America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 356 The Mystery Revealed

The Oscars, Hollywood's ultimate award, were once the object of the dreams of industry tycoons like Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.

Even someone as obsessed as Daniel Day-Lewis was willing to settle in Los Angeles for two years for the Oscars and spend a whole year doing public relations.

As free-spirited and unconventional as Leonardo DiCaprio is, he has been a runner-up year after year.

"Can we not mention being a runner-up?" Sitting in the second row, as the camera turned away and the big screen displayed "GG," Leonardo whispered to Martin, "I wish you all the best."

Nicholson revealed the truth: "Quickly plug your ears, Leo must be cursing."

The trio of scoundrels have always wavered in their internal stance, and they are all opportunistic and treacherous individuals.

Martin didn't care: "Leo, if you dare to give it to me, I dare to accept it."

Leonardo DiCaprio said, "May you be a perennial Oscar runner-up starting this year."

Martin responded with the same sentiment: "May you continue to be a runner-up in the Oscars for another ten years after being a runner-up for ten years."

Leonardo suffered a fatal blow and instinctively tried to unleash a triple attack.

Martin quickly reminded him, "It's the Oscars live, be serious." He deliberately added, "I won't be a runner-up for that long."

Leonardo glanced at Martin's profile: "With your face and physique, which old man wouldn't be envious? When you get old and weathered, the awards will come naturally."

Martin said, "I will soon ruin this face, change my body shape and appearance, and make people see that I am not me."

Nicholson, the fence-sitter, then swayed to the other side: "Leo, I have a knife here. You can help Martin disfigure his face."

When Leonardo DiCaprio saw the presenters come on stage, he said to Martin, "Remember this valuable experience of being a runner-up, because you'll have to experience it for ten years."

Renée Zellweger, last year's Oscar winner for Best Supporting Actress, walked onto the stage, stood in front of the microphone, and, in conjunction with the images displayed on the big screen, read out the names of the five nominees for Best Supporting Actor.

"Alan Arkin, Martin Davis, Djimon Hounsou, Eddie Murphy..."

She opened the envelope, glanced at it, and read out the most popular name: "Alan Arkin!"

Amid applause, Alan Arkin, who is over 70 years old, stood up, hugged the crew, waved to all sides, and strode onto the stage to accept the award.

Martin had already anticipated this outcome, so he remained calm, smiling and clapping.

Host Ellen DeGeneres took the stage and cracked some boring American jokes. After a brief climax with the Best Supporting Actor and Actress awards, a series of technical awards began.

These were all fine, but the most tedious part was the endless review sessions.

The Academy's core members are getting older year by year, and the older they get, the more nostalgic they become. In recent years, the nostalgia factor in each Oscars has been getting longer.

Therefore, this time of year is always the period with the lowest viewership for the Oscars.

Many viewers didn't even turn back until the four major awards were presented.

However, nostalgia still has some appeal, but the near-madness of political activism in the future has caused the Oscars' ratings and influence to be underestimated like never before, and it has even become a veritable carnival for a niche group.

Martin was drowsy, but he acted as an award presenter once, giving out the Best Cinematography award, before going backstage.

The backstage area was a bit chaotic, with many backstage staff walking around. Some award presenters and winners took the opportunity to chat, and others even took the chance to pull people in for photos.

"Can I take a picture with you, Martin?" A young woman with long reddish-brown hair came over with her assistant, looking at Martin expectantly. "My name is Emily Blunt. I've always been a fan of yours. I've liked you ever since 'Zombie Dancer,' and I even went to learn the Zombie Machine Gun Dance."

As she spoke, she even demonstrated a few hip-twisting and waist-straightening movements: "I've never been able to do it that fast."

Although these things were familiar, Martin nodded anyway: "Okay."

Emily Blunt skipped over cheerfully, grabbed Martin's arm, and gestured to her assistant.

The assistant quickly took several photos.

"Thank you, Martin," Emily said happily.

Martin seemed to see a reflection of his past self: "You're welcome."

She quickly left and found George Clooney, after which she said something similar and took a photo with him.

Although they have gained some fame, it is too difficult for a minor celebrity to rise to the top, and it is not something that can be achieved simply by taking off their clothes.

Martin didn't ask Emily Blunt where she learned his secrets. He went to the restroom, and when he came out, he turned into the hallway, preparing to head to the lobby.

At the entrance to the lobby, he encountered Anne Hathaway.

Anne cut her hair short, sporting a dashing short hairstyle. The sight of Martin reminded her of their breakup.

The best love was ruined by his own actions.

Anne murmured, "Martin..."

Martin nodded: "Good evening, Anne. You're as beautiful as ever."

Anne asked, "Can we find a time to talk alone?"

Martin pointed to his watch: "The Best Actor awards are about to be presented, and my brother has been nominated."

