Chapter 240: Not Probably, Definitely!

[Chapter 240: Not Probably, Definitely!]

"Yes, that must be the case."

"Who would have thought Simpson would pull something like this?"

"Sometimes men get more jealous than women. When Simpson saw his ex-wife dating another man at the villa, he lost it and stabbed them."

"Haha, by that logic, Simpson committed the sin of envy like John Doe in Se7en."

In a classroom at USC, over a dozen film students gathered at the front desks, eagerly discussing the latest high-profile case and Se7en.

"Wait! What are you all talking about? What does Se7en have to do with Simpson?"

Several nearby students looked baffled.

"Joseph, you haven't seen Link's new movie, Se7en?" asked a guy wearing a Bulls jersey.

"Check it out! Link's new movie? No, I've seen his Paranormal Activity and Final Destination, but I found them pretty mediocre. I'm not that interested in his new one," Joseph, the guy with the big glasses, replied.

"You really should see it. Se7en is a whole different level. The colors, the composition, the lighting effects -- it's all masterful. Once you watch Se7en, you'll have your eyes opened wide."

"Masterful? Isn't that a bit exaggerated? Those movies Link did, other than Final Destination, could have been done by anyone. I'll admit he's a stellar writer, but his directing is at best second-rate."

Joseph put forth, adjusting his glasses.

"I'm not exaggerating. Se7en is nothing like the others. It's well-crafted, visually stunning. If you like movies by Martin Scorsese, you'll probably enjoy this one. Scorsese even praised it publicly, calling it worthy of the Palme d'Or."

"Really? I might have to check it out this weekend."

Joseph felt a spark of curiosity about Se7en after the comments from his classmates.

"Wait! We were just talking about the Simpson case. How did we end up on Link's new movie? You still haven't connected the dots!" shouted a chubby guy.

"Haven't you seen the news on the Simpson case? The killer wrote 'Greed' on the wall in blood. That's one of the sins from Se7en. In Link's film, the killer writes something similar after every murder."

Before the guy in the jersey could finish, a student next to him covered his mouth.

"Don't spoil it! Let us see the movie first!"

"Okay, okay! You have to check it out. Otherwise, you won't understand how compelling the Simpson case really is."

...

At that moment, their photography professor, Cecil, entered the classroom with equipment, signaling the start of class, and students returned to their seats. 

"Has anyone seen the new movie, Se7en?" Professor Cecil asked the tiered classroom.

"I have!"

"Nope!"

Out of over eighty students, only around ten raised their hands.

"I recommend everyone go see it. It's fascinating. From narrative structure, cinematography, use of color, to story depth, there's much to study. Once you grasp the film and understand why the director chose certain techniques over others, you'll gain more knowledge than from five lectures."

Professor Cecil noted.

"Professor, are you promoting Se7en?" a student called out.

Laughter filled the room.

Cecil chuckled, "Yes. Link isn't much older than you. I heard he taught himself to direct. After watching several of his films, I find his theoretical foundation solid; he doesn't seem like a wild, unrefined director, yet he never studied at a formal institution. So, where did this background come from? There's only one explanation -- he's a diligent learner who reads professional books on his own. When you watch his films, you can analyze how much he learned through self-study and how much you absorb in comparison."

"Link is truly impressive."

"Not just impressive, but exceptionally so. Becoming a top director at 22, he's outpacing even Spielberg."

Hearing the professor's words, students began to chatter among themselves.

---

"Link did a fantastic job with this film. That last line, Hemingway once said, 'The world is a beautiful place, worth fighting for.' I completely agree with the second part. So cool."

In Los Angeles, Casey Affleck exited the theater, excitement evident in his voice.

"It's a great watch. The movie's themes include religion, mental illness, suspense, societal issues, human metaphors, personal growth, and family love -- all top-tier art film standards. Link is getting better and better."

Joaquin Phoenix glanced at the Se7en posters plastered on the streets.

"The script design in Se7en is incredibly clever. Do you remember the first scene? At first, it seemed unnecessary, but it's not at all. That scene featured William Somerset investigating, where a woman, in a fit of rage, shoots her husband. It echoes the ending where Detective Mills loses control and kills John Doe."

He continued, "And Morgan Freeman asking another detective if the child saw anything? This reflects John Doe killing Tracy and her unborn baby, hinting at the child's innocence. The movie creates a circular narrative structure, much like Pulp Fiction, only with its unique traits."

"Link is truly skilled."

"It's astonishing. I must learn from him," Matt Damon mused.

"I didn't realize there was so much insight! I watched it twice and missed all that. Looks like I need to check it out again," Casey Affleck tapped his chin.

"Ahem!"

Ben Affleck, with his hands in his pockets, walked ahead. "Did you all forget to mention something more important than praising Link?"

"What?" the others looked confused.

Ben's expression darkened as he pointed at the movie poster. "Look who that is! That's me, Ben Affleck! The lead of this film! Don't you want to say something to me after watching it?"

Matt Damon exchanged glances with Casey and Joaquin. "Link's ability to direct actors is getting better. No matter the actor, he brings out great performances from them."

"True that," Joaquin nodded in agreement.

"I declare Link is the director I most want to collaborate with!" Casey shouted on the street.

Ben Affleck lowered his cap's brim, his expression turning sour. He glared at the three men. "I know you're jealous of me, jealous of my role in this classic film, jealous of my improving skills, and jealous of my success. I get it, so I won't fault you."

"Who's jealous of you? You blew up a few times in Se7en because of how much time Link spent guiding you during filming. If you had to work with a different director next time, could you even deliver a performance at that level?" Matt chuckled.

"That makes sense! No wonder the last time I was at Link's house, he seemed less than thrilled with you -- probably tired of your antics while filming Se7en," Casey teased.

"Shut it!"

Ben Affleck angrily pointed at Matt and Casey, then glared at Joaquin, "What do you want to say?!"

"The dead dog at the end gave a great performance too," Joaquin replied casually.

"Shut up!!"

Ben nearly exploded. Those three would rather compliment a dead dog than acknowledge his acting -- it was too much.

"Ben, don't listen to them; they're just messing with you. You did great," Summer Phoenix covered her mouth to laugh. She was Joaquin's sister and Casey Affleck's girlfriend.

"Hmph, Summer knows best. Summer has the best taste."

Ben shot a displeased glance at the three. "You can be jealous all you want; I'm the star of Se7en, and that will never change."

Matt shook his head, glancing at the continuous stream of moviegoers outside the theater. "Se7en is probably going to be a massive success."

"Not probably, definitely!"

Ben Affleck laughed with pride.

*****

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