The Best Actor in the Vase of Meiyu

Chapter 2107 Full of Flesh and Blood
"Walking with Songs" has undoubtedly become a hot topic of discussion on the streets.

So, how should we accurately evaluate it?

It wasn't that bad, but it wasn't that great either. In fact, the film's framework, outline, and plot already had the potential to become a classic. But unfortunately, the "conventional" approach of the script and director failed to give the film any flesh and blood, let alone soul and spirit.

On the one hand, it's regrettable; on the other hand, there are quite a few highlights.

However, comparing the film to "hidden cameras," or the mindless praise from fanatical Anson supporters, is extremely offensive and hard to swallow.

Precisely because of this, "Walking with Songs" has always been at the forefront of public attention, with discussions never ceasing.

And after the film's post-screening press conference, a surge of new topics pushed the event to a new climax.

Indeed, films have their shortcomings and flaws. Works that lack sharp edges and highlights and fail to showcase the charm of cinema are like "good students," leaving viewers with little interest. Rather than that, they would prefer to see bold, avant-garde, and polarizing artistic works at film festivals.

However, from another perspective, the soul of film lies in its music.

Johnny Cash's audition, Joan Carter's debut, Johnny Cash forcing Joan Carter to sing along, Johnny Cash's delirious and dizzying performance, the live performance at Fulson Prison, and so on.

Classic scenes, one after another.

"...This is not a Disney movie, nor a music video. All the performances are intentional and weighty. They infuse the warmth of the characters and plot into the music and even the live performance, interpreting and presenting it through the performance, and pushing it to the extreme, so that the music and the story are completely intertwined and have real weight."

"Sight & Sound" magazine commented as follows.

"A true music film, a rare gem since 'Amadeus' that conveys the color and warmth of music to the audience through images and infuses the story with soul. The delicate and moving performances of the two actors further enhance the possibilities of music."

4.0, a perfect score, and received high praise from "Sight & Sound" magazine.

Moreover, other media outlets have expressed similar views.

In their view, the film's greatest success lies in its seamless integration of music into the plot and characters, making it the film's most memorable highlight.

Every live performance is meaningful. The choice of songs, the state of the performance, and the arrangement of the plot are all carefully considered. Unlike Disney movies where singing is done for the sake of singing, or singing a song when a problem cannot be solved, which is not only abrupt but also absurd, here the performance exists for the plot and can enhance the film's appeal, vividly interpreting the complexities that the dialogue cannot convey.

"...The live performance at 'Folson Prison' is enough to go down in history."

"Without a doubt, the performance in 'In Fulson Prison' is a highlight of musical biopics."

“The live performance of ‘At Fulson Prison’ will recreate the great impossibility that has become reality.”

Even after the film ended, the fervor couldn't completely subside, and even after the film festival concluded, the images of the performance at Fulson Prison still lingered in my mind.

The lingering sound resonated for three days.

Based on this alone, film enthusiasts at Cannes believed that "Singing Along" was better than "Soul".

When people discuss "Walk the Line," they inevitably mention "Ray," another biographical film about a legendary singer, released one after the other. Jamie Foxx even won an Oscar for "Ray," reaching the pinnacle of his career and leaving a brilliant mark. However, if "Ray" had won Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Director, "Walk the Line" would have been a shoo-in even earlier.

In terms of narrative structure and character development, "The King of Soul" focused almost all his energy on Ray Charles, yet still failed to present a convincing character, ultimately becoming nothing more than a Jamie Foxx impersonation, witnessing the shining moment of his acting career—

Music and performance are, in essence, tools. In nature, there isn't much difference between the production model of "Soul" and Disney musicals.

So why is the "King of Soul" able to emerge so strongly during awards season?

It was a matter of timing and fate, because Ray Charles passed away in June 2004, and the emergence of the "soul singer" was just right, becoming the best way to commemorate the legend.

But putting aside emotional factors, "Walking with Song" is better than "King of Soul".

The most crucial point is that music and performance are not tools in this work; they are expressions that truly possess the warmth of the soul.

This is no easy feat for a music biopic, and director James Mangold certainly accomplished an excellent task.

And that's not all.

"Anson Wood and Reese Witherspoon did an incredibly good job in this film. Their performances were so vivid and lifelike that they were so expressive that their movements, expressions, eyes, and even their voices became like a live performance. Their 100% live singing performance became the soul of the film."

"Without Wood and Witherspoon, it's hard to imagine how dull, tedious, and lifeless this film would be; they are the color of the film."

"For a mediocre and simple biographical film that has been repeated hundreds of times in Hollywood, its breakthrough lies in the brilliant performances of Wood and Witherspoon, who are simply radiant in the film."

"In 'School Days,' Witherspoon already demonstrated her ability to be both lovable and pathetic, yet endearing, with tension and depth. And this time in 'Walk with the Song,' her portrayal of Joan Carter is vibrant and powerful, an incredibly brilliant performance."

"The film truly showcases Joan Carter's charismatic personality, but it goes beyond that. Her music and performance are equally vibrant, and Witherspoon's performance deserves much credit."

"When people defined Witherspoon as just a pretty face because of 'Legally Blonde,' the movie became a reality. The story in the movie was staged in Cannes, and Witherspoon's unparalleled performance awakened people's memories: Hey, before the success of 'Legally Blonde,' her breakthrough role was actually 'School Days.'"

"God, the film finally found its balance when Witherspoon stood in front of Wood. The powerful energy of the two actors ensured the quality of the film."

Praise, praise, and more praise.

It wasn't just Roger and Niles; the media's discussions just wouldn't stop. Ginnifer Goodwin is definitely not a bad actress. She is one of the few American actors with an academic background, majoring in drama and fine arts. She has honed her skills not only on Broadway but also in television.

However, incredibly, Ginnifer's performance in this film was a disaster, even ruining some of the film's most powerful scenes.

Compared to Anson and Reese's performances, Ginnifer's shortcomings were glaringly exposed, becoming a weak point in the film; but it also made people realize once again—

Whether it's Anson or Reese, they truly delivered a perfect answer.

Especially Anson Wood, who was at the center of the storm.

(End of this chapter)