Annette Bening exuded a refreshing air of spring, her warmth and laughter radiating a mature and charismatic allure. The way she could captivate Warren Beatty, a notorious ladies' man, proved her reputation was well deserved.
Aaron Sorkin possessed a sharp wit and distinctive style, blending the seasoned craftiness of a journalist with the intellectual elegance of a scholar. As someone who had penned works like "The West Wing" and "The Newsroom", Renly couldn't help but feel a deep sense of excitement. In a past life as a journalism student, these two series were undoubtedly among his favorites.
David Fincher, on the other hand, remained rather aloof. He merely nodded and greeted Renly before allowing the conversation to cool down, and Renly took his leave. It was evident that many enthusiastic fans, like Renly, sought his attention, but David had no intention of addressing each one.
Surprisingly, Julianne Moore displayed an affable and amiable nature that caught Renly off guard. Despite her initially seemingly aloof appearance, her conversation was filled with continuous laughter. She apologized, saying, "I haven't seen "Buried" to be honest, and I wasn't really interested. But after meeting you in person, I've decided to go to the cinema tomorrow. When did Hollywood introduce such a handsome young man without telling me?"
...
Unfortunately, Renly didn't spot Christopher Nolan. The director, who had revitalized the "Batman" series and earned countless fans through works like "Memento", "The Prestige", and "Inception", seemed to be absent. Renly genuinely wanted to exchange thoughts with this director, who possessed extraordinary imagination and a somewhat fanatical obsession with traditional filming techniques, but it seemed there would be no opportunity tonight.
"It looks like you're in high spirits tonight," an elegant voice sounded from behind. The pacing of the speech was leisurely, almost unhurried, yet the arrogance and mockery hidden beneath the words were like tiny needles, pricking at the pores. "Congratulations. Who could have predicted this day four months ago in Toronto?"
Turning around, Renly saw Natalie Portman.
She wore a champagne pink gown, her figure slightly fuller, a small belly outlining a silhouette under the smooth silk. An intricately embroidered rose on her smiling face shimmered in the light, radiating a gentle motherly radiance. The sharp edges were softened, the fierceness toned down.
However, Renly remained cautious. The Natalie Portman before him was certainly not an ordinary individual.
Two weeks ago, Natalie had announced that she was ten weeks pregnant, and the father of the child was her boyfriend, Benjamin Millepied. In the official statement from her public relations team, Natalie expressed her excitement and anticipation for her first child, mentioning her preparations to welcome the baby.
Coincidentally, this was the peak of the body double controversy. Online audiences and news media were in a frenzy of accusations, particularly directed at the Weinstein brothers.
The term "awards season" originated with the Weinstein brothers. Back then, the brothers orchestrated a calculated smear campaign against the "Saving Private Ryan" cast, leading to a barrage of negative news. Even Steven Spielberg was left disgruntled. This maneuver ultimately led to the resounding success of "Shakespeare in Love". After stirring the biggest controversy in Oscar history in the past twenty years, the Weinstein brothers had cemented their fame.
After that, the terms "awards season" and "academy public relations" came into public consciousness.
This time, the "Black Swan" revealed its flaws, internal disputes surged, and the Weinstein brothers naturally wouldn't miss out. Their top contenders this year were "The King's Speech", "The Fighter", and "Blue Valentine". The latter was aggressively pushing Michelle Williams as the lead actress. The most formidable opponents standing before them were Natalie, taking the lead, followed closely by Annette.
One can imagine how fierce the attacks on Natalie were before and after the Golden Globe nominations were announced.
However, Natalie remained distant from it all, a picture of purity, and then, as the New Year arrived, she announced her pregnancy news. In an instant, all attacks turned invisible. No one would blame a devoted mother preparing for childbirth. Natalie's silence and avoidance from earlier suddenly made sense.
Even on the red carpet today, reporters refrained from troubling Natalie too much, lest they ask provocative questions and upset a pregnant woman, leading to an irreparable stain on their reputation. So, just now, the reporters had focused all their fire on Renly.
Regarding the power plays in the world of fame and prestige, Renly was relatively uninformed. In this lifetime, he was still a complete novice. Yet, his first encounter with cunning and persistence had left a deep impression on him. When he had taken advantage of Natalie in Toronto, the subsequent events had been fairly predictable. Renly wouldn't believe for a moment that Natalie hadn't been prepared.
The timing of the pregnancy announcement was neither too early nor too late—just right. It not only minimized the impact of negative news but also earned sympathy at the right moment. Even if it wasn't a conspiracy, it certainly wasn't a coincidence.
