The Best Actor in the Vase of Meiyu

Chapter 2108 A Ray of Light

"...I could hardly believe my eyes. In that instant, it felt like I was back in the time of 'The Notebook'."

"Haha, is this praise or criticism?"

“Bravo! Absolutely! At that moment, Anson-Wood exuded a fatal attraction that I hadn’t anticipated before entering Lumière Hall.”

“I must admit that scene could have been better. Not only us, but I doubt even James Mangold anticipated that it would become a classic.”

"No, no, no, I don't think it's the director's fault. It's just a simple scene, and Anson Wood turned the impossible into reality and changed everything."

"If someone asks me what the charisma of the big screen and the aura of a superstar are, I will show them this scene from 'Walk the Line,' a textbook example. Anson Wood transforms an ordinary scene into something dazzling."

"And Ginnifer..."

Oh, ho ho ho—

There was banging on the table, screaming, howling and wailing, and everyone shaking their heads and complaining.

When Niles entered the coffee shop, this was the scene he witnessed: a lively discussion erupted, and everyone's face was filled with excitement.

Without needing a reminder, Niles knew which scene they were discussing: the one Johnny Cash went home soaking wet in the rain after finishing recording.

Niles himself had to admit that Anson absolutely displayed superstar quality in this scene, almost single-handedly saving what would have been an otherwise unremarkable moment.

Indeed, great minds think alike.

Niles naturally joined the discussion, "This scene was purely Anson's personal charm. To be honest, it was stunning, but I wasn't surprised. What really surprised me was Fulson Prison..."

Before the words had even finished, the coffee shop was already filled with exclamations and affirmations.

Nearby, someone chimed in, "To be honest, I don't like this movie. Biographical films should just disappear from the face of the earth. It's a terrible genre. But I'm willing to go back to the cinema and endure the ordeal just for the scene performed at Fulson Prison. That's the magic of cinema."

Clap clap clap, roar roar roar.

Everyone started banging on the table and yelling, instantly igniting the atmosphere.

The premiere of "Walking with Song" has ended, and discussions surrounding the film have already begun in earnest, but it was only after nightfall that this wave of enthusiasm truly unleashed its full potential.

Undoubtedly, Reese Witherspoon is highly praised for her actions that awaken people's memories. Her rise to prominence in Hollywood was not due to her looks, but to her acting skills. It was only because "Legally Blonde" was so successful that it altered memories to the point that people simply did not remember what happened before.

This time, through "Walking with Songs," Reese Witherspoon finally shone brightly once again, and the bustling comments section was filled with praise and affirmation.

Among the comments was Roger Ebert's statement: "The part that gives this film endless energy comes from Reese Witherspoon's unparalleled and brilliant performance as Joan Carter Cash."

Simple and clear.

Roger's affirmation of Reese's work was commendable, but that's not all. No one forgets that when the lead roles for "Walk the Line" were confirmed, Anson and Reese shared a similar fate, facing widespread ridicule, with Anson being particularly targeted.

Naturally, when "Walking with the Song" took the stage, both actors were placed under a microscope for scrutiny, with nowhere to escape.

“Delicate and rich, vivid and lively, layered yet powerful, Anson Wood breathes life into the complex character of Johnny Cash with his performance, capturing his sadness and vulnerability, his bewilderment and confusion, and the only ray of dawn hidden in endless darkness.”

Especially with live performances, Anson not only brought light to Johnny's life, but also to every lost soul trapped in the abyss of darkness.

Undoubtedly, Anson delivers one of the most brilliant performances of a real person in film history. It's not merely imitation, but a breath of fresh air, reawakening Johnny Cash and leading the audience on his adventure. This will be a landmark interpretation and performance.

Throughout the text, the author makes no attempt to conceal their praise and affirmation, even elevating the author to a pedestal.

3.5, Roger gave a resounding praise in a commentary in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Of course, Roger was being realistic and didn't let his eyes cloud his judgment. He bluntly stated that the film had many shortcomings in terms of script and directing, including somewhat thin character development, and was some distance from being a true classic. This was why he couldn't give it a score of four.

However, in Roger's view, Reese and Anson proved their excellence, even greatness, and single-handedly saved the film.

Anson, in particular, shone brightly on the screen in the Lumière Hall, showcasing the charisma of both an actor and a superstar, captivating the audience.

Later, in an interview, Roger frankly stated that it is regrettable that people always refuse to accept possibilities because of prejudice, because Anson has many possibilities, and such an actor can inject energy into the film and give it new life.

"I believe we've been overlooking the energy Anson brought to Peter Parker. Does a popcorn movie like 'Spider-Man' not need acting skills? Peter Parker, an ordinary high school student, became a globally popular superhero; doesn't he need a brilliant performance from the actor?"

As expected of Roger, he always has the keen ability to grasp the key points and awaken people's memories.

Roger is trying to completely shatter the "pretty face" label attached to Anson. We shouldn't think that Anson is only good-looking because of "Spider-Man." In fact, precisely because of "Spider-Man," we should believe that Anson is far more than just good-looking.

Moreover, Roger was not fighting alone this time.

In Cannes, amidst the heated discussions, differing opinions arose, but it must be acknowledged that the scenes of recording the good news in the rain and the prison scene at Fulson were undoubtedly highlights of the film, enough to become two classic scenes that would go down in history on the big screen in 2005, leaving their mark.

Of course, the praise goes far beyond that.

"Anson Wood infused Johnny Cash with an incredible energy, a fragile and decadent fatal attraction that draws moths to a flame, even as he struggles in the darkest abyss."

"Superstar charisma! Not only in those live performance scenes, but also in everyday life, Anson Wood's nuanced and rich performance is the backbone of the film."

“Mangold made one of the wisest and most correct decisions ever, which was to have Wood and Witherspoon perform live and personally complete the entire show. His gamble paid off, and after the Grammys and Oscars, Wood finally had the opportunity to showcase his unparalleled talent on the big screen.”

"The film fills a crucial void in the 'King of Soul' genre—a love story, a vibrant soul. For me personally, that's the key."

“In fact, I wouldn’t say that Wood and Witherspoon sound like Cash and Carter, but it’s precisely this difference that makes the film shine, because Wood and Witherspoon find their own ways of injecting power. Especially Wood. He proved himself to be an unparalleled actor.”

(End of this chapter)