The Best Actor in the Vase of Meiyu

Chapter 2104 Lingering Sounds for Three Days
"In 1968, 'In Forsun Prison' became the best-selling book of the year, even outselling the Beatles."

"In the same year, John and Joan married and settled in a lakeside house in Hendersonville. Two years later, their son John Carter Cash was born."

"For the next thirty-five years, they lived together, raised their children, recorded albums, and toured the world."

"Joan passed away in May 2003; four months later, John followed her."

The movie has ended, just like a standard biographical film.

Roger Ebert didn't like the ending of the movie—

After finishing his performance at Fulson Prison, Johnny proposed to Joan Carter again, but she not only refused but also flew into a rage because she didn't believe Johnny truly understood the problem or was ready to take on the responsibilities of a family. In Johnny's life, there was always someone cleaning up his messes.

Johnny was frustrated, so he proposed to Joan Carter on stage during a later tour, and finally won her over with a heartfelt confession.

They married and settled in a lakeside cabin. Johnny's family appeared, and Johnny seemed to have finally reconciled with his father. The film freezes on a moment when Johnny and Joan Carter exchange a knowing smile.

Then came a text explaining the rest of their lives, bringing it to a close.

Just like in a Disney fairy tale, "they lived happily ever after."

The cliché is not a problem; Roger also likes happy endings, and strictly speaking, this is a movie about the love story of Johnny and Joan Carter, so ending it in this way is perfectly logical.

To be nitpicky, the storylines of Johnny's reconciliation with his father and Johnny's faith were not developed, and the ending felt rushed and perfunctory. But that's not a big deal, since they weren't the focus of the film's narrative in the first place.

Everything made sense. Roger understood that James Mangold's idea of ​​ending the story in this way perfectly fit the formulaic approach of Hollywood biographical films.

What truly displeased Roger was precisely this approach—

It's clichéd, simple, unoriginal, not bold enough, conventional, and unremarkable.

To make matters worse, Mangold had the opportunity to end the film in a dazzling and glamorous way: Johnny's live performance at Fulson Prison.

Passionate and heartfelt; exhilarating and thought-provoking.

"Anson Wood delivered a great performance."

He truly poured the warmth of his soul into the performance, playing, singing, and acting with all his might, sweating profusely and blooming freely. That boundless energy completely showcased the energy Johnny Cash poured into this album and this performance, and even went further, recreating that live scene.

Singing. Performance. Stage.

Everything was perfect. He not only showcased the charm of Johnny Cash, but also the charm of live performance, and even more so, the charm of film.

The sweltering heat, the scalding sweat, the wildly beating hearts, and the continuous roar burst through the big screen, threatening to engulf all the viewers.

An incredible performance. A performance worthy of being recorded in history.

Words cannot adequately express the madness that erupted from Roger's heart.

Roger swore that he was neither exaggerating nor overpraising.

In the movie, after the performance at Fulson Prison ends, there are still about fifteen to twenty minutes left, but Roger's attention is not on the story at all. The performance at Fulson Prison continues to linger in his mind, and those music and images are burning brightly in his chest.

Brilliant and unrestrained.

Of course, Roger knew about the Grammys and had watched the Oscars live. He knew Anson was an excellent singer and a great performer, but movies were different. Deep down, he was still a bookworm who loved movies.

Through skillful camerawork and editing, sound blends seamlessly with imagery, rhythm and visuals complement each other, and the interplay of sight and sound becomes clearer. The allure of the live performance transforms into a dreamlike experience, drawing you into the music through the lens, allowing you to feel the melody with your body, and even become part of the notes. Unbelievable!

In Roger's view, the movie didn't need an ending or a conclusion at all. It could have ended with the performance at Fulson Prison. Mangold could have filmed a ten-minute or even fifteen-minute performance, turning the movie into a concert, with the entire audience caught in the vortex, rising and falling together.

Unfortunately, Mangold missed a chance to make history.

As the movie ended, Roger closed his eyes, but the song from Fulson Prison still lingered in his mind, ears, and blood, so beautiful that he didn't want to wake up.

He didn't know what others thought, but for him, the movie should end at Fulson Prison, where everything was perfect, and he needed to awaken his memories and savor them.

Until the lights came on.

Roger finally opened his eyes, and before he could even adjust to the light, thunderous applause erupted from the side, spreading throughout the entire Lumière Hall.

Roger looked up and saw Niles's ecstatic expression. He tried his best to suppress and control it, but happiness and excitement were still inevitably revealed.

Niles stood up straight, clapped his hands vigorously, and beamed with joy.

Roger also stood up and joined in the applause.

Niles leaned closer and said in a low voice, "You should still be a little more disciplined."

Roger seemed slightly surprised. "I think it should end in Fulson."

“Me too!” Niles exclaimed excitedly, jumping up and down. “Anson Wood. Wow. The movie was actually alright overall, but the acting was a huge plus.”

In just a few words and an exchange of glances, they reached a consensus.

Then, before Roger could speak, Niles had already raised his hands high, clapping vigorously and cheering, instantly igniting the atmosphere.

A sweltering heatwave surged toward Anson, sending the entire arena into a frenzy.

Anson appeared somewhat reserved.

It was his first time watching such a serious and profound performance on the big screen, and to be honest, he felt a little awkward and unfamiliar with it; especially with "Walking with the Song," it seemed like he hadn't seen Jack for a very long time. While watching the movie, those memories surged back, and seeing Johnny fall into darkness, he was overwhelmed with emotions, which were difficult to describe accurately in words.

And then...and then I was surrounded by a heatwave.

It was a rare sight to see Anson's shyness and awkwardness, and the media around him who were familiar with Anson couldn't contain themselves and started to cheer.

The atmosphere reached a new peak.

Clearly, Roger and Niles are not special; there are many viewers who share the same feelings and experiences. If someone marvels at Jamie Foxx's portrayal of Ray Charles, then they should watch Anson's portrayal of Johnny Cash, which is not just an imitation but a completely new interpretation.

The movie ended long ago, but the lingering melody still resonates.

At this moment, looking at Anson again in the center of the encirclement, his eyes and gaze have changed. Today, Cannes is going crazy because of Anson, standing in the eye of the storm of the film festival, welcoming a new era.

Perhaps it's time for people to set aside their prejudices and arrogance and give Anson the recognition he deserves.

He's definitely more than just good-looking.

(End of this chapter)