With that demonic face and such a sexy expression and voice, is he trying to make her have a nosebleed on the spot?
Laila couldn't take it anymore, avoiding the intense gaze, "We really should go back, or someone will come looking for us."
"Let them find us." Roy buried his head in the crook of her neck, his hands wrapping around her waist, filling his nostrils with her scent. "I miss you so much."
His longing voice echoed in her ears, instantly softening Laila's resistant heart. The hand against his chest also moved to his back.
"I miss you too."
Roy felt a surge of joy, and his arms tightened a bit more as if he wanted to meld her into his chest. He loved the scent on her, different from the typical fragrance of other celebrities; it was more like the sweet aroma of shower gel, like an innocent child, clean and fragrant, making him irresistibly immersed in it.
Neither of them spoke, enjoying the rare tranquility of this moment. It felt like there were only the two of them in the world, touching each other's souls in their eyes, hearts, and spirits, making room only for each other's figures.
It wasn't until the sound of the movie started to reach their ears that Laila lightly patted his back. "The movie has started. We really need to go back now."
"Yeah." Roy finally released his embrace, instead, holding her hands tightly. "Let's go back."
Laila and he exchanged a smile and, taking advantage of the dimming lights in the cinema, snuck back to their seats.
Compared to the original "Chicago," Laila's version was more refined, with none of the poorly made and vulgar costumes and makeup. The background was also more magnificent than the original. Watching her movie, you wouldn't feel like it was a musical but rather a visual feast.
In terms of music and dance, Laila also guided Assistant Director Rob, making the scenes grander and more metaphorical. This was undoubtedly a work surpassing the original.
Laila had mentioned before that "Chicago" was better than "Moulin Rouge" in terms of plot. Compared to the thin plot of the latter, "Chicago" had rich internal content, including the elements that Oscar judges liked, a form of satire on society.
Unlike the frequent song and dance sequences in Indian films that didn't impact the plot when removed, in American cinema, the musical scenes in musicals played an important role in storytelling.
For example, in "Chicago," there was a song and dance segment in the prison where female inmates confessed. Through song and dance, using their bodies and props, they artistically portrayed the crimes they had committed. The red scarves being pulled out one by one represented the flowers of sinful blood, creating a dazzling beauty against the dark background and the black clothing of the female dancers.
"Amazing!"
Expressions of amazement and exclamations occasionally rose from the audience.
But no one blamed the person making the noise because they were unwilling to look away from the big screen and scold someone, afraid of missing a plot point.
When Renee's segment of puppet-like dancing came up, the exclamations increased even more.
"This is definitely an Oscar-level performance!" A film critic stood up in shock. For the film and the excellent acting before his eyes, he was invigorated. He already knew how to write the review for this film—a musical surpassing "Moulin Rouge," the best musical in recent years!
"Hey, buddy, sit down! You're blocking others!"
Without giving the critic more time to be moved, the audience behind him had already protested his standing up.
Even some audience members who had bought tickets for Laila or the actors, even if they had no previous interest in musicals, were touched by the film at this moment. They couldn't bear to look away from the changing scenes on the big screen.
This situation wasn't unique to this cinema but was happening in other theaters showing "Chicago" as well.
When the movie ended, the enthusiastic applause and cheers from the audience behind confirmed to Roy that Laila had succeeded again.
"You've created another miracle!" He never doubted her abilities, and this time was no exception, but he was still happy for her success.
Laila returned him a smile.
Yes, she succeeded again. It gave her the feeling of leveling up in an online game. After horror movies, martial arts films, and commercial blockbusters, she unlocked a new skill—musicals.
The next day, various movie reviews came out. Not only the reviews published in newspapers and other media by professional critics but also some amateur critics who used forums and social media to express their genuine thoughts.
Laila earnestly had someone collect those comments. She wanted to know if this movie, infused with so much of herself, would be accepted by a broad audience like the original. If she added 10%-30% of herself to the few movies she had made before, then this time, she had added at least half.
She integrated her understanding of the film, her research on musicals, and various aspects into the movie. With each film, she gradually immersed herself in it, making movies that others had originally made truly become her own.
Each movie for her was an adventure, and she believed that with more experience and learning, one day she would use her own hands to create a film that truly belonged to her!
The significant difference from her previous films was that fewer people were criticizing her this time, replaced by various praises. They commended her for giving "Chicago" depth, meaning, and great appeal, not just making it for money but understanding the true essence of filmmaking.
At the same time, the response from genuine fans was also excellent. Some praised the beautiful costumes, some praised the captivating dance, and some praised the flavorful story. In short, one word—excellent!
There were still negative opinions, of course. Take Mr. Cooper, who always took the lead in criticizing, for example. Naturally, he found bones to pick, nitpicking at every detail, making the critique quite lively.
Others praised the beautiful costumes, and he said they didn't match the protagonist's temperament. Others praised the exquisite background, and he said it was an unnecessary expenditure; with that money, they could have hired more outstanding crew members. Others praised the actors' performances, and he... he also said the acting was good, but he emphasized it had nothing to do with the director Laila.
Unfortunately, his reviews were not within the scope that Laila collected. She only looked at them when she was extremely bored to amuse herself.
After a week of release, "Chicago" secured the top spot at the box office with a revenue of $30 million, clinching another one of Laila's miracles—whenever her movie premiered, it would undoubtedly take the weekly box office crown.
A/N: "Chicago" was indeed an interesting movie; the song and dance sequences were unforgettable. For those who haven't seen it, it's recommended. But the costumes were indeed a bit flashy.