Facing the smiling Natalie, Renly too wore a warm smile. "This is Hollywood, isn't it? Constant change, rapid shifts. It's hard for anyone to predict." A play on words, spoken with innocence, heard with intent.
Natalie pursed her lips, her smile growing even larger. Last time, in Toronto, she had been taken by surprise. She wouldn't underestimate Renly this time. "Indeed, that's true. So, everyone needs to be cautious. Otherwise, one moment you're at the pinnacle, the next in the depths. The impermanence of life always leaves one sighing."
The same phrase, Renly's implication, Natalie's explanation, yielded entirely different meanings. Renly was referring to the fluctuation in the body double news, while Natalie was cautioning Renly, the newcomer with a minor achievement, not to get too carried away. In this brief encounter, sparks flew.
A subtle lift of Renly's eyebrow, a genuine enthusiasm in his words. "What is the pinnacle? What is the depths? Everyone's definitions are different. Often, I'm more curious about whether the journey and the means of reaching the destination matter more, or the view at the end."
Objectively speaking, Natalie's performance in "Black Swan" was undoubtedly outstanding. Though her portrayal might have been slightly intense, bordering on overshadowing others, no one could deny the captivating, immersive performance that blurred the lines between method acting and obsession. In terms of absolute skill, even if the ballet scenes involved body doubles, Natalie's acting prowess was beyond question. She was the standout among this year's many competitors.
In short, she had the absolute skill to reign supreme. But now, a tangential issue had cropped up. Did this count as overcomplicating things or adding unnecessary details?
Natalie could discern the irony laced in Renly's words – light yet sharp, piercing her skin and igniting a surge of fury. She longed to scratch the smug, condescending, and proud face before her. During her pregnancy, irregular hormonal balance amplified her emotions.
"This is the difference between how winners and losers see things," Natalie gritted her teeth, her words squeezed through the gap, her usually round face slightly contorted. She stepped back a bit, letting her emotions subside, and her smile returned as her fingers pressed against her lips, forming a "shh" sound.
Without a word wasted, her resolute demeanor sent a shiver down Renly's neck, and then Natalie didn't linger. She walked away, step by deliberate step, her belly prominent, turning with casual grace.
In just a brief thirty-second confrontation, like a lightning strike, the air was taut to the extreme, suffocating.
Turning around, Renly watched Natalie's departing figure and accidentally caught sight of Ryan Gosling approaching stealthily. He raised his hands high, ready to surprise Renly unexpectedly, but was seen through. Drooping his shoulders in disappointment, he grumbled, "Do you have eyes in the back of your head?"
Renly's peripheral vision darted towards Natalie. She had regained her composure, warmly greeting Angelina Jolie with poise and grace.
"What, are you okay?" Ryan noticed Renly's sidelong gaze. "Does she have something for you?"
Rumors circulated within the industry, and Ryan had been personally present for the situation in Toronto. He was naturally well-informed. He had just seen Natalie and Renly speaking, which prompted him to rush over and assist his friend.
"Coming over to give a victory speech," Renly laughed nonchalantly, glancing at the bewildered Ryan. "And you? Aren't you supposed to be busy tonight? Shouldn't your feet be off the ground?"
Ryan shrugged, rolling his eyes. "Of course not. Tonight, I'm just a supporting cast."
"The King's Speech" and "Blue Valentine" were both distributed by The Weinstein Company. Looking at the current situation, the Weinstein brothers had decided to focus on promoting Colin Firth for "The King's Speech", and Michelle Williams for "Blue Valentine", leaving Ryan as the cast-off.
As they spoke, Scarlett Johansson entered the hall. She wasn't attending the Golden Globes alone; she was accompanied by a male companion. Due to the distance, he wasn't clearly visible, but he seemed to be a producer or a PR representative.
Scarlett scanned the hall, her gaze falling on Renly. She lifted her chin slightly, a hint of a smile in her eyes. This was her way of greeting him. She then turned with her male companion and walked towards another side.
"Well, how about we become human shields together tonight?" Renly shifted his gaze away, jokingly. This prompted Ryan to burst into laughter. "Did you just confess to me on the red carpet? Reporters were constantly asking me, among our peers, who do you think is the most promising actor tonight?"
"Your answer?" Renly and Ryan walked towards the banquet hall.
"Jesse's Jewish, James is too famous. I didn't have much of a choice, did I?"