Chapter 722 Complicated Social Proposition

After all, it is impossible for public opinion to completely favor those who criticize Murphy. The development of Hollywood movies has created a community of interests headed by the six major companies. It is not a problem for the Catholic Church to directly interfere in Hollywood like in the previous world easy thing.

If the Catholic Church reproduces the moral scrutiny of Hollywood in the last century, it is undoubtedly very inconsistent with the interests of this community of interests. This is also an important reason why many media took the initiative to defend or blame Murphy when he was attacked.

However, Hollywood has entangled interests and complex interpersonal relationships. There are many people who have a good relationship with Murphy, and there are also many people who don't like him.

Many of the latter, seeing the present opportunity, also jumped out and stepped on a few feet.

Especially when "Dark City" seems to be cursed and various accidents occur frequently.

On a weekend at the end of July, when "City of Darkness" was being shown in a large theater in Guadalajara, the second largest city in Mexico, the theater suddenly caught fire. Thanks to the timely arrival of firefighters, more than 800 audience members were able to evacuate in time. Fortunately, the local The fire department reported no injuries.

But that's not all.

In the afternoon, the Los Angeles police confirmed that they arrested a man carrying a gun and knives at the theater and found a large number of weapons and ammunition in his residence.

According to the announcement issued by the Los Angeles police, they were reminded by a theater manager and found this abnormal man. During the interrogation, they found a "Glock" pistol loaded with bullets, two 1 loaded high-capacity magazine and 4 knives.

This incident once again pushed "Dark City" to the forefront.

According to the news from Robert's lawyer, the Los Angeles police checked the man's background information, and through some comments and pictures he posted on social platforms, it was determined that he was a very fanatical Murphy fan, and the man was arrested that night. The man became the number one suspect in the shooting at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood and the murder in the park.

Even though the man strenuously denied that these things had anything to do with him.

"He has no alibi," Bill Rosies told Murphy on the phone. "When the shooting happened at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood, he said he was alone at home, and the police found a large number of people in his home. Colorful magic balls and posters of magicians, some of which he marked with a red 'X'."

The suspect was caught, and Murphy was somewhat relieved. If the crazy guy who imitated the magician continued to commit crimes, maybe under the huge public opinion and religious pressure, Hollywood might really be interfered by external forces.

But as the incident came to light, discussions about Hollywood movies once again became the subject of crazy media hype.

Driven by various forces with their own intentions, the media once again brought the topic of "whether movies should be reviewed for producing violence" on the table. Just like what Robert Downey Jr. said before, this is not the first time that people Engaging in crime because of movies or imitating movies: criminal groups imitate "Italian Mission" to commit crimes, American youth John Hinckley assassinates Reagan for Jodie Foster, "Natural Born Killers" brings adoring imitators...

Up to now, the tragedies are no longer pure murders, attacks and explosions, but challenge the public order by creating public chaos. This kind of ideological anti-civilization and anarchic tendency is ready to emerge. Under the spectacle violence of Hollywood, imitating the violence on the screen has become a kind of escalating normality. Then, are the many elements involved in the narrative—media, communication, audience, and epistemology—all to blame?

One of the most heated discussions is whether movies should be held responsible for violent crimes?

"In today's mass media, violence is often entertained, flooded and aestheticized, although there is still not enough evidence to confirm that there is a connection between violent scenes in movies or TV and violent tendencies."

Not only Murphy will find experts, but also the Catholic Church. Dr. Michael Werner, a well-known psychiatrist in the United States, said in an interview, "But what is certain is that a person is ready to commit crimes. These films can be influenced by the film to push criminal sentiment to a tipping point where atrocities are committed."

Not only experts, but also some Hollywood insiders who had conflicts with Murphy before also stood up.

In an interview, Harvey Weinstein said very seriously: Movie people should sit down and review the impact of violence in Hollywood movies on people, and the role played by Murphy Stanton in it!

The famous movie star Leonardo DiCaprio supported this view: "Our current movies are surrounded by blood and violence. Hollywood and some directors like Murphy Stanton should pay for it."

