Chapter 458: Ebb and tide
In this year's Oscars ceremony, the biggest talking point wasn't the showdown between "The King's Speech" and "The Social Network", but the rise of Gen Y.
It wasn't merely a clash between two movies; it marked the change and transition of the entire film industry. Its impact resonated in all aspects, and everyone was curious, anticipating, and watching closely.
Now, the answer was finally revealed. Natalie Portman, the first recipient of the little golden statue from Gen Y, ascended to the throne with power and grace.
In today's Hollywood, Gen X remained the mainstay, but their influence fell far short of the Baby Boomers. Their achievements in both commerce and art were incomparable. The film market still blossomed with diverse offerings, yet it was also embroiled in chaos. Stars with the charisma of Will Smith, Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Sean Penn were conspicuously absent. Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Ben Affleck were still shouldering their responsibilities.
Now, Gen Y was catching up, not only making breakthroughs at the box office but also stepping onto the Oscars stage, exuding an aura of seizing power.
For the film industry, this was a good thing.
Transitions between old and new were always accompanied by labor pains and struggles, but they had to happen eventually. Of course, many were disappointed once again by Annette Bening's defeat. However, in comparison, Natalie's victory symbolized the rise of a new generation. This monumental milestone's impact on the entire industry was evidently enormous.
The rise of the younger generation was the main theme throughout this year's award season. When the Oscars announced their nominations, Gen Y's overall weakness sparked countless barrages from the media. The collective voice of public opinion criticized the Academy for being conservative, outdated, stubborn, and antiquated, refusing to accept the new generation, which implied that progress would be hindered.
Now, with Natalie's victory, all doubts, complaints, and accusations dissipated into thin air. As the clouds cleared, the moon was visible. In an instant, praises flooded in. Even the dark clouds of negative news that hung over Natalie's head gradually dispersed. In a fleeting moment, it seemed people had all contracted amnesia.
In this year's Oscars, on one hand, the conservatives represented by "The King's Speech" emerged victorious, while on the other hand, the new generation led by Natalie secured a foothold. The Academy found a balance between conservatism and innovation. Although just a minor breakthrough, even if it was only through the Best Actress category, it provided hope.
With the concerted efforts of major media outlets, Natalie's victory became a driving force propelling the wheels of history forward. Compared to that, the slight negative impact of the "body-doublegate" was negligible.
Apart from "The King's Speech" and Natalie, the evening's awards ceremony was filled with numerous other highlights:
James Franco and Anne Hathaway's disastrous hosting received mockery and ridicule, even more so than Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globe Awards. Melissa Leo's acceptance speech included profanity, causing a live broadcast crisis. On the red carpet, Kate Blanchett stunned everyone. Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz officially announced their relationship...
Without a doubt, the Oscars were the film industry's most prestigious annual event, unmatched by any other. After the awards ceremony, major media outlets were filled with reports, colorful and vibrant, radiating an extraordinary warmth. Not to mention the subsequent Oscar night discussions – such commotion would last for at least three days, with no signs of settling down anytime soon.
Amidst the hubbub, it seemed that everyone had forgotten Renly's absence. This wasn't unexpected. More accurately, it was completely within expectations.
Even Woody Allen's annual absence didn't merit much attention from major media outlets, let alone a minor player like Renly. Although Renly's last-minute announcement of absence caused fervent discussions before the awards ceremony, now, amidst the dazzling stars of the Oscars, even if he had attended, he might have been overlooked—let alone being absent.
It appeared that everyone had forgotten that Renly, at the last moment, managed to secure a nomination by standing on James Franco's shoulders. They forgot that her independent film "Buried" had triumphed amidst the challenges of awards season. They even forgot how he wholeheartedly immersed herself in his new project, to the extent that it affected him physically and mentally, subjecting him to media slander and defamation.
Just a day earlier, people had been criticizing the media, marveling at Renly, and lamenting his absence. But now, Renly had become a thing of the past.
Gradually, the Oscars concluded, and the buzz subsided. Hollywood regained its tranquility, and the "50/50" production team settled back into their routine. Reporters who once crowded the set's entrance had vanished; the empty streets seemed even more desolate than the Sahara Desert. It was as if the sensations caused by the consecutive success of "The Pacific", "Buried", and "Like Crazy" had dissipated like bubbles, leaving no trace behind.
