Martin Davis, a gifted yet uncelebrated actor trapped in the mediocrity of his circumstances. However, fate takes an astonishing twist when he miraculously finds himself in the body of an impoverished youth in the year 2003. Determined to escape the clutches of poverty and relish in wealth and stardom, Martin sets his sights on Hollywood, a city that beckons with its extravagance and promises. With his cunning intellect and a disregard for traditional morality, he embarks on a relentless quest, willing to go to any lengths to achieve his goal. As Martin navigates the glitzy yet treacherous world of showbiz, he leaves a trail of fallen adversaries in his ascent to becoming a global sensation. His journey is marked by unexpected alliances, moral dilemmas, and sacrifices that challenge the very core of his being. The story of his transformation, ambition, and the relentless pursuit of dreams, even if it means rewriting the stars. The unapologetic drive of the Martin has, and the timeless quest for fame and fortune. #Hollywood #Showbiz #America #Celebrity #Star #Reallife #Antihero
Oscar's tragic tale serves as a stark reminder that when confronted by an adversary's knife, he's quick to jump into a heated argument, vehemently defending his position, even at his own detriment.
His demeanor darkens with each confrontation, ultimately bearing the brunt of the damage. The most effective strategy, however, lies in wielding a larger, sharper blade and adopting a resolute stance, striking with precision, rendering the opponent defenseless.
Martin, well-acquainted with Harvey Weinstein's modus operandi, had long prepared himself mentally for this moment. Through the auspices of the French luxury brand Cartier, he established contact with the influential newspaper, Le Figaro. Their columnists vehemently decried "Inglourious Basterds" as frivolous, mocking the painful history of France's invasion and showing scant regard for French sensibilities.
In Hollywood, World War II films and dramas often portrayed larger-than-life heroes and villains. The number of on-screen casualties among German characters rivaled all those killed in his Jonh Wick.
Strictly speaking, "Inglourious Basterds" could be categorized as an anti-German blockbuster, its climax more exaggerated than the most gruesome horror films. Yet, all of this was merely a diversion to capture Harvey's attention, obscuring the true threat.
Martin's concealed blade was known as "A Woman's Hate," a deep-seated grudge that had festered for three decades.
Their rendezvous took place on the outskirts of Cannes, at an unassuming roadside café far removed from the glitz of the Palais des Festivals. Pierre, the editor-in-chief of Le Figaro's entertainment section, awaited two individuals: Melanie and Bruce.
Melanie greeted Pierre with a smile, saying, "Old friend, we meet again."
Pierre's response was devoid of warmth, "I'd rather we didn't."
Undeterred, Melanie got straight to the point, "Tomorrow, there will be another story about Harvey Weinstein's profound admiration for Isabel Adjani."
Pierre shook his head, emphasizing his commitment to journalistic ethics, "As a journalist, I can't publish unsubstantiated claims. We need concrete evidence."
He referred to today's article, stating, "I promised you that news because 'Inglourious Basterds' is indeed preposterous, an audacious American retelling of our valiant struggle against the Axis powers in World War II!"
Melanie didn't engage in further debate. Instead, she slid an envelope across the table towards Pierre. Bruce mirrored her action, placing another envelope beside it.
Pierre cautiously opened the first envelope, glancing inside before gauging its thickness. He realized that, whether or not they possessed solid evidence, they could always employ subtle insinuations in their reporting. His gaze shifted to the second envelope.
Bruce gestured, inviting Pierre to open it.
Pierre gingerly revealed the contents of the second envelope, a collection of over a dozen photographs, all featuring Harvey Weinstein and Isabel Adjani. Some photos showed them engaged in intimate conversation.
With over two decades in the industry, Pierre understood that appearances could be deceiving, and photographs manipulated. Melanie spoke with gravity, "Does this suffice as evidence, Pierre?"
Reluctantly, Pierre stashed away the first envelope and then the second, conceding, "This is indeed concrete evidence."
As he spoke, he couldn't help but slap his forehead, "What's going on between them?"
Melanie responded earnestly, "Harvey Weinstein greatly admires Adjani. He's planning to bring her to Hollywood for a pivotal role in an art film, with an eye on securing an Oscar for her."
Pierre nodded, finally comprehending the gravity of the situation.
Amidst the tranquil ambiance of the café, Melanie turned to Pierre with a question, "Shall we reconvene tomorrow?"
Pierre's response was concise, "No problem."
With a swift departure, Melanie and Bruce left the café behind, their footsteps fading into the distance. Meanwhile, Pierre remained seated, opting for an additional cup of coffee. He reached for his pen and notebook, taking a moment to reflect on the impact of the photographs he had recently examined. Emotion swelled within him, urging him to transcribe his feelings into a press release.
His fervor undiminished, Pierre returned to his makeshift office and promptly transmitted the press release to the newspaper via fax.
The following morning, the revelation of Harvey Weinstein's association with Isabel Adjani graced the prominent pages of Le Figaro's entertainment section.
...
Within the Palais des Festivals, nestled within the Jury's Office, Huppert occupied her desk. She scrutinized the list of awards vying for recognition within the competition.
Aisha Argento, her companion of late, sat nearby, idly flipping through the newspaper. She sought out media coverage regarding the films in competition.
Huppert, lost in thought, sketched on a piece of paper. In her eyes, the Palme d'Or held only one worthy candidate , "White Ribbon."
For Best Actor, the performances of Martin Davis and Christopher Waltz presented strong contenders. However, the recent media reports had cast a shadow on Martin and Huppert's shared role, laden with excessive special effects.
