America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 399 A Huge Breakthrough

Before leaving Los Angeles, Martin attended several promotional events for "The Reader" and even appeared on a television program with Kate Winslet.

Time is too tight; Kate cannot use the strategy of getting pregnant to win the lottery.

There was no instance of the lioness biting the male lion.

Martin continued to attend his appointments at the psychiatric clinic as scheduled, and Ivan filmed the event, which was then published in the entertainment media.

Such news has lost its impact, and from movie fans to the media and many people in the industry, everyone believes that Martin is suffering from psychological problems.

In early November, "The Reader" was released by Warner Bros. as planned.

The preview screenings are currently only available at one independent theater in Los Angeles.

According to the Academy's rules, a film must be publicly screened in Los Angeles for a period of time before the New Year in order to qualify for an Oscar.

For the first preview screening, the production team invited a large number of well-known figures from the Los Angeles film critics' circle.

Awards season is the time when they need to promote their work vigorously.

There was no red carpet for the preview screening. Martin got out of the car, ignored the reporters' clamor, and went into the cinema alone, heading straight to the second-floor lobby.

Kate Winslet and Sam Mendes are already waiting here.

Martin asked, "Have our friends from the media arrived yet?"

Sam Mendes glanced at his watch: "We'll be there soon."

Kate said to Martin, "I've heard you have a great reputation among film critics in Los Angeles. I hope your good reputation will lead them to give the film some positive reviews."

Martin has invested heavily in these people and is confident: "It definitely will."

Louise, wearing black-rimmed glasses, approached from a distance and asked the three, "What are you talking about? You seem to be having a lot of fun."

Kate casually remarked, "We were talking about Martin's mental health issues."

Louise adjusted her glasses: "How effective are the visits to the mental health clinic once or twice a week?"

Martin replied, "He shouldn't be crazy."

Many critics from Los Angeles then went up to the second floor.

Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter and Kenneth Turan of The Los Angeles Times were at the forefront.

This is the best season for film critics; they wish every season were awards season.

Martin deliberately led Kate into the circle of Los Angeles critics.

"I watched the long trailer the production team sent me, and you did a great job with your character, whether as a teenager or a middle-aged man." Kenneth Turan had reminded Martin more than once, and seeing that he listened and even made a breakthrough gave him an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

Especially since this person is a big Hollywood star.

He nodded to Martin: "I was a little worried before about whether you could handle a role that was too old. After seeing the trailer, I can at least put my mind at ease."

Todd Max chuckled and interjected, "Martin's artistic pursuits are worthy of his talent."

Martin turned to the side and gestured for Kate to come forward, saying, "Most importantly, Kate has been a huge help to me. Many times, she has guided me into the role and helped me to fully immerse myself in it."

This is no exaggeration; when filming action scenes between a middle-aged woman and a young man, Kate did a lot to help him get into character.

Kate modestly remarked, "Martin is the best young actor I've ever seen."

Kenneth Turan said, "Kate, you've had a huge breakthrough in your acting this time, and hopefully the film will be just as good."

Kate said, "I won't let you down."

Martin specifically stated, "To achieve a new artistic breakthrough, Kate made significant sacrifices during this shoot, even gaining weight to better embody the character's traits."

Kenneth Turan and Todd McCarthy both glanced at Kate, convinced that everything Martin said was true.

After all, it's visible to the naked eye.

Martin and Kate then went to greet the others, and Leonardo brought over some old men through Warren Beatty.

The critics cheered, but the old men held the real votes.

These are the people who truly have a voice during awards season.

After the others entered the theater, Leonardo quietly called Martin into a lounge.

Because relations had improved during filming in Atlanta, Nicholson accompanied Leonardo DiCaprio and his daughter Lorraine to the premiere, but did not speak to Martin in public.

Just like Martin's psychological problems, everything is currently in the groundwork; it's not time to unleash their full potential yet.

Nicholson told Martin directly, "Cate Blanchett has absolutely no chance of getting an Oscar nomination this year."

Martin nodded slightly, and Lorraine suddenly popped her head out: "Remember to call me next time something like this happens."

"There will be more of this kind of money in the future." Nicholson pushed his daughter's head back out the door: "Only if you keep your mouth shut."

Lorraine is under 21 years old. Her father set up a foundation for her, from which she can only receive a small amount of money each week. She has not achieved much as an actress. It is not easy for even Nicholson's daughter to work hard and make progress, let alone for her, who prefers to relax and enjoy life.

Earning $1.5 in the short term is somewhat difficult for her.

Lorraine thought the trio of bastards was pretty good.

She left, and Bruce, who was guarding the door, closed it again.

Inside the door, Nicholson said, "Martin, you absolutely can't leave me out of any more fun things to do, or else... don't blame me for turning against you."

