In the 35th Toronto International Film Festival, the first film to receive an additional screening due to audience demand was the independent film that had piqued the curiosity of the audience with its unexpected brilliance, "Buried".
An utterly unknown film emerged out of nowhere, truly causing many to be taken aback. This film emerged from the shadow of "The Town" and staged a comeback with its impressive reputation. First, it caused a scene with over a thousand people queuing, leaving numerous industry insiders baffled and unable to explain. Then, during the additional screening, it faced a peak queue of nearly six hundred people, with over four hundred viewers unable to secure tickets.
Now, the audience was discontented. Why couldn't they buy tickets for the movie they wanted to watch? Was it because there were too many viewers or because there were too few official screenings?
Protests from the audience sounded, "For "127 Hours", there are two screenings in a day, and there are six more to come! But for "Buried", there are only four screenings in total! This is unfair! Isn't the purpose of the Toronto International Film Festival to promote more outstanding films? Why, with so many people lining up, hasn't the organizing committee responded to the audience's call?"
Some even sarcastically commented, "Well, "The Town" has had less than thirty people queuing for two consecutive screenings, yet it still has a daily screening, rain or shine. But for those waiting to watch "Buried", there won't even be a place to queue tomorrow!"
Before the additional screening of "Buried" ended, the clamor for more screenings had risen once again. Over five hundred viewers gathered at the main entrance of the film festival, holding up makeshift support signs. "I want to watch "Buried"! Please don't "bury" our "Buried"! Strongly demand more screenings for "Buried"!"
These so-called support signs were actually just a plea written in carbon pencil on a single A4 paper. They looked incredibly rudimentary, yet they densely crowded the entire square, effectively expressing their request to the organizing committee in a simple yet forceful manner. Unadorned, yet surging.
Passersby cast curious glances, with some fully aware of the situation's background, while others hadn't heard the rumors yet. Through word of mouth, the situation was further fermenting, especially when the contrast and competition between James Franco and Renly Hall were mentioned. After all, James was a long-established A-list star.
What had originally been a tabloid's sensational topic turned into the headline of the day due to an accidental turn of events. Numerous media outlets formally began comparing "Buried" and "127 Hours" side by side.
At that very moment, "American Weekly" released excerpts from their complete interview with Renly on their official website. The full version would only be available after the magazine's official publication. In the interview, Renly's complete evaluation of "127 Hours" was mentioned. This was like pouring oil on the fire, instantly igniting the excitement among all media outlets.
The largest local newspaper in Toronto, the Toronto Star, went even further with the headline "Renly Hall: James Franco's Overrated Performance in "127 Hours"." They cherry-picked a small fragment from the interview as the news headline, throwing a spark into the powder keg, causing things to momentarily spiral out of control.
Some media outlets believed that Renly was overestimating himself, displaying arrogance beyond measure. How could a mere newcomer dare to speak so brazenly, not only criticizing "127 Hours" left and right but also arrogantly denying James' efforts in the film? This behavior was infuriating and caused people to tremble with anger. It wasn't just condescension, but also an air of disdain for everyone, making him thoroughly detestable. This action was clearly a malicious stunt carried out for the sole purpose of promoting "Buried", and it was utterly contemptible.
Other media outlets, however, thought differently. They believed that Renly had shown an absolutely dominant posture, fearlessly embracing this informal competition. His confident attitude showcased the spirit of a rookie unafraid of a challenge. The Chicago Tribune even compared Renly's provocative behavior to the rebellious James Dean, suggesting that this newcomer actor had resurrected the star's golden era demeanor. The question remained: Did Renly possess such capability?
Some media outlets also believed that Renly spoke the truth. The complete interview in Us Weekly revealed, as Renly had said, that the overall quality of "127 Hours" was indeed superior to that of "Buried". Furthermore, Renly had gained more room for his performance. From a pure acting standpoint, his skills were undoubtedly praiseworthy, showcasing great courage. The future of this newcomer held limitless potential; "Buried" was merely the beginning.
Some media even took a different approach by focusing their reporting on the supporters gathered at the main entrance. They expressed that the audience's support for "Buried" was the best affirmation. Renly had successfully won the hearts of the viewers, and the persistent call for additional screenings was the strongest proof. In this respect, "Buried" had taken the lead over "127 Hours". Perhaps from a technical and professional perspective, "Buried" might not be an outstanding work, but from an acting and audience perspective, it was truly impeccable.
