Hollywood (我就是好莱坞) Part I

Chapter 120 - Richard Gere Interview

March 17, this was the first weekend of the Easter season, many new films were released on this day, this includes the highly anticipated film 《Road House》. For this movie, United Artists used 1927 screens in the opening weekend, more than the number of screens used in 《Pretty Woman》 by a few dozens. United Artists has been using a lot of money to grease the pockets of the critics, to get them to praise their film, but the next day after the premiere, the film was criticized by everyone.

"The hero character setting is very strange, he has a P.H.D., and he is also a master of mysterious oriental martial arts, but he is willing to work as a bodyguard in a bar, plus he dresses like a cowboy. And then, the director awkwardly built him into a paranoid avenger, but not a qualified Avenger, he can kill the henchman without any care, but he'll show mercy to the big villain who he hates the most. To make a long story short, It's a funny movie with a very ridiculous plot." The Chicago Tribune

"The film is full of anarchy, lawlessness, destruction and unbridled violence. It's a farce." Movie Guide magazine

"I only saw a stream of brawls, broken beer bottles, and groups of big breasted girls and splashes of fake blood. The story was pale and lame, Richard Gere acting was dull, he wasn't even on the same level as the villain." Montreal film magazine

"A ridiculous and noisy film" The Reel Movie Review

"You can remove the lead actor from this movie, and the plot wouldn't change, The villain wants to control the Town, so he commit some violent actions like starting fights, murder, arson, and then the intolerable town residents revolt, kill the villain and his henchman. I can't believe Richard Geregive up Eric Williams film 《Pretty Woman》 for such a movie, I don't know how he can sleep at night." The Hollywood Journal

"The film was nothing but a rock and roll soundtrack." Rolling Stone Magazine

Because of the strong publicity, on the first day the attendance in the 1927 screening rooms United Artists got for 《Road House》 reached more than 70%, but with the one-sided criticisms after the movie release, the attendance quickly plummeted.

Three days later, the film box office started dwindling as the first weekend the Easter season ended. This was also the sixth week since 《Pretty Woman》 was released, and with no surprise 《Pretty Woman》 box office was up by $2.4 million more than last week, reaching 11.27 million US dollars, winning the first place at the box office. In just six weeks the film acc.u.mulated $97.69 million at the box office, Eric believes that before the next week ends, his third film will break the $100 million mark at the box office. A month before he celebrated his nineteen birthday, the results will once again usher a wave of speculation and uproar in the media.

Although 《Road House》 has nearly two thousand screens to work with, after the first day the attendance fell sharply, the film only got $5.25 million in the first weekend ranking second at the box office, less than half of what 《Pretty Woman》 got.

Universal Pictures crime comedy film 《Fletch Lives》 won the third place, earning $5.04 million at the box office with 1400 screens.

Because Columbia increased its support, 《Home Alone》 the film that was Released eighteenth weeks ago still was able to win $4 million at the box office, Steadily approaching the $300 million mark. For twelve weeks in a row, 《Home Alone》 box office topped the list, for more than four months this dark horse has been shocking everyone again and again.

Perhaps someday soon 《Home Alone》 box office will cross the $300 million mark, he was sure this will create another media storm.

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