After watching the film, Guan Yadi reluctantly left the Palais des Festivals. No matter how fond he was of the movie, he couldn't keep watching it after all, he had a flight back to China early the next morning.
Back at the hotel, he didn't go to sleep. Instead, he opened his laptop and fiddled with it for quite a while before finally logging into his blog. In China, he was a well-known figure among hardcore movie fans, with a blog that garnered a huge amount of traffic. Having seen such a film, he wanted to both share his thoughts and brag a little.
Sitting in front of the laptop, Guan Yadi's fingers flew across the keyboard, typing out the thoughts that had been swirling in his head.
"Just got back from the premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. Just watched Duke Rosenberg's new film. Fury Road is an astonishing movie it's got that 'Damn! You can shoot a film like this?' kind of cool. Director Duke went all in, letting his imagination run wild, pushing joy to the extreme."
"The film depicts a brutal, post-apocalyptic wasteland. Though entirely fictional, it doesn't feel fake. Its exploration of human nature and the true essence of the world may seem a bit wild and exaggerated, but it doesn't float above the dust it's grounded to some extent. In the real world, just like in the film, there's pillaging and plundering everywhere, only not as insane and violent."
"Though the violence is brutal, it's the film's most exhilarating highlight. I'm not promoting violence, just saying that the depiction of it here is not only well-orchestrated but also innovative, creating many memorable high points in the film."
"Once you've seen those rapid-fire shots Duke designed, you'll find yourself asking: 'How the hell did they shoot this?' What's clever is that the film's detail work showcases such creative techniques that it adds layers of fun to the experience: like a blood bag strapped to the front of a speeding vehicle to allow refueling mid-battle, or a rock warrior who plays a guitar, headbanging and fearless amid the chaos. It's wild fun and incredibly entertaining."
Just after uploading the blog post, a reply appeared below. Guan Yadi glanced at it—it was from his good friend Wang Xiaobei, also a hardcore film buff.
"Is it really that good? Better than Fast & Furious 4 we saw a few months back?"
Seeing that line, Guan Yadi immediately replied, "Compared to Fury Road, the car chases in Fast & Furious 4 are straight-up sissy!"
Wang Xiaobei asked again, "Can you elaborate?"
"Ah…" Guan Yadi thought for a moment and then typed out a long reply, "My brain's momentarily fried. I'm too stunned. Can't describe it right now…"
He paused for a bit and decided to write another blog post.
"Fury Road is hands down the most badass car-chase action movie in the history of Earth yes, the entire history! Fast & Furious 4 instantly feels like weak sauce! The whole film runs two hours, non-stop action with only a few short breathers. Hardly any dialogue. The final thirty minutes are all climax—and somehow never feel repetitive. Duke Rosenberg solved the age-old problem of popcorn flicks! Razor-sharp editing, insanely intense soundtrack. The visuals? Out of this world. No idea how they pulled it off. The action choreography and art direction are unmatched. I'm out of words. Gonna go sit in a quiet corner…"
Just as he posted that entry and closed his laptop, ready to take a shower, he received a long-distance call from China.
"It's Wang Xiaobei. I HAVE to see this movie."
The voice on the other end was definitely shouting. "What's infuriating is that it won't screen in China. I've made up my mind. When it hits global release I'm flying to Hong Kong!"
At the same time, over on the world's top social sharing platform, fans who had seen the movie also shared their ecstatic feelings.
"Just watched Fury Road a heavy-metal, blood-pumping, violent sci-fi spectacle. Haven't seen something this thrilling in centuries. My heart almost leapt out of my chest during the action scenes. Duke Rosenberg didn't just rely on gore and brutality he built action scenes on perfect rhythm. I've seen cool before, but never THIS cool! F! F! F…"
Because North America and other regions still had to wait another half month for release, the Cannes Film Festival remained the only venue to watch the film. One article after another began going viral on the sharing platform.
"This movie is full-throttle from start to finish. Director Duke Rosenberg used extraordinary imagination to create a richly colored, wasteland-style post-apocalyptic world. The film is packed with car chases, pursuits, melee fights, and action scenes, yet also delves into themes of domination, worship, and freedom. Romance is practically non-existent this is an era where no one has time for love. In this film, heroes male and female alike risk everything for their freedom."
