Chapter 801: I've seen your secrets
As Seth MacFarlane took the stage, Martin couldn't help but steal a glance at Charlize Theron, a knowing look in his eyes.
"What's wrong?" Charlize whispered, sensing his unease.
"This comedian loves his spoofs," Martin murmured back. "I wonder what kind of act he has up his sleeve tonight."
Charlize, having seen "Ted," chuckled softly. "I bet he'll just do a Ted impression."
Their quiet conversation was interrupted as Seth MacFarlane finished his introduction and launched into the Oscars' customary opening number.
In recent memory, few opening acts had rivaled Hugh Jackman's electrifying "I Am Wolverine." But tonight, MacFarlane was about to raise the bar and leave an indelible mark on the Oscars, the guests, and the viewers at home.
With a mischievous grin, MacFarlane pointed toward the section where the most renowned actresses were seated and sang the provocative opening line: "We've seen your secrets! We've seen your secrets in the movies we watched!"
What followed was a sensational rundown, a moviegoer's ultimate guide, rattling off moments from cinematic history:
"We saw Meryl Streep's in Silkwood, Naomi Watts's in Mulholland Drive, Halle Berry's in Monster's Ball, Nicole Kidman in Eyes Wide Shut, Marisa Tomei in The Wrestler. We saw Kristen Stewart's secret in On the Road, Charlize Theron in Monster, Helen Hunt in Intimate Treatment, but we've never seen Jennifer Lawrence's secret..."
Every heavy-hitting actress present was called out in MacFarlane's song. The climax, however, was a relentless listing of Kate Winslet's bold performances: "Kate Winslet in The Sinner, Jude the Obscure, Hamlet, Titanic, Hand in Hand, Motherhood, and The Reader..."
Martin knew firsthand the intensity of Kate Winslet's acting. Among the Oscar winners, she was a queen of art drama, unafraid of any challenge.
The Dolby Theatre buzzed with energy. Although many of the acclaimed actresses looked visibly displeased, their anger was restrained. They understood the Oscar game: sometimes, baring all was part of the journey.
As the song concluded, the room erupted in a mix of boos and laughter. Charlize leaned in close to Martin, her tone dripping with faux sweetness, "I hope this guy gets hit by a car when he leaves."
Martin, struck by an idea, whispered back, "Sally, hasn't Stuart Townsend called you recently? Get him to rough up MacFarlane a bit. Drop some hints. I'll have Old Bull set up some tech to ensure there's no recording."
Charlize's eyes locked onto Martin's. "Names get mixed up in our circles, stage names and all, but the rumors? They're often true."
Her hand slipped onto Martin's leg under the chair. "Does this make you feel better?"
Martin sighed, exasperated. He was trying to help, but Charlize always had a way of complicating things.
Charlize's laughter echoed, her radiant smile capturing the camera's attention multiple times, her seemingly unbothered demeanor hiding the storm beneath. The Oscar distribution commenced.
Anne Hathaway, the first awardee of the night, took to the stage to accept her Best Supporting Actress Oscar. With gratitude, she thanked Martin for his support during the lowest point in her career, a heartfelt moment amidst the glitz and glamour.
In the subsequent round of technical awards, the crew of "Life of Pi" faced disappointment as they walked away empty-handed. Despite a tumultuous period of mixed PR fortunes, their Oscar night ended on a somber note.
Charlize Theron gracefully excused herself from her seat, heading backstage at the Dolby Theater to prepare for her role as an award presenter. Tonight's ceremony was interwoven with moments of nostalgia and tribute, and this year's homage segment promised to be particularly poignant.
Paul Walker and Jordana Brewster took the stage to honor Vin Diesel, their late co-star and family hero. As they reminisced about Diesel's charisma and leadership, the atmosphere grew heavy with emotion. Clips of Diesel's iconic roles flashed across the big screen, and as the stage lifted, two singers dressed in black and white emerged, delivering a heartfelt rendition of "See You Again."
Martin, recognizing the opening notes, felt a deep sense of reverence. This was the anthem of the Fast and Furious family, a tribute to their fallen brother. Watching Paul Walker speak about Vin Diesel, Martin was filled with a strange mix of grief and admiration.
"Fast and Furious 6" was destined for box office glory, Martin mused. The outpouring of tributes to Vin Diesel had reignited the public's affection for the franchise across North America.
