Sitting in his office, watching the news in the newspaper that Levy was back in Hollywood, Carter, the editor-in-chief of the Hollywood Bulletin, let out a sigh of relief and a smile appeared on his face.

This smile was a mocking laugh, because he knew very well that Levy's return to Hollywood meant that he also had to go to war with Soderbergh.

Every time he sees this kind of fight, it makes him find it interesting. Who will win the battle between Infernal Affairs and the drug network this time? That's what he'd love to see.

In fact, although the drug network has not been released, the media already has some understanding of this movie: the movie is based on a British TV series, and people all know what the story itself looks like. In terms of the story of the script alone, this story is slightly inferior to Infernal Affairs.

It's just that people still have expectations from Soderbergh: as a rare director who has come out of independent films, Soderbergh's ability is also recognized. His level of directing is believable, and perhaps his films are satisfying – Infernal Affairs is a good film, but what does it take for Soderbergh to make a classic that can be compared to Levy's?

He doesn't want to be better than Levy, he just needs to make the same level: he has two masterpieces this year, and Levy just won an Oscar last year, as long as the level is similar, Soderbergh has a good chance of overpowering Levy and winning the Oscar.

After all, the gladiators had already been scolded badly, and now it was time for Soderbergh and Levy to fight.

And this battle is more interesting than the last one.

In the summer battle, in the eyes of the media, Paramount still had some means that were not enough. relied on two comedies to block Levy's gangster films, but the two were defeated by others, obviously because of the lack of enemies. And in contrast, this winter's battle. It's different. Soderbergh apparently had more brains: he forced Levy to compete with him at the box office with the two-month film, which was fun.

Who doesn't know that Levy's movie was made for Theron at all? This thing can be said to be filmed for the sake of supporting actors, as a big director, how long will it take to shoot a movie for your favorite actress? Moreover, such a movie needs to consider the box office? People are meant to play.

Now, however, Levy is forced to go to war with Soderbergh.

"What a fun fight...... I have seen too many of these guys for word of mouth. The box office, the various battles of reputation, sometimes, really feel much more interesting than the movie. ”

Sitting in his office, Carter waited for the news: Levy had returned, so what would he do to meet him?

"Sir, we've got the reporter's interview with Levy now."

While he was still thinking, Assistant Wall had already run over. Carter snatched the notebook from his hand. Look at the words on it.

"I don't make movies for the box office. This Christmas schedule, we have other commercial films to launch. ”

Is this the explanation that Levy has made?

Not a commercial film? This means that Levy has conceded defeat at the box office? This attitude made the media feel that Levy did seem to be plotted. However, Levy doesn't seem to have fully conceded defeat, saying he has another movie. To be released at this time, moreover, is it a commercial film?

That is, he has another movie. A drug network used to thwart Soderbergh?

This also made Carter interested: I thought that the media hype was to hit Levy, but who would have thought that Levy was really ready to stop Soderbergh?

This kid is really guts.

"How he wants to stop Soderbergh. Any news? ”

Carter immediately asked.

"I've already inquired: he wants to release another movie in his hand in Curse Soon."

Grudge? Hearing the name, Carter was slightly disappointed.

He remembered that the film, the commercial film that Levy said, was a very low-cost production, shot by a Japanese and directed by an unknown actress, Vera. Farmiga starred in a horror film.

"Levy wanted to use a horror film to stop Soderbergh's film. That's not a very clever approach. ”

Wall, who was by his side, opened his mouth again and said his opinion: Although horror films have always been good at the box office, this one is difficult to have confidence. This movie is a film made by a new Japanese director. It is said that the movie is also a Japanese-style horror story.

The media lacks understanding of the name Shimizu Chong, but it is said that several Japanese horror film masters are very optimistic about him, but can Japanese-style horror be eaten in the United States? There is no blood, a broken body, and the Americans buy it? These are all questions. Moreover, this movie is a rookie director, and a Japanese-style horror film is just that, and the investment is only 10 million - what kind of movie can be made in this year with an investment of 10 million? Now is the era of blockbusters, and there is no investment of more than 50 million, so you are embarrassed to say that you make movies by yourself?

