America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 723 Best Actor

In recent years, every Academy Awards ceremony has been filled with nostalgia for the past, so dull that it makes you want to yawn.

Even an old white man like Nicholson was drowsy.

The old bastard had his sunglasses perched on his nose, the black lenses obscuring his eyes as if he were watching an awards ceremony, but he was already fast asleep.

The camera panned to Martin, who kicked Nicholson.

Nicholson didn't move an inch, opened his eyes, and asked, "Are you going up to receive your award?"

Martin said in a low voice, "How about we give Oscar some face?"

Leonardo, on the other end, said, "You were almost snoring just now."

"I'm not aiming for awards, and I have no need of the Academy, so why should I give them face?" Nicholson didn't care at all: "Now it's the Oscars that need my help, and they have to formally invite me to appear at the Oscars every year."

Leonardo remained silent.

Martin couldn't help but shake his head; Nicholson was all about being dashing.

On stage, Angelina Jolie presented the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, which was won by the cast and crew of "The Descendants".

This is the fifth award nomination that "The Martian" has lost tonight.

But from Martin to Elizabeth, from Leonardo to Nicholson, none of them cared.

The Martian has only one goal.

The rest of the nominations were just stepping stones.

After Esperanza Spalding sang a song commemorating the Golden Age, soaring music filled the air, and last year's Best Actress winner, Natalie Portman, strode onto the stage.

Nicholson pushed up his glasses and sat up straight.

Leonardo moved his stiff hands and feet slightly.

Elizabeth unconsciously gripped Martin's arm with one hand.

Martin also perked up; the Best Actor award was about to be presented!

The plan to play the victim failed halfway through; whether the plan to compete in misery will ultimately succeed will soon be revealed.

Across the aisle, Amber Heard glanced at Elizabeth Olsen with a disdainful expression. It was just a Best Actor award, why was she so nervous? She really had no sense.

Looking at myself, I'm not nervous at all.

Just as I was thinking this, I heard a sound that sounded like a prayer.

Johnny Depp clasped his hands together, gripping the silver cross tightly, praying that God would not grant Martin Davis's wish.

Amber Heard understood why she wasn't nervous anymore: it was because Depp had nothing to do with the award, since she didn't love him at all.

In the living room of the mansion, Matt Damon picked up a nearly empty can of beer, but didn't bring it to his lips, instead frowning as he stared at Natalie Portman on the television.

Luciana held the remote control in her hand, just in case things got messy later.

As her husband's bedmate, she knew best that Martin Davis had been his nightmare for the past few years.

Especially during the period when the Weinstein scandal broke, her husband would wake up from his sleep many times by calling out Martin Davis's name.

This time, being falsely accused and slandered by those despicable women, and losing his Oscar nomination, was a huge blow.

On the television screen, Natalie Portman, dressed in a red dress, began reciting her script.

At the headquarters of the Cola Cult in Atlanta, Elena gently turned the ring on her hand, waiting for the moment the results would be announced.

Hundreds of cardinals, including High Priest Robert, prayed together: "The leader will prevail! The leader will prevail!"

In the living room of the Davis Estate villa, Lily found a ribbon, threw it on her head, and pondered what kind of knot would look good.

She was ready to be Elizabeth's living gift.

Even a human-shaped gift should be wrapped with ribbons, right?

At the Hollywood Heights Center, Natalie Portman turned to look at the large screen behind her and read out the nominees in sync with the playing images: "The nominees for Best Actor are Martin Davis for *The Martian*, George Clooney for *The Descendants*, Gary Oldman for *Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy*, Joel Edgerton for *Warrior*, and Demian Beehill for *A Better Life*."

She tore open the envelope, pulled out the card, and her face beamed with a smile: "Martin Davis won the Oscar for Best Actor!"

The moment Martin's name left Natalie Portman's lips, Elizabeth Olsen shouted excitedly, leaned in, and gave Martin a firm kiss!

The entire crew of "The Martian" stood up, and Leonardo DiCaprio and Nicholson applauded enthusiastically.

Applause spread like a tidal wave in all directions.

Martin ended his passionate kiss with Elizabeth and embraced Nicholson.

Nicholson patted him on the back and shouted, "We won the worst game! Halftime celebration is fine, we won!"

Then, Martin hugged Leonardo, who said, "No one will ever make us do math problems again!"

Martin, however, laughed in Leonardo's ear, a strange laugh.

Leonardo felt a chill run down his spine, sensing that something bad was about to happen, and quickly let go.

Martin then high-fived everyone on the film crew before striding toward the awards stage.

Elizabeth stood up from her seat and stretched out her arms to gesture to those around her.

People around had already stood up, and the crowd continued to spread outwards.

Amid thunderous applause, the first standing ovation of the evening took place!

