"Martin, this is an exquisite house; your taste is impeccable," Nicholson complimented, standing on the villa's highest terrace. He then removed his sunglasses and surveyed the surroundings. "Whenever we move, we must celebrate grandly. Invite less than 50 supermodels to the party, and you'll make a grand entrance from here."
Martin chose to ignore the last part of Nicholson's statement and replied, "The interior needs renovation. The plan has just been finalized, and we won't be moving until summer, but I appreciate the compliment regarding my taste."
Leonardo, who stood nearby, couldn't resist interjecting, "Wasn't this house newly built by Brad Pitt? I'm curious, why would Brad Pitt the house to you at a discounted price?"
Martin explained, "Brad Pitt and I are good friends."
Leonardo sensed something amiss and inquired further, "Did Brad Pitt know that you acquired this house?"
Martin dismissed the concern, waving it off, saying, "Don't worry about these minor details."
"I see," Leonardo replied with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Are you planning to inform Brad Pitt? He doesn't know about this and won't properly thank you. Don't you think something is amiss here? This doesn't feel complete!"
Nicholson, patting Martin on the shoulder, chimed in, "How can you perform a good deed without recognition?" He took out his phone and called his daughter, saying, "Lorraine, grab your camera and come to the North District of Sunset Boulevard. You could use some pocket money, right? Record some videos and sell them to TMZ for some extra cash."
Martin couldn't help but appreciate the two pranksters and exclaimed, "You two are truly my great friends!"
He had no intention of interfering with their intentions.
Nicholson pointed to the neighbors and suggested, "Let's go introduce ourselves to the neighbors. I've got a rocket launcher and special fireworks in my car. If you say hi, the neighbors will surely remember you fondly."
Martin quickly interjected, "I haven't figured out who the neighbors are yet. Don't stir things up. Not everyone can stir things up like you and Warren Beatty."
Nicholson, however, insisted, "Man, if your neighbor is attractive, you've won the jackpot."
Leonardo added, "Martin's jackpot isn't an attractive neighbor; it's an attractive neighbor who's married and has a husband."
Shortly after, Lorraine arrived, recorded footage as per her father's instructions, and called TMZ reporters, who quickly came to purchase the videos.
The news of Martin Davis' new home had a certain level of public interest.
Nicholson suggested, "Let's head to the nightclub. It's time to unwind. I've made arrangements with Warren Beatty and Scorsese."
Martin got into Leonardo's car, and they all headed to the nightclub.
After waiting for a while, Scorsese and Warren Beatty also arrived.
The group selected a few companions and entered the VIP private room to indulge in some pampering services.
As the facial treatment rolled across his aging visage, Scorsese felt revitalized. He suddenly looked over a decade younger and exuded newfound vitality. He shared, "I took a break for over a year. I was genuinely bored and ready to direct a new film."
Martin playfully teased, "Is it to earn money for baby formula?"
Nicholson, however, stated a harsh reality, "Alimony."
Martin was well aware of this fact. Scorsese's previous marriages had been a significant source of inspiration for his creative endeavors.
Warren Beatty, who had been hanging out with the academy, commented, "They won't hand you another Best Director statuette easily."
Scorsese, in a carefree manner, replied, "It doesn't matter; one is enough." He had resolved his Oscar complex and would no longer struggle with it. He turned to Leonardo and asked, "Give me your schedule for the second half of this year and the first half of next year."
Leonardo readily agreed, saying, "I'll be there when you call."
Nicholson turned to Martin and inquired, "What's next for you? What's your plan?"
Martin offered a straightforward response, "I'll be making money, of course—a high-octane action movie."
Leonardo voiced his opinion, saying, "Having enough money provides the necessary capital to pursue art."
Warren Beatty concurred, stating, "Without money, it's challenging to gain recognition in the world of art."
Though not stated explicitly, it was clear to those present that he was referring to the coveted Oscar statuette.
Curious, Martin inquired, "Do I have a high chance of being nominated this time?"
Warren Beatty provided a direct response, "You're among the five Best Actor nominees announced by the Screen Actors Guild. If you don't get nominated, you can set off all of Jack's fireworks at my place."
Laughter ensued among Martin and the others.
Warren Beatty offered some pragmatic advice, "Don't even think about winning the award. Ninety percent of that Best Actor award belongs to Daniel Day-Lewis."
Afterwards, the group headed for a second round of facials, leaving with even more vitality than before.
During this time, Martin learned about Scorsese's upcoming project, titled "Shutter Island."
Leonardo secured a new investor from Asia, effortlessly solving the production financing issue.
Martin maintained his distance and never considered intervening throughout this affair.
In New York, Lily stepped out of the elevator, inserted her key, and opened the door to her luxurious apartment.
