From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", once considered by the entirety of Hollywood to be neither artistic enough nor commercial enough, is now demolishing the established rules and writing a miracle.

First, there's the fervent praise from media reviews, hailed as Charlie Kaufman's most complete and harmonious work, quickly becoming the number one contender for this year's awards season.

Then, there's the enthusiastic embrace from the box office market. An independent film, an art film, a niche film, yet it broke through the 100 million dollar threshold with the right publicity.

Everything about it carries a mythical quality.

Thinking about it seriously, isn't this a miracle?

From the test screening onwards, everything about "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" has been subverting perceptions and breaking rules, each step bringing surprises and opening a door to a brand-new world.

So, who is the creator of this miracle?

Charlie Kaufman? Michel Gondry? Or Kate Winslet?

In fact, everyone already has the answer in their hearts.

"Ansen Wood, the box office myth remains undefeated."

"Turning stone into gold, Ansen Wood's magic continues to shine."

"Hollywood is fully entering the Ansen Wood era."

"Audience satisfaction survey: Ansen Wood is far ahead, leaving everyone else in the dust."

"Hollywood actor cost-effectiveness survey, Ansen Wood stands out alone."

"No one can resist Ansen Wood!"

"Following Gus Van Sant, this time it's Charlie Kaufman's turn. Who else can Ansen Wood not carry to success?"

"Mad for Ansen - The North American film market is entering the Ansen frenzy season."

"It's not just 100 million dollars at the North American box office; Ansen Wood is changing the market rules that Hollywood is familiar with."

"Unstoppable! Ansen Wood powerfully ascends to the top!"

The answer is, and can only be, Ansen.

Just a few months ago, the entire Hollywood was enamored with Johnny Depp, the sudden emergence of "Pirates of the Caribbean" detonating the entire film industry.

On the one hand, because pirate movies had been dormant in Hollywood for many years, the film "Cutthroat Island" once extinguished all of Hollywood's hopes with its Guinness World Record-breaking losses, only to be revived by Johnny Depp's maverick and shocking portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow.

On the other hand, because Johnny Depp had accumulated connections and prestige over more than fifteen years, focusing on cultivating his identity as an actor, but never entering the mainstream spotlight, now he finally encountered a role that revitalized him and unleashed his brilliance.

This is precisely the story that Hollywood loves the most.

Overnight, Johnny Depp stood at the pinnacle of Hollywood, even leaving Ansen behind. Even though Ansen had been on a meteoric rise for the past two years, he couldn't withstand the late-blooming Johnny Depp. It seemed that the entire Hollywood only had Johnny Depp, and even the Oscars were giving him special attention.

However, now things have changed again.

The key lies in the success of both "Elephant" and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind."

It's not easy for an actor to have the appeal and attraction to get audiences to go to the cinema to watch genre blockbusters. This is why members of the twenty-million-dollar club, such as Tom Cruise, Will Smith, Julia Roberts, Jim Carrey, etc., are so rare. Now, Johnny Depp has become the newest member of this club.

But it's even more difficult for an actor to have the appeal and attraction to get audiences to go to the cinema to watch art films. This is why actors like Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson, etc., who don't have box office hits and aren't in the twenty-million-dollar club, can still stand at the top.

What if an actor could simultaneously possess the appeal of both?

That would be Tom Hanks.

The one and only Tom Hanks.

And now, perhaps we should add another: Ansen.

The box office success of "Elephant" sparked a lot of heated discussions in Hollywood, but people were slightly reserved in their opinions. Perhaps it was just a fluke of luck, perhaps it was the added prestige of the Palme d'Or, perhaps it was because the serious topic happened to coincide with the market. All sorts of speculations were possible.

But things quickly changed.

"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" not only achieved excellent box office results, but even broke market rules, subverted industry norms, and broke through 100 million dollars, rising to a whole new level. Its impact on the independent film scene was no less than the feat of "Spider-Man" grossing 600 million dollars in North America, causing a complete uproar.

Some people may be curious, why is the historical status of "Pulp Fiction" so special?

There are many, many reasons. The sudden emergence of this independent film did change a series of things, and one very important point is:

It was the first independent film in North American box office history to break 100 million dollars.

100.1 million dollars, barely breaking through the 100 million threshold, but it was indeed the first time in North American film history.

And it was back in 1994, when a hundred million dollars was worth even more than it is now.

However, a full ten years had passed, and this was still a height that subsequent independent films could not reach, and it was also a goal that the entire independent film market looked up to.

Finally, "Elephant" and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" appeared one after another, changing the situation again.

Not long ago, a small number of industry insiders jokingly said that the North American box office of "Elephant" ultimately failed to go further, ending Ansen's feat of four consecutive films breaking 100 million dollars in the North American market —

"Regrettably, Ansen is ultimately not Tom Cruise and has not been able to become Will Smith."

"As expected, even Ansen can't do it."

"The feat of Tom and Will is indeed not easily replicated."

In addition, another important reason is that, since Johnny Depp, Hollywood has been trying to get rid of the "star-centered system" and establish a brand-new situation centered on copyright. Film companies took over the initiative, and the "actor's appeal" gradually disappeared in the market.

Ansen also failed to achieve it—

Very close, very, very close, four consecutive films breaking 100 million in box office, matching Tom Hanks's record.

However, Ansen, like Tom Hanks, did not obsess over the box office market. In an atmosphere of continuous rising momentum, he insisted on being actor-centered and self-centered, boldly choosing some independent films, art films, and unconventional genre films, trying to explore his possibilities.

In the end, the journey of both actors to break 100 million in North American box office stopped at "four."

Of course, this is just a joke.

Although the North American box office of "Elephant" failed to break 100 million, this film was one of the most profitable films of 2003. No one thought that Gus Van Sant's work would actually be linked to keywords such as "most profitable". Even if the box office did not break 100 million, Ansen still completed a feat.

Then, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" appeared.