Similarly, many people stood up to support Murphy. Jessica Alba, who has collaborated with Murphy many times, said that the innocent movie "Dark City" was just a baptism of coincidence and tragedy.

Charlize Theron, an Oscar-winning actress, also mentioned this aspect in an interview: "Don't blame Murphy and his movies. Criminals always grab something at random to justify their twisted behavior."

More related psychiatrists defended Murphy: "It is not true that a young man kills someone after watching a violent movie because he thought it was cool. The motive for the crime is insufficient. Something must have happened in his life that prompted him to commit a crime. , we just don’t know yet.”

So, are movies to blame for violent crimes? Are movies really to blame for this? This is undoubtedly a very, very complicated social proposition, and the aesthetics of violence is often inseparable from creation, style and splendor.

This difficult problem, this unbalanced situation, is actually like all the paradoxes in the world that cannot be concluded.

There are also people who look at these things from a relatively fair standpoint.

For example, when Steven Spielberg was asked by reporters about his views on these matters, he said, "I can only say that movies are a carrier for artistic expression and reflection of people's hearts. Many directors are more keen to use villains and violence to express their feelings. There is nothing wrong with the view of the world, and it even has a double meaning of reflection: the magician in "Dark City" has resonated with people with his crazy speculation. The crazy questioning of the general environment largely expresses the resentment and anxiety of the entire era, so it has a far-reaching impact, is exciting, and is more imitated. But because of this, Chris Dann's insistence on justice, The maintenance of life is more valuable, which is another message conveyed by the film. Perhaps some ordinary people aspire to become destructive and suspicious magicians, but I believe that more people hope to become real night walkers."

The "New York Times" has issued a special supplement for this purpose, just like serious political news, to discuss this topic.

“Usually the most important actions to preserve civilization happen only after tragic events and the death of innocent civilians. The real heroes are neither cops, nor politicians, nor fictional movie characters, but ordinary people.”

"So, whether it's in Columbine, or in Lower Manhattan, or now in Aurora, Colorado, or even New Orleans after the flood, it's each of us ordinary people holding each other through the shadow of death. The abyss, off the screen, before the tragedy, through their actions, they ensured that the magician and the murderer can only win temporarily in this world... And this will be the key to this hit movie, this violent event , the most important thing that this great tragedy tells people."

Inside the Wave Manor, Murphy put down the Los Angeles Times in his hand and asked Gal Gadot, who was sitting across from him slowly sipping tea, "What did Bill just call?"

"Some latest news about the suspects captured by the Los Angeles police." Gal Gadot put down the teacup in his hand and said, "The suspect himself argued that he was very scared after seeing the shooting at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood, and worried that someone would be there in the A theater near him was doing copycat crimes, but he wanted to see a movie, so he made the difficult decision to go to the theater with a Glock and a few knives, so he wouldn't be scared if anyone came. "

She shrugged, "Then, he was arrested, because he has always been a loner, and he has not found any witnesses to prove his innocence."

"Could he be the murderer?" Murphy frowned, "Why don't I think it looks like it?"

"Think?" Gal Gadot shook his head, "You're not a policeman, and you haven't actually participated in the investigation, so it feels unreliable."

"Yeah." Murphy nodded, "I hope he is the murderer."

If the murderer is still outside, it is possible to continue to commit crimes, and the pressure on him and "Dark City" will be even greater.

Although not afraid of pressure, no one wants to stand on the cusp of public opinion.

And things have developed to the present, and the North American box office of "Dark City" has been seriously affected. Since it surpassed the 700 million US dollar mark, the daily increase in numbers can only be said to be better than nothing.

"We're going to see Kara in the afternoon." Murphy stood up, "That's all for the box office, let's discuss about the awards season."

At the same time, reporters from Columbia TV rushed to the small office building in the beach area of ​​Santa Monica. A producer, with the assistance of church staff, directed the crew members to use equipment for live broadcasting, Transported to a large meeting room in the small building.

This evening, His Excellency Archbishop Marquez Costello, of the Diocese of South Central California, is going to be interviewed on television.

This is pretty important news for any TV station.