Could it be that Levy wants to come up with something like Blair the witch to stop someone else? However, the witch Blair spent 20 million on publicity, and it lasted for a whole year. This kind of publicity, this movie does not have. How high can the quality of a horror film thrown out in a hurry be?

How could such a film compete with Soderbergh's drug network?

In fact, not to mention that the media has no confidence, even the publisher's side, I'm afraid there is no confidence, right? If you have confidence, it has to be distributed by Columbia, and with the cooperative attitude that Levy and Columbia have always had, how can a good movie not be given to them? But this movie is a Lionsgate work, isn't that already telling? If it's really a good thing, how can a Columbia company not want it?

Of course, it is said that this movie is favored by Levy. It is said that this movie was discussed by Levi himself with Shimizu Chong. It is said that this movie Shimizu Chong has been preparing and filming for a long time, but can these reverse the investment problem of this movie?

Carter didn't object to Wall's judgment, but he snorted coldly. In front of himself, why does he always pretend to be very smart.

"What if Levy loses? He's avoided taking his own film against Soderbergh's film, isn't that already a victory? ”

Although the film was not well received, Levy's approach was still quite clever in the eyes of people: in any case, he avoided the confrontation with Soderbergh, and he threw out a Japanese who was not distressed as a victim - of course, after the defeat, it is estimated that the Japanese may have to go back to Japan and cannot stay in Hollywood.

But so what? came to Hollywood for a spin and participated in the Christmas schedule war, which is enough for him to show off for a lifetime, right?

Levy was very clever, and when others stopped him with comedy, he fought back with horror movies -- this is what is called not harming the fundamentals.

In Carter's view, this may be the truth of this struggle.

"It seems that Levy is still not stupid, and it is smart to be able to make such a decision to give up a Japanese in exchange for the safe release of his own movie." Carter shook his head and exclaimed, "But we don't have to die with him — turn our attention to the drug network and keep an eye on this movie, which is the highlight of the year." ”

Asking himself has seen Levy's moves, Carter has also made arrangements.

In the midst of the discussion, the release date of the movie was also announced: on December 13, the two movies Drug Network and Curse will be released, and Levy's other film, Lost in Tokyo, will be released on December 27.

The release date of the movie is approaching, and Carter is ready to wait for the news to be reported. At the time of the movie's release, Carter also made a special appearance at the premiere of the drug network, and then waited for the box office figures.

"Head, the box office is out." Wall knocked on his door again, this time with an impatient look on his face. And Carter waved his hand and opened his mouth first, "What is the box office of the drug network?" ”

"Drug networks? 25.5 million. Wall froze for a moment before he spoke, "That's not what I'm talking about......"

"It doesn't matter what you say, this week, this movie is the focus. 25.5 million box office? Pretty good. Carter interrupted him, and he strode out of the office, and as he walked to the editors, he spoke to everyone, "I'm afraid that Lost in Tokyo won't be half the movie in six weeks!" ”

Lost in Tokyo is a small-budget literary film, and it is impossible to compare with the box office of the drug network, and since the drug network has the joining of Douglas and Zeta Jones, it would have been good, and now it seems that the box office figures are also good, which can confirm his success.

"Start writing a review right away, highlighting Soderbergh's use of filters and the '70s-like style of the film. This is something that Infernal Affairs does not have, and it is necessary to highlight the difference in order to cause controversy......"

Thinking about the movie, Carter also immediately made a judgment. He kept talking, ignoring Wall's anxious expression behind his back. This guy is too shallow, and he can't always distinguish between priorities and urgency, and he is really ignorant.

It wasn't until everyone around him nodded that he turned his head to look at Wall.

"Say what else you want to say."

"Among the movies released in the same week, this movie is not the number one at the box office." Wall opened his mouth to speak, and his words made Carter stunned, "Curse that movie, the box office in the first week exceeded 40 million!" ”

In the first week, 40 million? Carter stood dumbfounded, unable to utter a word. He really couldn't imagine that the movie he didn't even bother to watch had a box office of as much as 40 million?

In other words, Levy's operation to stop the drug network was successful?

How is this possible? (To be continued......)