Chapter 356: Vanity Fair

"A Toast to Success"

Amid the Oscar night party, the banquet hall buzzed with excitement as the crew of "The Departed" celebrated vigorously, continuously raising their glasses in cheers.

Martin, with a glass of champagne held high, exclaimed, "Congratulations to our director for realizing his dream!" He continued loudly, "Congratulations to our crew!"

Nicholson, never one to be bashful, also raised his champagne glass and chimed in, "Let's thank Martin and Leo for joining us on this journey!"

The crew erupted in laughter, offering their congratulations to Martin and Leonardo, who had no choice but to join in with a drink.

Scorsese approached alone, clinked glasses with Martin, and offered words of encouragement, saying, "Don't be disheartened. With your acting skills and your knack for stirring things up, as long as you land the right role, you could win an Oscar within five years." Martin, brimming with enthusiasm, laughed and said, "Director, you truly have a vision."

Leonardo, however, couldn't hide his dissatisfaction and asked, "What about me?"

Scorsese reassured him, "You've already delivered three exceptional performances."

Martin embraced Leonardo, saying, "Don't worry, my friend. Perhaps in a few years, you'll be right there beside me."

Nicholson playfully added, "Two goofballs destined to be alongside me."

Martin shot Nicholson a playful glare, "You already have three statues. You're remarkable!" He then turned to the others and suggested, "Leo, when we get our hands on the Oscar, let's place mine in Jack's mouth."

Leonardo, with his usual candor, replied, "And mine can go...well, you know."

People, observing this trio, decided it was best to keep his distance and promptly moved away.

Later, Martin spotted Emma Thomas in the banquet hall and made his way over to her.

Emma was enjoying a mousse cake on her own, seemingly unconcerned about her diet, devouring it with enthusiasm.

As Martin passed by, Emma had just begun her cake, but when he approached, it had vanished.

"Feel free to sit anywhere," Emma said, casually wiping her mouth with a napkin. She congratulated Martin, saying, "Congratulations, Martin, for your film's Oscar win."

Martin smiled and replied, "Thank you. It's a shame I couldn't secure a personal award."

Emma, who had seen "The Departed," complimented him, "You did an excellent job, even better than Leonardo. When it comes to role and performance, Alan Arkin might not surpass you, but he had a significant advantage."

Martin, looking to the future, mentioned, "I'm still young, and there are plenty of opportunities ahead." He shifted the conversation, "A few days ago, I got a look at the script for the new Batman movie at Pacific Pictures with Ms. Louise Meyer."

Emma recalled, "Pacific Pictures is one of the investors."

Martin continued, "The script is exceptionally well-crafted. Both Batman and the Joker have profound character depth. The conflict between justice and evil, and the complexity of human nature, are truly captivating."

Given Emma's discussions with her husband Nolan, she recognized the essence of Martin's point, "You're right. Chris mentioned that Batman is merely a tool, and the primary character in this film is the Joker."

Intrigued, she asked, "Are you very interested?"

Martin didn't deny his interest, "I'm very interested. It's not your typical superhero movie; it's more like a realistic crime film."

While Nolan was not yet a prominent director, Emma understood that joining this project commercially could be significant, "The budget for the project is as high as $180 million. If it fails commercially, it could spell the end for my husband Nolan's future."

Emma, being a producer, managed everything other than film production for her husband and had her considerations. In contrast, Bell, besides the Batman factor, lacked strong commercial appeal.

On the other hand, Martin had starred in four consecutive films that grossed over $100 million at the North American box office. His most recent film, "Limitless," demonstrated his ability to draw audiences.

Emma informed Martin, "The crew will begin casting actors next month, with the Joker being the central role. Expect an invitation."

Martin agreed, "No problem."

This character had a unique feature – it concealed the true identity beneath an iconic mask. Martin could change his appearance and transform his demeanor, adding an intriguing layer to his performance.

As he had discussed with Leonardo and Nicholson, they all agreed that he merely needed to unleash the inner beast within.

Bruce, direct as always, observed, "Isn't this your true performance?"

Martin had been preparing for this role, growing his hair, honing his physique, and adopting a healthier lifestyle.

