woman in the most adverse environment dealing with the problems they face, yet this makes for a very tight ninety minutes. In addition, with the outstanding 3D technology complemented by the stunning audiovisual effects of IMAX, Gravity will become a paragon among global commercial films!"

Yahoo Entertainment wasn't slow either.

"I was stunned and blown away. I think this is the best space-themed movie ever made. I haven't seen a movie like this in a long time. Duke Rosenberg and Scarlett Johansson teamed up to deliver a story about a woman fighting for her life in zero gravity, and the story is told so brilliantly that it's hard to find the right words to describe it."

In comparison, the views of the Hollywood Reporter, which carried more weight within the industry, were a bit cooler.

"Although the film is more realistic and further devoid of fantasy elements, it has no substantive differences from previous 3D and special effects blockbusters like Avatar. Relying on the latest digital technology, Gravity provides a dreamlike experience. It's a film that gives people a white-hot sensation, and whether they are filmmakers or audience members, everyone will be inspired by it."