Many North American film fans had already seen these posts but that wasn't enough. From the next day on, every media outlet that had sent reporters to the Cannes Film Festival began an all-out bombardment of coverage for Fury Road. Most of them joined the frenzy on their own accord, because the film was just that exceptional!
"Director Duke Rosenberg created a slew of characters with vivid personalities, but what's even more admirable is that these traits weren't explained through dialogue. The film not only boasts a great story and compelling characters it's a wild adventure. One standout scene features a massive desert tornado, handled with stunning skill: the twister hurtles across the screen at 100 mph, and the camera work and rapid editing don't drown it out. Everything else in the shot is arranged just right. Its realism and sense of presence are what today's cinema often lacks."
In her hotel room, Natalie Portman had just woken up and immediately asked her assistant to compile all the major media reviews of Fury Road. By the time she sat down for breakfast, the assistant had already gathered them and laid them out before her.
She glanced at them and couldn't help but furrow her brow. She deeply regretted not having fought harder for a role in this film.
Her mother, Shirley, walked over with a cup of oat porridge, placed it in front of her, and sat across from her.
"Sweetheart, you've been eating so little lately. Breakfast is important…" Shelley said as she picked up the reviews. "Eat first."
"But I want to watch it." Natalie looked at her mother. "Right now, okay?"
Shelley sighed. She knew exactly how stubborn her daughter could be. She handed the collected reviews back to Natalie.
As she sipped her porridge and read reviews from media across North America and Europe, Natalie Portman was now certain—she had missed out on a film that could only be described as great.
Empire Magazine – "Defy-all-logic imagination, jaw-dropping action sequences, a wildly twisted sense of humor, and rock-solid acting even amid chaos—Fury Road is destined for greatness!"
Variety – "The movie is just too high-energy. In plain terms—it absolutely oozes manic power. That sense of wild abandon and liberated freedom is exhilarating—and at the same time, the film displays a stunning level of restraint."
The Hollywood Reporter – "It takes true courage and audacity to make a two-hour film composed almost entirely of highway chase scenes and sparse dialogue, but Duke pulled it off. He injected the action from start to finish with countless fresh elements that keep it exciting throughout."
Vanity Fair – "Fury Road is a thrilling, dangerous, and bizarrely brilliant adventure. The actual film delivers even more than those amazing trailers promised. We don't think any other summer blockbuster this year can top it. Go see it feel this insane masterpiece for yourself!"
The Guardian – "The title is spot on. Lavish, unrestrained imagination, deafeningly manic sounds—it completely exceeds expectations. Duke Rosenberg has rescued audiences from those dumb action flicks, letting them race through the post-apocalyptic desert with abandon!"
Le Figaro – "You simply can't predict or imagine that Duke Rosenberg's Fury Road would turn out to be such a cold-blooded, master-level action film. Its beauty, its depth, and its astonishing expressiveness will completely redefine what a commercial blockbuster means."
Bild – "The film's vision is downright insane, delivering a hellish experience that is simultaneously incredibly pleasurable. Some of the action sequences in the film have reached legendary, history-making status."
It's very clear: Fury Road has conquered the Western media. From today's early reviews, the film's action scenes and out-of-this-world imagination have been almost universally praised.
Upon seeing the media scores below, Natalie Portman could hardly believe her eyes. North American media giving it a full 100 points is one thing after all, Duke Rosenberg is basically America's darling but the fact that European media have also handed out 95s and 100s is nearly unbelievable!
Out of the 14 media reviews and ratings her assistant gathered, 8 gave a perfect score of 100. The lowest rating? Just 90!
Is the film truly that good or has the world simply gone mad?
Natalie had already put down that bowl of oatmeal; she couldn't drink another sip.
The media aren't like those arrogant, boring film critics their reviews and reports can have a powerful influence on public opinion and mainstream audiences. With this kind of unanimous praise, Fury Road will have no problem attracting moviegoers. If audience reception is strong enough, the media will double down on the praise, further cementing the film's place in history…
Natalie Portman could afford to ignore the box office, but status that was what she dreamed about, day and night.
Slowly rising from the table, she walked toward the dressing room. The thoughts she had during yesterday's opening ceremony were gradually becoming clearer in her mind.
She wouldn't let a film that cast her aside so easily win the Palme d'Or without a fight!