Martin replied matter-of-factly, "You're the boss of Leo and me, so of course you should be the first to step up when there's something fun to do."

Leonardo, that opportunist, had a particularly good understanding: "Martin and I will cover you from behind!"

Nicholson pointed to his two underlings, then left the lounge first and returned to the screening room.

Martin and Leonardo waited a few minutes before going back.

"The Reader" has begun airing.

The film has a smooth plot, well-paced editing, and dark visuals that easily evoke memories of the 1950s and 60s.

Furthermore, topics such as massacres, which were popular with judges in that era, were added to the list.

In a few years, this theme will no longer be popular.

They are utterly vulnerable in the face of LGBTQ+ issues.

The plot is also full of intense emotional conflicts, such as the conflict between dignity and suffering, and the conflict between law and emotion.

These were not things Martin cared about; he simply performed to the best of his ability according to the script for his role.

Kenneth Turan's eyes never left the big screen, but he skillfully took out a pen and notebook and quickly began to write, lest he forget something after a long time.

"The production team chose the two most suitable actors. Kate is strong, direct, and stubborn, with an almost resolute determination in her eyes. Martin's portrayal of the young male lead makes you completely forget about the actor himself; he is clear, delicate, and sensitive, as innocent and fragile as a newly sprouted blade of grass in spring."

As for the action scenes, they're nothing to Hollywood and the Oscars, and even less to critics.

Kenneth Turan, watching Kate completely dominate the screen, wrote: "The union of spirit and flesh is elevated through this spiritual exchange of reading aloud..."

As the plot unfolds, Martin on screen matures, but what remains unchanged is his consistent control over the character, making even minor flaws negligible.

The protagonist, Hannah, unsurprisingly committed suicide, leaving behind an estate which was naturally donated to the descendants of the Jews—a perfectly politically correct act.

Upon seeing the film's ending, Todd McCarthy remarked, "My biggest concern was the middle-aged scenes of the male lead, since Martin doesn't have the relevant life experience. I didn't expect him to portray them so brilliantly."

Kenneth Turan paused for a moment and said, "Have you noticed that Michael is a character who grows? In his middle age, he portrayed the unique dullness and restraint of middle-aged Germans extremely vividly. He didn't even make too many complicated or exaggerated changes. His actions were orderly and calm, full of vicissitudes."

Todd McCarthy nodded in agreement: "Martin is clearly better than his best friend Leonardo."

Kenneth Turan laughed: "Isn't this a widely accepted fact among Los Angeles film critics?"

Leonardo DiCaprio, whose whereabouts are unknown, is probably crying his eyes out in the bathroom.

Applause erupted, especially from the commentary section. This film was exactly what film critics wanted to hear. It had everything that needed to be shown, everything that needed to be discussed, everything that needed to be discussed, everything that needed to be discussed, the plot was logically sound, the actors' performances were not only not bad, but were even a plus, and at the end it even had a touch of political correctness. What else could it be but a good film?

The applause from the regular audience in the back rows was equally enthusiastic.

The girls looked disappointed: "Martin didn't even show the crucial part, what a rip-off!"

"Yes, tell the director to release the cut as soon as possible, I want to see Martin."

"What do you know?" Rachel quickly reassured the fans, "If that spot is exposed, it's an NC-17. Who will compensate Martin for the losses then?"

The people on this side clapped and gave them the warmest applause.

The main cast and crew went on stage to take a bow and then gave interviews to the media, sharing some interesting stories from the filming process.

However, compared to director Nolan, the screenwriters responsible for writing the behind-the-scenes footage were far less skilled.

When the movie ended, Martin waited a while before leaving, specifically walking alongside Kenneth Turan and Todd McCarthy.

Before Martin could speak, Kenneth Turan said, "The character is even better than I imagined."

He extended his hand and shook Martin's hand firmly: "Congratulations on breaking the limits on the big screen."

Martin quickly replied, "Your guidance played a crucial role in helping me when I was feeling lost, showing me the path I should take in the future."

Todd McCarthy, looking preoccupied, said, "We critics don't want to see Hollywood become too commercialized, and that's our responsibility!"

Kenneth Turan cautioned, "You'll have to navigate the rest of the journey yourself; you need to strike a balance between commerce and art."

"After the Joker in Batman, I'm taking on the lead role in David Fincher's new film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." Martin emphasized, "I will portray Benjamin's entire life, from shortly after birth to near death."

Upon hearing about the director, the role, and the project, Todd McCarthy immediately felt a sense of identification: "Yes, challenging myself time and time again, pushing my limits each time."

Martin looked wistful: "I also hope that decades from now, when the media and the public talk about me, I will be an artist like Nicholson."

At this moment, Kenneth Turan and Todd McCarthy had already determined the overall direction of the Los Angeles film critics' discourse.

(End of this chapter)