This was Hollywood. This was the realm of fame and fortune. This was reality. The tide ebbed and flowed, happening in the blink of an eye.
However, from another perspective, Andy Rogers had achieved his intentions.
Ever since the premiere of "The Pacific", Renly had been in the public eye for less than a year. His rapid rise was unimaginable, especially with the consecutive successes of "Buried" and "Like Crazy". First came the Emmy, then the Golden Globe, followed by the Oscar—Renly's trajectory was nearly unstoppable.
But at the same time, instability and potential troubles followed. Renly was like a living target, surrounded by emotions such as jealousy, disdain, contempt, resentment, exclusion, and suspicion. Negativity attacked her from all sides, like venomous snakes lying in wait for a chance to strike. The media frenzy surrounding the "50/50" production was a direct manifestation of this.
If it were a different actor, a different situation, or a different production, the so-called "frenzy" wouldn't have amounted to much. Not to mention media attention and public criticism, there might not even have been a ripple. After all, Hollywood was a place saturated with sensationalism, with only a fine line separating promotion from sensationalism. However, in reality, what Renly faced was a torrential storm, nearly impossible to withstand.
Faced with such a situation, Andy Rogers had been contemplating solutions.
Andy could choose to counterattack head-on, confronting challenges with outstanding work, much like Tom Cruise had done in the past.
The emergence of "Top Gun" propelled Tom to instant fame, while also subjecting him to doubt. After breakthroughs at the Oscars with "Rain Man" and "Born on the Fourth of July", he stood at the forefront of controversies. The adoration of fans and the scrutiny of critics were parallel, exemplifying the adage that with fame comes controversy.
Later, Tom's streak continued from 1992's "A Few Good Men" until 1996's "Jerry Maguire", with five consecutive films crossing the $100M mark in North America. In the nineties, he became synonymous with top box office performance, marking the beginning of his true peak era. All negative doubts were silenced; he transitioned from a leading actor to a top superstar.
However, this approach might not necessarily suit Renly. Firstly, he was still a newcomer. Even though "Fast 5" achieved tremendous box office success later, the credit belonged to Vin Diesel and Paul Walker, not Renly. The idea of using a commercial film to open doors for her was challenging.
Secondly, the risks were too high. Every subsequent work would need to be a success, whether artistic or commercial. This pressure would gradually accumulate. Before the point of qualitative change through quantitative accumulation, the risk of being hailed too soon and the challenge of being excluded would grow layer by layer. Tom Cruise broke free from the shackles using five works, completing the transformation, but everyone's circumstances were different. Renly might need more, or perhaps less. But before the transformation, making one wrong move would lead to total loss.
Thirdly, Renly was an actor and should remain an actor. This was Andy's perspective on him.
Perhaps, in the future, Renly could become a top superstar who excelled both in box office and awards, much like Tom Hanks. But at least not now. Currently, Renly lacked a stable foundation. Let alone hoping for box office success, even from a performance standpoint, the trio of "The Pacific", "Buried", and "Like Crazy" were not enough. Renly needed more remarkable performances to prove herself and withstand the test of upgraded critics.
Andy was ambitious but not greedy. Therefore, he chose to go with the flow and make a graceful exit.
First, he focused on shooting "50/50". Then, he skipped the Oscars, followed by declining the role in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and choosing to star in "Detachment". He gave up on capitalizing on his momentum, ignored the spotlight, and forsook grandeur. Instead, he dedicated himself to his profession, honing his craft, focusing on his roles, and dedicating himself to his work. This retreat was a step after another, finally relieving the crisis temporarily.
After the Oscars concluded, although Renly hadn't gained more attention and seemed almost invisible in the media coverage, completely overlooked, the halo of attention surrounding him had seemingly disappeared overnight. At the same time, the negative news also vanished. The Oscar's empty-handed outcome left all attacks empty. Even online discussions and skepticism about Renly temporarily subsided.
This also meant that Renly could finally enjoy a peaceful time.
Before "Fast 5" officially premiered, Renly could retreat from the spotlight, focusing on the filming of "50/50" and "Detachment", just as he did when shooting "Buried" and "Like Crazy". For Renly, this was a good thing. For Andy, it was fortunate.
An actor should focus on acting. This was the impression Andy hoped people would have of Renly. Judging from Seattle Post's special feature, Andy's strategy was successful.
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