At the historic Brady Moore Hotel in Los Angeles, the largest banquet room that night was booked by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, where this year's Film Critics Association Awards were to be presented to the most outstanding members of the film critic profession.
, Pauline Carr presented the special award.
Ronald also came to this hotel where Chaplin once lived for a long time, and sat in the ordinary auditorium very low-key. He wanted to chat with Pauline Carr in person, what exactly made this person so famous?
Bole, cursed his own work.
However, now Ronald can't keep a low profile even if he wants to. In fact, for this award, usually only the winners will come to receive the award (the winner of the film critics award is announced in advance). These winners are not willing to offend the film critics.
, film critics are also unwilling to invite people who have not won awards and watch others win in embarrassment.
Ronald, a big shot in the industry who had not won any awards at this year's event, suddenly appeared on the scene, and many people were still very surprised. Some familiar friends came up to say hello and chat with him, but they also wanted to
I want to find out what special purpose Ronald has today.
After all, if something happens at the awards ceremony, it will be big news that will cause a sensation in Hollywood. No one wants to miss such a wonderful scene.
Ronald replied very calmly that he had always liked the evaluation of his movies by film critics in Los Angeles, and he just wanted to meet more friends this time.
"Ronald, come on, talk to me."
This time the Film Critics Award, as well as an Honorary Award, was awarded to the famous director Billy Wilder. He will soon play the role of Tom Cruise's mentor in Diane's new film "Sweetheart"
, plus he was senior enough, so it was natural for him to invite Ronald over to chat.
"Mr. Wilder, congratulations..." Ronald likes this old director's movies very much and respects him. A large number of old men in the Directors Guild have good public relations, and they will be able to win Oscars when the time comes.
Vote for yourself.
The two chatted for a while, and everyone around them took the initiative to keep a distance from them, giving the two directors some private space.
"I said, did you come here this time to cause trouble for Pauline? I tell you, don't take it to heart. They are all hyenas waiting to watch the fight between lions. If you lose,
They rushed down the hillside and bit the losers frantically...to show their foresight."
"Hey, I just have to talk to Pauline about some things in person. You know, Pauline helped me a lot when I first debuted. If she hadn't spoken out, my first movie might not have been on the East Coast.
issued.
If she has a problem with me, she can call me directly, or use her favorite method, send a fax. I am not difficult to find in Hollywood, but she chose to give a public interview. This kind of influence
The largest form…”
"Well..." Billy Wilder was silent for a while, then leaned his head next to Ronald, and whispered in his thick Eastern European accent, "You have to forgive her, Ronald Paul.
Lin, like me, is old..."
"She just retired two years ago. I saw that when she was interviewed, her words were sharp and she could come back at any time and continue writing film reviews. Maybe I wouldn't be so surprised if she directly wrote a film review for Forrest Gump."
Ronald's meaning was very clear. Pauline was only 76 years old, and she was still a junior compared to Billy Wilder who was 89. A few years ago, Billy Wilder wanted to direct a movie again. In comparison, Pauline
Lyn Carr is just writing some movie reviews, so that’s not a hindrance at all.
Saying that she is old is not a reasonable reason for her to target herself so much. However, Ronald does not want to do anything to Pauline, he just wants to know who is behind the scenes. Even if Pauline Carr encounters any difficulties
, you can come find yourself.
Even if Pauline wants to maintain the dignity of a film critic and always observe from an objective perspective, she can still do things properly on the basis of respecting her principles. Ronald will always respect others in this regard.
Such direct disparagement of Forrest Gump in the media made Ronald feel very sad. That's why he took the initiative to question him face to face.
Of course Billy Wilder understands Ronald. He is also a director and has been tortured by film critics. His last few films, such as "The Love of a Lady" which reflected the period of the Berlin Wall, were given negative reviews by film critics.
, I was also angry that I didn’t film for a long time.
But later, decades later, when "The Love of a Beautiful Girl" was screened in Berlin again, film critics praised the film again. It was a great fable, a biting satire, and a legacy of a master. The praise was overwhelming.
.
But more importantly, Billy Wilder was an old man... something Ronald couldn't understand.
