From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Miles looked at Anson and plucked a string:

Hum!

That look, that action, that posture, were clearly a warning to Anson: Are you sure? Are you ready? Can you bear it?

Anson's response was a series of dazzling and smooth drumbeats, cascading down on Miles like a landslide, giving a proper response.

Miles shook his head slightly and plucked the string again:

Pluck!

The second warning was issued, seemingly conservative, but the force of the string pluck was obviously fuller and more powerful, giving a direct response in a subtle way.

Unfortunately, Anson still didn't stop, and the drumbeats, comparable to a summer rainstorm, swept in even more powerfully, not only with a variety of patterns but also with abundant energy, densely hitting down head-on.

On the side, Connor and Lily were both adding fuel to the fire, watching the show with great interest.

Reese was even more excited, swaying her skirt, her steps light, the mischievous posture seemed unable to suppress her own joy any longer.

Bang, bang, bang. Buzz, buzz, buzz.

Back and forth.

Dong, dong, dong. Bang, bang, bang.

You push, I block.

Then, Miles finally made his move, casually and roughly slapping the strings with his right hand—

Not plucking, but slapping.

Rhythm and rhyme intertwined, unexpectedly bursting out with a momentum no less than Anson's, meeting head-on without giving an inch, the tension of confrontation completely spreading out.

Anson was the same, like playing African instruments, his hands struck the strings and the soundboard in a staggered manner, using different materials and different forces to create completely different musical qualities, using the simplest instruments to play the most graceful music.

Watching Anson and Miles turn stringed instruments into percussion instruments, unlike ordinary performances, the two of them were playing and partying, the back-and-forth confrontation was wonderfully integrated.

Heart surging, blood boiling.

Clearly, they were just playing instruments, but they were performing a martial arts master's duel on Mount Hua, the overflowing heat wave made people's blood rush and sweat profusely.

Reese couldn't control herself any longer, dancing ecstatically—

So, this is what a live performance feels like.

Now, Reese finally understood why Anson wanted to perform incognito in a New York bar; Reese also finally understood why Anson warmly welcomed her when she expressed her willingness to visit the recording studio.

The answer is here.

Everything, everything, is part of the performance.

Only by truly listening to the voice of each part, and only by truly understanding the existence of each part, can one grasp the essence of a live performance—

This is also the reason why director Mangold insisted that all the performances in the film need to be performed by the actors themselves. This is the only way for the actors to find a combination point between real people and artistic creation and integrate into it, and it is also the only entry point for the film to deeply explore the artistic life of Johnny Cash and June Carter.

The greater the ambition, the greater the difficulty.

No wonder Reese had been hovering at the door, but never found the position for the final kick.

After wandering around and groping for a long time, Reese finally found the key.

It seemed that Anson had already uncovered the mystery and knew Reese's confusion, so he deliberately created opportunities to guide her to find her own answer.

Sure enough, Anson is worthy of being Anson—

Creating the album "Midsummer Midnight", emerging out of nowhere, stunning the audience, with comprehensive harvests in sales and awards, proving his overflowing talent.

However, this is not the whole point. The focus is on the stage performance at the Grammy Awards. That performance proved Anson's understanding of music and the stage—

A true genius.

Reese believed that Anson's choice of "Walk the Line" as his next work was definitely not a coincidence, and that the actor was definitely not a vase in people's eyes.

Everything was as she imagined: this collaboration was worth looking forward to.

Now, even before entering the crew, Reese couldn't wait.

Her steps were light, she danced happily, and after Anson and Miles's battle of strings, Reese sang loudly again, now completely in the zone.

"I went into a bar one day, I put a coin in the jukebox just to hear it play, I didn't know what to listen to, I just put a coin in the slot and played the jukebox blues."

Inadvertently, Reese revealed a bit of her true crazy self, and actually started spinning in place.

Spinning, jumping, her eyes closed.

Her skirt fluttered, the world spun, but there was a brief moment of returning to the simplicity and purity of childhood, unexpectedly capturing the dazzling and brilliant color in June Carter's soul—

Perhaps, this is June Carter's true color.

Faced with hardship and pain, some people choose to escape, using alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, gambling, the object is not the point, the point is that they immerse themselves in those things, briefly escape reality, drill into a illusory world, temporarily forget themselves and temporarily forget the pain, but will never solve the problem.

Like Johnny Cash, he could solve other people's problems but could never face the mess in his own life.

Some people choose to break through head-on, seeking more possibilities with a positive and optimistic attitude. Maybe they still can't solve the problem, because there are too many unsolvable problems in reality, but at least they dare to face it, dare to live in reality, and dare to pursue their dreams, exploring more possibilities.

Like June Carter, the problems she faced were no less than Johnny's, but she was the adult in this relationship.

Suddenly, Reese was curious, why would such a June Carter fall in love with such a Johnny Cash?

Unfortunately, she no longer had the opportunity to ask June Carter in person.

Inadvertently, Reese's peripheral vision noticed a figure, a smile, and even if it wasn't in the focus of her vision, it easily caught her attention.

Before she realized it, her gaze went over, and in the midst of the beaming smile, their eyes met—

It was Anson.

Handsome and dashing, unrestrained.

Completely different from Ryan Phillippe.

Although Ryan was also a "handsome vase", he had a childishness, mixed with innocent youthful energy, revealing a little innocence.

However, Anson was different. It was a mature and steady charm that had experienced the vicissitudes of life, and the temperament that had settled down after washing away the lead quietly bloomed.

Not dazzling, not brilliant, but always easily catching the eye inadvertently, the elegance between his eyebrows had already transcended the meaning of the skin.

A glance, quickly passing by.

Looking again, deeply immersed in it.

Their eyes collided in the air, the sound of her heart hitting her chest was rumbling on her eardrums, the melody was still circling, singing became an instinct, and in that short moment, the line between reality and illusion was blurred.

June Carter followed her instincts, singing to her heart's content, the joy and happiness in her chest turned into a smile blooming on the corners of her lips, wantonly, flamboyantly, and happily singing.

"I've played a lot of jukeboxes, probably more than anyone in town, but that rhythm I heard for the first time, could make the night spin."