No matter the stance of the media, it couldn't be denied that the debate surrounding "Buried" and "127 Hours", as well as the discussion between Renly and James, was unfolding with intense fervor. Even the spotlight of the "Black Swan" screening was somewhat overshadowed.
In comparison, the promotional resources of "127 Hours" were far beyond what "Buried" could match. With both films being discussed side by side, the exposure of "Buried" was skyrocketing. Coupled with the previous buzz generated by the peak queues of the past two days, the attention directed at "Buried" was increasing day by day.
This independent work was continuing to rise in an inexplicable manner.
However, those in the industry couldn't fathom how "Buried" managed to carve a path for itself in the fiercely competitive Toronto International Film Festival with almost no backing. Even more puzzling was the fact that while the critical reviews for "Buried" were good, it didn't stand out significantly during the festival. "Blue Valentine" and "127 Hours" were neck and neck, with the latter even being superior. So, why had only "Buried" ignited such a sensation? This was undoubtedly the most intriguing and rare event of this year's film festival. Now, not only were the audiences curious, but the curiosity and inquiry of industry insiders were also ablaze. Without having seen the movie, they lacked the authority to comment, and thus, they couldn't join in on the excitement, could they?
After the conclusion of the fourth public screening of "Buried", the organizing committee arranged the second official industry screening. This session was fully booked, with some media unable to secure seats, left waiting for tomorrow's third and final industry screening. This spectacle, apart from "Black Swan" and "Blue Valentine", was a groundbreaking phenomenon in this year's film festival.
The clamor for additional screenings in front of the main entrance surged wave after wave. Before the organizing committee could respond, journalists impatiently sought out the two parties involved, conducting interviews in no time.
James Franco was caught by reporters on the red carpet of the "Black Swan" screening. He appeared in high spirits. "Haha, this should be praise for me, right?" James' mood seemed excellent. "As an actor, having a film that generates so much discussion is a joy in itself. Many people have noticed my performance, and that's even better."
"I haven't had the chance to watch "Buried" yet, but I've heard a lot of rumors from my fellow actors, so I'm looking forward to entering the cinema to watch the film," James responded with his vast experience in dealing with the media. He always maintained a carefree appearance. "However, I agree with Renly. As actors, we should serve the film, and the success of the work is our success. Being part of "127 Hours" and collaborating with Danny Boyle was a memorable experience."
Watching James evasively navigate the questions, the reporters naturally weren't willing to let him off easily. Someone sharply inquired again, "So, in your opinion, whose performance is more outstanding, yours or Renly's?"
James remained unflustered and burst into hearty laughter. "Since I haven't watched "Buried" yet, I guess, apart from myself, there's no other choice, right?"
James maintained a smiling face throughout, his words lighthearted. He appeared completely unconcerned about the controversy and chaos, brushing them off as if they were inconsequential. This left the journalists deeply disappointed; they had anticipated that James might become agitated and engage in a heated argument with Renly. They had even expected a verbal showdown. Unfortunately, the cunning James didn't provide them with any such opportunity. Consequently, the journalists redirected their focus onto Renly.
Renly had been subjected to interviews for two consecutive days, from group interviews to exclusive ones. At least seventy media outlets had interviewed him by now. If he had to face another tape recorder, Renly felt he might just throw up. But the reporters were still not inclined to let him off easily.
Renly had finally managed to secure some breathing space and was ready to step outside for dinner, hoping to escape the monotonous confines of his hotel room. Even a brief glimpse of pedestrians on the street would do. However, as soon as he stepped out of the elevator, he found himself encircled by journalists in the hotel lobby. Over thirty reporters had gathered, completely hemming Renly in. There was no room to move at all.
Renly felt as if he were suffocating. "If I'm not mistaken, there should be other major events happening tonight, right? Has it been rescheduled? The screening of "Black Swan"—aren't all the reporters supposed to flock there?"
Renly's sarcasm left the reporters momentarily puzzled, but they certainly wouldn't let this little lamb escape easily. "Renly, we've heard that you believe your performance is better than James Franco's. Is this true?" The first question was thrown at him sharply, without a hint of mercy.
Initially feeling somewhat irritable due to the continuous interviews over the past two days, Renly was genuinely tired of dealing with reporters. Seeing those greedy eyes that resembled hunting hyenas, his mood grew restless. But upon hearing the question, he hesitated for a moment before breaking into a direct, amused smile. A playful, mocking, and radiant smile bloomed across his face.
For a moment, the reporters found themselves stunned.