"Ronald, you don't understand... You are still in the most vigorous stage of life, and you cannot understand the sorrow of an old man.
That used to be his field, and he was proud of the others in the field, knowing that he had touched the peak that human beings could reach. But after that... it was declining every day, and with every passing day, your ability was declining compared to the previous day.
A little bit.
When the inevitable day comes, you will realize that you are no longer Billy Wilder, you are just a frail old man.
At my age, sometimes when I watch my old movies, I always sigh, how good they were... And I was once Billy Wilder..."
"this……"
Ronald didn't know what to say, so he had to say a few perfunctory sentences. In the next new film, everyone will definitely remember Billy Wilder as an actor. He is also the best storyteller in Hollywood since Lubitsch.
Quentin Tarantino and John Travolta both went on stage to receive their awards after winning, and they said a lot of complimentary words to the film critics.
And Ronald has been thinking about what Billy Wilder said. The experience of withering in life is something he has never experienced before. Seeing himself getting further and further away from his peak, there is no new path for him to break through.
, do you want to continue filming?
Should you continue to have fun and make films that have no breakthrough? Or should you bravely find a new direction and try to break through yourself? Or should you accept your fate and let the audience's impression of you stay at the best moment?
When it was Billy Wilder's turn to come on stage to receive the award, his words still gave Ronald full fighting spirit.
Billy Wilder joked that he had been troubled and tormented by film critics throughout his career. At that time, studio bosses often used film reviews to determine how long their films would stay in theaters.
If a movie does not do well at the box office, some negative reviews from film critics may be decisive to the fate of the film. So much so that when he hears the name of the film critic, he will have nervous stomach discomfort.
However, they are still quite tolerant of their successful films. Many of them have very high reviews, which are beyond what they deserve.
Most of the time, film critics are not objective enough in their own evaluation. They often over-praise successful works and criticize failed ones too harshly.
Generally speaking, the most objective moment for film critics in the Los Angeles area may be when they award themselves the Lifetime Achievement Award.
They knew that after they failed in the bid to direct "Schindler's List", the possibility of directing became less and less, so they awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award while they were still able to walk on their own.
However, they may have made a mistake. He has agreed to play a role in Ronald's new film "Sweetheart", and by then film critics can evaluate his new career as an actor.
It seems that Billy Wilder is still as good as ever. His humorous acceptance speech aroused laughter from the audience, and everyone stood up and applauded him warmly.
Ronald's eyes fell on the door. With the support of an assistant, Pauline Carr came to the venue and sat down at a seat on the edge while everyone applauded.
Ronald's eyes met hers for a moment, trying to read something from her reaction, but Pauline didn't seem to see him and simply ignored the inquiring eyes.
When the special award was presented to Pauline Carr, Ronald concentrated all his attention and stared at Pauline walking up.
Pauline Carr seemed quite confused. Under the spotlight, her gray hair looked very old. Pauline took the special award certificate given to her by the association and seemed to not know what to say for a while.
Everyone thought that this was a sign that Pauline was too excited and wanted to cry. Unexpectedly, such a sharp-tongued female film critic could have such an emotional moment.
So, once again, everyone stood up and applauded.
"Forehead……"
Finally, Pauline Carr began to speak, and everyone quieted down to listen to what she had to say.
"Thank you...Los Angeles Film Critics Association...for the recognition and honor...I feel very honored..."
Pauline Carr ended her acceptance speech briefly. There was no humor like Billy Wilder, nor a chatty speech like Quentin Tarantino. There was only a bland thank you, which was a bit
Not something a film critic like Pauline Carr should say.
Some of the audience members who knew that Ronald had been scolded by her secretly looked back at Ronald. Could it be that Ronald used his "superpower" - media influence to tell Pauline Carr to shut up and stop talking?
Any attack on Forrest Gump…
And Pauline Carr was forced by the tycoon to have no choice but to accept nothing as a reward. The simplest way to express her protest was to express gratitude in a roundabout way?