She had never resided in such a lavish home.
Even during the Carter family's financial struggles, they had an old, independent, rundown wooden house in the Clayton community.
Lily donned her shoes and proceeded from the entrance hall to the living room, where everything was brand new and untouched.
She walked to the grand floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, offering a breathtaking view of Central Park.
"Brad Pitt has excellent taste in real estate," Lily praised him, feeling admiration. "Much better than Martin."
However, upon reflection, she considered that Martin didn't need good taste; he only needed to keep an eye on Brad Pitt, and he'd still benefit.
After all, Martin was truly remarkable.
Lily decided to spend the night here in the spacious, over 300-square-meter luxury apartment, becoming its first resident.
Two streets away, in an apartment nearly half the size, Brad Pitt lay awake in bed throughout the night.
Deprived of adequate funds to cover legal fees and compensation, he had been compelled to sell off his fixed assets at discounted rates to raise money.
Brad Pitt faced a financial crisis, and one house couldn't bring him the same pleasure anymore.
Hollywood was unlikely to return to its former glory for him. He had been ousted from the Plan B board of directors, and there was uncertainty about when he'd receive the corresponding dividends from Jennifer Aniston, possibly not until a legal battle was waged.
In the past, earning money had seemed effortless when he was making a $20 million salary. Yet, the economic downturn had wiped out most of the liquid assets he had invested in real estate market. He was relentlessly attacked by public opinion, primarily led by women like those in the Me Too movement.
Brad Pitt had a newfound understanding of how difficult it could be to make money.
With sleep eluding him, he spent the night contemplating what other resources he could leverage to earn money. Naturally, his fame came to mind.
Even if his reputation was tarnished, he was still a celebrity.
A so-called socialite like Kim Kardashian had made tens of millions of dollars from a video; he could surely earn more.
Brad Pitt had the kernel of an idea, but it was just the beginning.
In Beverly Hills, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel hosted the Oscar Nominees Luncheon.
The event was led by Academy President Sidney Ganis and the beloved Hollywood actress Jessica Alba.
Martin sat at a table with Kate and Sam Mendes.
As Jessica Alba announced the nominations, they eventually reached the categories for Best Actor and Actress.
Martin and Kate remained relatively composed about the nominations, as SAG nominations often mirrored the Oscar nominations.
As expected, with Jessica Alba's announcement, the names of Martin and Kate appeared on the large screen in the press room.
The announcement continued, "The nominees for Best Actor include George Clooney, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Martin Davis. In the Best Actress category, we have Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, and Ellen Page..."
The room erupted in cheers, with the "Juno" team at the neighboring table celebrating the loudest.
Indeed, it was a reason to celebrate that small-budget films could achieve both artistic and commercial success.
Martin stood up, extending his arms and declared, "Congratulations, Kate."
Kate reciprocated, hugging Martin warmly. After all, it was just a nomination.
Next, Sam Mendes received a nomination for Best Director.
"The Reader" garnered six Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor or Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Cinematography.
The nominees posed for a group photo, with Ellen Page standing in front of Martin.
When she saw Martin, Ellen greeted him, "Hello, Martin. Congratulations on your Best Actor nomination."
Martin replied with a smile, "Congratulations to you too. You delivered an outstanding performance."
Ellen Page appeared surprised, "Really? Have you seen it?"
Martin hadn't seen the movie she starred in, so he smoothly shifted the conversation, saying, "I particularly liked your roles in 'The ghost Cat' and 'Hard Candy,' they left a strong impression."
Ellen Page added, "I admire your work too and hope to have the chance to work with you."
As the group photo session commenced, Martin said no more and joined the hundreds of other nominees for a memorable picture.
Apart from his Oscar nomination, he would also be presenting awards at the ceremony.
Stirred by the Oscars' good news, "The Reader," which had been slowly declining in North American theaters, experienced a resurgence and a box office boost.
During the weekend following the nomination luncheon, the film expanded to 1,457 theaters in North America for two more weekends, accumulating an additional $8.74 million, bringing the total North American box office to $68.11 million.
The final North American box office would likely surpass $70 million, but it was evident that due to the film's subject matter, it wouldn't reach the $100 million mark. "The Reader" delved into themes related to the Nazis and the Holocaust, and lacked the typical Hollywood-style happy ending.
Nonetheless, the movie had performed well in Germany and the United Kingdom, surpassing $10 million at the combined box office due to its historical context and the appeal of its cast.
The film was slated for release in other international markets in the near future.
With the Oscars approaching, the DVD market was experiencing a carnival moment.
While Martin prepared for the awards ceremony, Louise, who had been working on "John Wick" in New York, rushed back to Los Angeles with new sponsors in tow.