Lost in thought, Martin was jolted back to the present as the crew of "Argo" snagged the night's first Oscar. Dustin Hoffman and Charlize Theron presented awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay, the latter going to "Argo."
Sandra Bullock took the stage next, announcing, "Bill Gordon wins the Best Editing Award."
The "Argo" team erupted in applause. Martin high-fived Bill Gordon and David Fincher as Bill headed up to accept his award. David Fincher's excitement was palpable; winning for both screenplay and editing bolstered their chances for Best Director and Best Picture, with odds soaring to ninety percent.
A staff member tapped Martin on the shoulder, signaling it was time to head backstage. He was also a presenter tonight. As last year's Best Actor, he was slated to present this year's Best Actress award.
The director handed Martin the envelope, which he carefully inspected to ensure it was correctly marked for Best Actress. He then waited at the stage entrance, envelope in hand, until the director signaled him to proceed.
Striding onto the stage to the rhythm of the music, Martin felt a surge of confidence. Although he wasn't as seasoned as Jack Nicholson in these moments, he had enough experience under his belt.
He glanced at Nicholson, seated with Jennifer Lawrence, who was beaming up at him. The two had been the talk of Hollywood last year, openly dating and yet never officially confirming their relationship. Nicholson had played a crucial role in securing Lawrence the lead in "Silver Linings Playbook."
This awards season, Nicholson had largely stayed out of Martin's affairs, except for suggesting Ralph Jackson as the candidate for the email gate scandal. Nicholson's focus had been entirely on helping Jennifer Lawrence secure the Best Actress award. As Martin stepped up to the microphone, he knew the night's drama was far from over.
After Martin wrapped up his introduction, he turned to face the big screen, announcing the names of the nominated actresses in sync with the projected images: "Emmanuelle Riva for Amour, Quvenzhané Wallis for Beasts of the Southern Wild, Naomi Watts for The Impossible, Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook, Sally Field for Lincoln."
Martin was only familiar with a few of the nominees, having just learned about the others during the nomination luncheon. The most recognizable name on the list was Naomi Watts, but she wasn't the Academy's typical favorite. Her blonde hair and striking looks often overshadowed her performances in roles that didn't quite break her image.
It was clear to Martin that Nicholson had played his cards right, ensuring Jennifer Lawrence faced off against less threatening competitors. Those who posed a real challenge had been strategically sidelined during the nomination process.
Putting aside these thoughts, Martin deftly opened the envelope, pulled out the card, and announced, "The Best Actress is Jennifer Lawrence!"
The result was hardly a surprise, matching the outcome of the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Tears of joy streamed down Jennifer Lawrence's face as she embraced Nicholson tightly. She then gathered her gown and made her way to the stage amidst thunderous applause.
As Jennifer passed Natalie Portman, the previous winner of the Best Actress award, Natalie's discontent was evident. Portman had been the first post-1980s actress to win the award, a title she hadn't held long before Jennifer Lawrence, the first post-1990s winner, claimed it.
Jennifer quickened her pace but felt the need for something more dramatic. Recalling Martin's advice from the Cannes Film Festival, she decided to make a memorable entrance. As she neared the steps, she deliberately tripped and fell forward.
Martin, who had been silently counting down, anticipated her move perfectly: "5, 4, 3,..."
At "1," Jennifer fell, and the entire audience gasped in shock.
Every eye and camera lens in the theater was now trained on Jennifer Lawrence. For Nicholson's sake, Martin swiftly descended the stage to help her up.
Even before they returned to the stage, the internet buzzed with discussions about Jennifer Lawrence's tumble. She had successfully seized the night's first major headline, with photos and videos of her fall already flooding YouTube, blogs, Twitter, and Instagram.
Back on stage, Martin handed Jennifer the Oscar statuette, which he had received from the emcee.
Jennifer flashed him a grateful smile and whispered, "Thank you, Martin."
Martin stepped aside, gesturing toward the microphone. The audience watched as the first Oscar-winning actress born in the 1990s began her acceptance speech.
Although visibly excited, Jennifer's words were measured. Likely heeding a warning from Nicholson, she avoided the dramatic thank-yous that had marked her previous speeches. Instead, she delivered a composed, heartfelt series of acknowledgments.
Following Jennifer's triumphant moment, Daniel Day-Lewis won the Best Actor award, a result that came with little surprise.
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