For a time, the reporters and gossip enthusiasts at the scene had countless conjectures and assumptions in their minds. The expected on-site confrontation did not appear, but such a verbal exchange with guns and sticks was quite interesting.
It's just that Ronald didn't have a chance to speak on stage. If the Los Angeles Film Critics Association had the guts, Ronald should actually have given the award to Pauline Carr.
After the award ceremony was over, Ronald was still waiting at the scene. When he saw Pauline Carr getting up, he quickly walked over and stopped her assistant from leaving, wanting to say a few words to Pauline.
Now, those who were making an orderly exit slowed down or stopped.
"Come here, come here, will you curse?"
The gossip in everyone's heart was ignited, and they wanted to see what would happen.
"Pauline, can I have a word?" Ronald looked at Pauline Carr, who looked confused again like on the stage.
"Who are you? Do I know you?" Pauline Carr stayed for a few seconds before spitting out.
"Ah? I am Ronald, Ronald Lee, the director of Forrest Gump that you criticized..." Ronald seemed to understand something.
"Forrest Gump? Um...ah...I don't think I've seen it yet. What? Have a negative view on the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement? Then I don't like it." Pauline Carr was reminded by the assistant next to her, and then she understood.
What movie are you talking about?
"Um……"
Ronald has understood that this film critic, probably like retired Commander Ronald, has suffered a significant decline in cognitive function.
Just before Christmas last year, Ronald Sr. published an open letter admitting to the public that he was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Like millions of other elderly American citizens, he suffered from Alzheimer's disease.
This disease causes a decline in a person's cognitive function.
At the end of the letter, he also thanked the people of America for giving him the opportunity to serve them.
"When God calls me home, no matter what day that is, I will leave with my deepest love for our country and eternal optimism for its future."
This last sentence is considered to be the final graceful curtain call of this great communicator.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! The Pauline Carr in front of you is almost like old Ronald. She still remembers the past things clearly, but she often forgets new things.
.
Therefore, Pauline Carr has almost no memory of the new movie Forrest Gump. Those so-called bad reviews were most likely made by Entertainment Weekly reporters from Pauline Carr's few words.
Ronald could even imagine that the faxes of Pauline's answers to interview questions must have been vague, messy, and often off topic.
"Hey..." Ronald sighed. Even now, he still looks a little stupid today. If you want to blame, you have to blame those people who clearly know Pauline's current situation and want to use her to attack him.
"Is there anything else? Mr. Li?" The female assistant next to him saw that Ronald was a little stunned and asked.
"I don't know, are you her personal assistant?" Ronald came back to his senses.
"I am her daughter Gina, and now my mom lives with us in Big Sur, California..."
"Okay, I ask you to take good care of her. Your mother is a genius and a film critic who played a key role in the New Hollywood movement. Without her, today's Hollywood would be very different."
"Ah, I will. What my mother said..."
Ronald waved his hand and said it didn't matter... "I'm here to share the glory your mother deserves. I got your mother's care in my first movie, the fast-paced Richmond High School... I'm here to express a
The director’s respect for the film critic…”
Gina looked at Ronald and smiled, today was indeed her glory day.
"Ah, you are Ronald, your Richmond High School is very good, and your Dirty Dancing. You don't know, few people can film the world through the eyes of a little girl. More people can film this kind of society.
If you make a big trend movie, you will one day win the Oscar for Best Director."
When Pauline Carr heard the name of Richmond High School in Ronald's first film, she suddenly seemed to wake up and became the outspoken Pauline Carr again.
"Oh, thank you, Pauline." Ronald heard the same comments and expectations from her mouth, and he was moved to tears. He quickly hugged Pauline Carr and then asked her daughter to leave a message.
In this way, I want to donate some money to the Alzheimer's Research Foundation in California to make the lives of their mother and daughter easier.
"Fuck, I'm so angry..."
When Ronald returned home, he was very dissatisfied with the use of an old man who had lost some cognitive abilities for public relations. Next came several union awards, and the voters of these awards were highly overlapped with the Oscar judges.
Ronald wants to make those people understand that he is determined to win this time, and they should not have any unreasonable thoughts, nor should they take any actions from the people they care about.