King of Hollywood

Chapter 357: 81: Very Good at Seizing Opportunities

Chapter 357: Chapter 81: Very Good at Seizing Opportunities

The movie was a success, and Fincher didn’t aim to give the audience a warm and fuzzy story. From the outset, it was oppressive, with the color palette of the shots forever tinged with grey, whether on the streets, at the police station, in the library, or in a bar, it never changed. Coupled with the exquisite montage editing techniques, the film also carried added weight and suspense.

However, the same editing techniques yielded vastly different effects when used in different scenes. For example, when Mills and Shamosai encountered the killer outside the fourth victim’s house, disguised as a reporter, the infuriated Mills, believing him to be an intruder who had sneaked in, angrily grabbed the camera from him and chased him away, unwittingly making himself a target of the criminal.

Close-ups, speed ramp cuts, and transition effects instantly brought the contrasting personalities of Mills and Shamosai to life on the screen, with their anxiety and anger coming across vividly. Yet earlier, when Mills and his wife had invited Shamosai to dinner, the same editing techniques essentially remained the same – close-ups, speed ramp cuts and transitions – and only a few angles changed slightly. However, Mills’ happiness and his wife Trish’s tender and charming image were portrayed just right, showcasing the basic qualities that a good director should possess.

Of course, that’s not to say Fincher’s editing was flawless. At least in Adrian’s eyes, there were many areas that could have been improved. For instance, Kevin Spacey’s first full appearance could have been more impactful with two long, rotating shots combined with a seamless transition. It would have made the already shocking and creepily eerie atmosphere even denser and captivated the audience’s minds more strongly.

Fincher overexerted himself here, wanting to highlight the killer’s indifference and cruelty, but it did not have the intended effect. He was now at his most prominent, and veering towards aggression in his control was normal. And even so, he handled it well. Adrian could see it was due to the accumulation of experiences from past and present lives.

Kevin Spacey’s portrayal of John Doe’s shocking entrance surprised many, and the film’s atmosphere became even more horrific and unpredictable. Here, the unpredictability refers to the killer’s intentions, not so-called intellectual crimes. To a large extent, John Doe was the kind of cold and cruel religious fanatic, as seen when he included himself in his scheme to make Mills complete the Seven Deadly Sins ritual.

Yet the reason for the perception of high intellect in the film is crucial. It’s narrated from the perspective of the two detectives, who are constantly outwitted, leading to Mills being ultimately outmaneuvered – thus giving the impression of a formidable killer. If we’re talking about intellectual crimes, “The Usual Suspects,” which is awaiting release, is more deserving of the title. Even so, “The Usual Suspects” had plenty of minor flaws. A perfect intellectual crime movie is not easy to make – films like “Seven Deadly Sins” that sketch crime methods ambiguously are often seen as intellectual crime movies.

Regardless, the ending once again shocked the audience. It was so cruel, so dark and gloomy, it seemed hopeless, leaving behind only Mills’ face, full of extreme anger and sorrow just before firing the gun, and Shamosai’s remark, “Hemingway said the world is a fine place and worth fighting for. I agree with the second part.”

Although Adrian had already seen Dennis’ performance on set and applauded it, the post-production-screened image was even more powerful. The nuances in facial expressions were maximized, especially those eyes, shifting from astonishment to fury to bloodshot and tear-filled, perfectly conveying the emotions of grief and rage. At the moment of the gunshot, Adrian even faintly heard someone in the audience angrily swear “fuck.”

After the movie ended to applause, those who congratulated Dennis weren’t much fewer than those for Spacey. While filming, Adrian had thought Dennis would be at least a notch above Pitt, but now it seemed it was much more.

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