Anne paused for a moment, then immediately realized that Martin was referring to Leonardo DiCaprio; the nickname "Three Villains" was already circulating in Hollywood.

"Let's talk another day." Martin entered the hall.

As Martin walked away, Anne felt her vision blur and quickly grabbed the wall for support, her heart filled with a thousand regrets: "I've ruined the best love, I've ruined it all!"

Thinking of Martin's past affairs, she felt another pang of heartache: "Because of me, he no longer believes in love and has become a playboy. It's all my fault!"

Annie was so distressed that she didn't want to go back, so she simply turned around and walked towards the door.

In Hollywood, who among those around her age can compare to Martin?

The more Anne thought about it, the more her heart ached.

Martin returned to his seat, just as last year's Best Actress winner, Reese Witherspoon, announced the Best Actor winner: "Forrest Whitaker!"

Applause erupted as the burly Black man walked onto the podium to receive his award.

Countless eyes were fixed on Leonardo, as was the lens of a camera.

Year after year he's been nominated, but year after year he's been nominated but never won. Leonardo DiCaprio's obsession with the Oscars only grows stronger.

When the camera turned away, Martin comforted Leonardo, saying, "Don't be sad, don't be upset, it's not a big deal."

Leonardo nodded, thinking to himself that this guy had finally said something a human being should say.

"Because it will be the same next year." Martin's tone shifted abruptly, becoming less tactful: "The year after next will still be the same."

Nicholson beamed: "Leo, the ten years of blessings you gave to Martin have now fallen on you."

Leonardo really didn't want to talk anymore. If he could contact Satan, he would be willing to sacrifice these two teammates, without asking for anything in return.

Tonight's theme was respect for the elderly, and Helen Mirren, who is over 60 years old, took home the Best Actress Oscar.

Then, Spiegelberg, Coppola, and George Lucas walked onto the stage together.

Three of the four directors were present, and Scorsese sat in the audience.

The symbolic meaning shouldn't be too obvious!

"The three of us have three Best Director Oscars," Coppola said first.

Spielberg chimed in: "Who standing here doesn't have an Oscar for Best Director?"

George Lucas looked utterly helpless: "Can I say I didn't?"

The jokes faded with laughter. After finishing their introductions and announcing the nominees, Coppola opened the envelope, and the three of them spoke into the microphone together: "Best Director goes to Martin Scorsese!"

The applause that had been building up finally erupted, and Scorsese was moved to tears. After nearly forty years of directing, he had finally won the award he had always wanted.

Martin reacted the fastest, turning around to hug Scorsese: "Director, congratulations."

Scorsese laughed heartily and hugged the rest of the crew.

As he walked toward the stage, Martin waved his arms, signaling everyone around him to stand up.

Nicholson, the most shameless of them all, stood in the aisle waving to everyone around him.

Leonardo turned to the back and also gestured to stand up.

The surrounding guests all stood up, which led everyone else to stand up one after another.

The entire audience rose to their feet and erupted in applause.

When Scorsese came on stage and turned around, he immediately saw the three jerks gesticulating wildly and couldn't help but laugh.

After exchanging pleasantries with old friends, Scorsese accepted the Oscar for Best Director, stepped in front of the microphone, and began to express his heartfelt gratitude.

He said "3Q" 12 times in one breath.

Scorsese then thanked specific people, including Martin.

"The success of this film is largely due to the actors. Thank you, Leo; we've worked together for six and a half years, and I hope we can work together for another 20 years. Thank you, Martin Davis; you're incredibly courageous and talented. Thank you, Jack; you're the leader of the trio of bastards. So, I thank the trio of bastards for not ruining our film; instead, they helped each other and achieved an extraordinary performance!"

Amid applause, the camera panned to Martin, Leonardo, and Nicholson.

The three stood side by side, their smiles honest and their demeanor resembling that of Tom Hanks.

After the camera panned away, Leonardo asked, "Aren't we stealing the spotlight?"

"No," Martin said. "When you win the award, Jack will come on stage, take off his pants, and show his ass. That'll be the real scene-stealer."

Nicholson sighed, "I doubt Leo will ever win the Oscar for Best Actor, even if I meet God."

Leonardo plopped down: "When I get my Oscar, I'll melt it down, cast it into two middle fingers, and give them to you."

Nicholson said, "Martin, don't do that after you win the Oscar. People who don't win Oscars will be too heartbroken, and it wouldn't be good if they became depressed."

Al Pacino and Robert De Niro took the stage as the final award presenters.

These two have collaborated with Martin Scorsese so many times that the Best Picture award was practically a foregone conclusion the moment they appeared on stage.

As expected, Al Pacino announced the winner as "The Departed".

Producer Graham King called all the main cast and crew members to the stage to accept the Best Picture award together.

Martin also stood on the podium for the first time, but unfortunately he was not receiving an individual award.

(End of this chapter)