When Amber saw everyone around her stand up, she stood up as well, looking at the figure walking towards the stage with a complicated expression.

With a thud, Johnny Depp suddenly released his grip, and the cross with the necklace fell to the ground.

Depp closed his eyes, leaned back in his chair, and covered his ears with his hands like a madman.

Depp's final act of defiance was not standing up, not applauding, and not watching or listening to Martin Davis accept his award.

Amid the applause, he growled at Martin's retreating figure, "Fuck you!"

In the living room of the mansion, the moment Natalie Portman announced the winner's name, Luciana pressed the remote control, turning off the television screen and sound.

But then a clicking sound came from beside me.

Matt Damon's signature憨厚 (honest and simple) face was now clouded with gloom. His right hand tightened, the can he was holding making an unpleasant sound as it gradually deflated, the liquid spilling out, flowing onto his hand, and then falling to the ground.

Luciana was very worried.

Matt Damon tossed the can into the trash can, forcing a smile: "It's okay, let's go for a walk."

At the headquarters of the Cola Cult, jubilation reigned.

Elena picked up a can of Coke, stood up, faced everyone, opened it, and shouted, "We won! We won!"

"We won!" the others shouted in unison.

Robert picked up the walkie-talkie: "Set off fireworks!"

Outside, a series of whooshing sounds rang out as fireworks shot into the sky, illuminating the entire Atlanta night sky.

The tallest building in Atlanta lit up with neon lights.

Kelly Gray stood in her penthouse apartment, gazing out at the view, and laughed.

The neon-lit lettering was exceptionally clear—Martin is the best actor!

At Davis Estate, Lily stood in front of the mirror in the living room, watching people walk onto the stage on television while tying ribbons around her head.

She is skilled at sculpting, her fingers are exceptionally nimble, and she tied a ribbon into a beautiful bow on her head.

It's like the packaging in a gift shop.

Lily smiled at herself in the mirror: "Elizabeth, you better keep your word. I've prepared this human-shaped gift. If you don't give it to me, don't blame me for coming to you and taking it from you."

…………

At the Hollywood & Highland Center, Martin walked onto the stage amidst applause.

Natalie Portman came over and hugged him, whispering, "Congratulations, Martin."

"Thank you." Martin was also a little excited. After all, he had prepared so much for the prize and even eliminated his biggest competitor in advance. If he were to be upset by someone else, he would really be a huge victim.

Natalie took the golden statuette from the emcee and handed it to Martin.

Martin clutched the Oscar statuette, raised it above his head, then brought it back to his chest and addressed the microphone, "Thank you to the Academy, thank you to all the judges, thank you to my agent and every member of my team, thank you to everyone on 'The Martian,' thank you to everyone I've met in my life. You know I'm thanking you all!"

With limited time, he quickened his pace: "I'm really lucky, so lucky that I don't know how this little golden statue ended up in my hands. Oh... I see, I have a girlfriend who loves me deeply, she gives me all her love, so God is also being kind to me."

The camera immediately switched to Elizabeth Olsen.

Elizabeth cupped her chin in her hands and covered her mouth, seemingly sobbing with emotion.

Martin continued, "I also have a brother who's been through thick and thin with me, yes, Old Brooks, I'm talking about you, I'd be fucking dead without you! I also have two best buddies, Jack Nicholson and Leonardo DiCaprio... Hey, you two, from now on I won't be able to calculate that the trio has three Best Actor Oscars. Who doesn't have a math problem like that?!"

The theater erupted in laughter.

Martin's counterattack begins now: "The great mathematician Martin Davis has posed a new math problem: The Hollywood trio has won a total of six Oscars. How many did each of them win?"

The laughter from the audience intensified, and the main camera accurately captured a close-up of Leonardo.

Leonardo was smiling on the outside, but in his heart he was thinking, "You bastard Martin, you dug a pit for me here!"

As the music signaling the end of the allotted time played, Martin raised the little golden statuette again and followed the emcee backstage.

As soon as Martin entered the backstage area, Angelina Jolie, who had been waiting at the entrance, greeted him and gave him a tight hug.

"Congratulations, you finally won this award." Julie congratulated him, "My Oscar for Best Actor."

Martin laughed and said, "Not bad luck."

Julie walked with him forward, and seeing that no one was around, she said, "A very successful public relations campaign. You successfully eliminated the only competitor you could have rivaled."

Martin stated earnestly, "My role and performance were also outstanding."

Julie laughed: "Yes, that was great. I'll invite Jennifer over tonight to celebrate with you."

Martin said, "In a few days."

At this point, a staff member came over to engrave the corresponding award name on Martin's golden statuette and its base.

People kept coming up to take photos with him backstage, and Martin was in a great mood, accommodating everyone.

(End of this chapter)