The clown's makeup and exaggerated appearance made it easier to separate the character from the actor.

However, Martin's concern wasn't about the performance, but rather the curse of being upstaged by the dead.

He was aware of the potency of deceased actors, and he aimed to outshine them. Therefore, Martin had been meticulously planning for this opportunity, even seeking guidance from Nicholson, the former clown.

"Martin's Discussion with Emma and More"

Emma inquired, "I've heard there might be some tension between you and Bale? DC holds him in high regard. It's a sequel, and Bale already has a dedicated fan base. What do you think?" Martin's response was succinct, "I'm an actor who gives it everything I've got."

Emma nodded in understanding. Their conversation continued for a while before Martin decided to bid farewell.

As he walked away, someone greeted him, "Hi, Martin!"

Martin turned to see Cody Horn, dressed to impress. She approached and said, "I noticed you were in a conversation, so I didn't want to interrupt."

Martin explained, "I was chatting with Emma Thomas, the wife of British director Christopher Nolan. We were discussing one of Nolan's upcoming projects."

Cody had something to share about movies, "I visited my parents a couple of days ago, and my dad was complaining about you rejecting his offer for a role."

Martin stuck to his rehearsed response, "Scheduling conflicts with 'Benjamin Button,' and I'm preparing for an audition with ' The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.'"

Cody added, "I also plan to make a cameo in that film and act opposite you."

Martin expressed some regret, "That would have been great. I really liked the script and the role, but casting decisions involve many factors. I wonder who they'll choose for the savior role."

Cody had some insider information, "Paul Haggis pretty much represents Christian Bale. It's a done deal."

Martin couldn't help but envy, "Bale's quite fortunate."

Cody smiled and said, "David Fincher's project looks promising. I've signed up to audition for a role there too."

Martin encouraged her, "You did a great job in 'Rescue,' your acting skills are solid."

Cody, confident in herself as a second-generation star, replied, "I think so too."

Shortly after, Martin rejoined the crew of "The Departed." Nicholson, observing Cody's departure, asked Martin, "Aren't you known for your dedication? Or has your taste in beauty diminished?" Martin offered a simple explanation, "The daughter of Warner Pictures' President Alan Horn asked for some industry news."

Nicholson praised him, "Man, you're good at riding the waves. Leo doesn't stand a chance compared to you."

Martin revealed, "I was discussing the Batman project with Emma Thomas, the producer."

Nicholson inquired, "Are you sure the Joker is the main character in the second part?"

Martin lowered his voice, saying, "Not the villain, to be precise, the protagonist. Auditions are next month. Remember our plan."

Nicholson, in his retirement phase, remarked, "I'm always up for a bit of fun. It's fun to turn against each other and then come back together."

Leonardo joined the conversation, "Don't forget, I'm in on this too."

Martin reminded him, "No more talking! If you pull out those three moves in front of the press, everyone will know it's an act."

Leonardo, a bit exasperated, admitted, "I've been in the business for over 20 years, but I ended up being the worst actor among us."

Nicholson reassured him, "Acting is all about talent."

Martin chimed in, "Indeed, Jack, we're exceptionally talented. We should only associate with actors of equal talent from now on."

Leonardo jokingly retorted, "Next time there's a carnival party, I won't take you two with me."

In unison, Martin and Nicholson wore their best smiles, "Just kidding, Leo. Don't take it seriously. We'll rely on our brothers when the time comes."

Leonardo added a humorous note, "Stop slandering people! The longest I lasted last time was 50 seconds!"

Afterward, the entire crew gathered at the filming location in the banquet hall for promotional photos taken by "Vanity Fair." Winning an Oscar was an achievement, but the ultimate goal was to promote the movie.

The Oscars' media coverage and the attention they garnered helped "The Departed" DVD, which had already been released, make an impressive $17 million in North America on the following day.

With the Best Picture and Best Director Oscars, the film's success was evident. In just two days, North American DVD sales exceeded $30 million.

This was not only a win for the movie but also a considerable boost to Martin's income for the year.

Even "Limitless," starring him, saw a box office rebound thanks to the Oscars. The North American box office reached $152 million, with the global box office surpassing $300 million.

The film's success further established Martin's box office prowess.