As a traditional European filmmaker, Huppert harbored a certain disdain for Hollywood's penchant for special effects. To some extent, she admired Waltz's performance.
The idea of choosing Waltz lingered momentarily before Huppert recalled Martin, who had been indulging in late-night snacks recently. Suddenly, she found herself reevaluating him, no longer swayed solely by the media's portrayal.
Caught in a moment of uncertainty, Huppert toyed with her pen, hesitating between the two names on the paper before her.
Perhaps choosing both wouldn't be so bad, but Huppert recoiled at the notion of a tie for Best Actor. Double yolks, she thought, were far from fresh.
A memory from a few years back surfaced: during a previous film festival, the chairman of the jury, Hong Kong director in Sunglasses, had awarded five male actors the title of Best Actor and six actresses the Queen of Actresses.
A knock at the door interrupted her musings. Alsa Argento took the initiative to respond, opening the door to Huppert's assistant.
The assistant placed a copy of Le Figaro on Huppert's desk, her glance shifting to Aisha.
"It's alright, go ahead," Huppert nodded, prompting her assistant to speak.
The assistant turned to the entertainment page and conveyed, "Madam, you asked me to keep an eye on news related to Adjani. There's an update."
Clearly, Adjani's affairs took precedence over other matters at hand. Huppert set aside her pen, reached for the newspaper, and began reading.
The first images that met her gaze were three photographs of Harvey Weinstein in animated conversation with Adjani. The sight soured Huppert's expression.
Beneath the images lay a striking headline: "Hollywood Independent Producer Harvey Weinstein Invites Isabel Adjani as Lead in Upcoming Film!"
The news further soured Huppert's mood.
The article continued, "This newspaper has received exclusive information that Harvey Weinstein, the investor and producer of 'Inglourious Basterds,' has held multiple meetings with Isabelle Adjani, currently residing in the same hotel, to discuss future collaborations. He firmly believes that Adjani still possesses the potential to win an Oscar."
Huppert subconsciously touched the top of her head, revealing a faint scar beneath her hair, a testament to Adjani's handiwork thirty years prior.
Thirty years of bitter enmity.
Suppressing her emotions, Huppert gazed up at Elsa and inquired, seemingly casually, "Aisha, who do you think is more deserving of the Best Actor award?"
Aisha Argento swiftly voiced her choice, "If I had to pick, I'd go with Martin Davis. Harvey Weinstein is utterly lacking in respect for female actors."
Huppert nodded in agreement, her heart harboring little sympathy for Adjani, her thoughts as narrow as a needle's eye. "Martin is indeed exceptional."
Since the assistant had first come across the pertinent news, it was evident that "Inglourious Basterds" had fallen from grace.
"Now that all the films in competition have been screened, and the closing ceremony looms just days away," Huppert instructed her assistant, "inform the other judges that we'll hold an awards meeting in the afternoon, and everyone should attend." The assistant promptly prepared to deliver the notice.
Before her assistant could leave, Huppert added, "Regarding any news concerning Harvey Weinstein, you'll be responsible for it. No need to involve me; I have no interest in his affairs."
"Understood, ma'am," the assistant replied, sensing Huppert's frustration, particularly regarding Adjani.
Aisha Argento, fueled by disdain for Harvey's deceptive nature, stoked the fire further. "Inglourious Basterds trivializes France's history of aggression; they don't deserve any accolades!"
Huppert remained silent but found herself in agreement with Aisha's sentiments.
A mere ten minutes ago, she had contemplated the possibility of Waltz sharing the Best Actor award with Martin. Now, that page had turned, and "Inglourious Basterds" had virtually vanished from Huppert's perspective.
Shortly after noon, the jury convened a closed-door internal meeting, with Huppert, the current president, presiding.
As the film festival's closing drew near, it was imperative to harmonize the jury's opinions regarding the selection of various awards.
"At our previous meeting, we were inclined to name both Martin and Waltz as the Best Actor," Huppert began, "and now that all the competing films have been screened, the other actors have clearly fallen short. I believe it's time to finalize our decision for Best Actor."
Rabindranath Tagore from India was the first to assert his opinion, stating, "I believe Waltz is the most fitting choice."
However, the **** screenwriter, Hanif, sitting opposite him, countered, "Martin's role is more challenging, and his performance is superior!" The two locked eyes, their faces flushed with anger.
It didn't matter who supported whom; as long as one agreed, the other opposed.
Shu Qi raised her hand, stating, "I believe Martin Davis is the right choice."
Li Cangdong chimed in, concurring, "Clearly, Martin Davis stands out."
Tagore, fuming with frustration, opted to remain silent, observing the others voicing their opinions.
Aisha Argento declared, "My vote goes to Martin Davis!"
James Gray concurred with a smile, "Martin!"
John Travolta cleared his throat, capturing everyone's attention. Those familiar with Hollywood knew of his close ties with Harvey Weinstein and Quentin Tarantino, and it was widely expected that he would oppose the choice.
Discussions within the jury were always animated during the award evaluations, with this year being no exception. In contrast, the year when the director from Hong Kong City chaired the jury, the atmosphere had been notably harmonious.
Smiling, Travolta addressed the jury, "It's evident that Martin is the superior choice."
There were nine jury members, including Huppert, and six had already expressed their support for Martin. Unless the Jury President vetoed it, the outcome for Best Actor seemed undisputed.
Huppert didn't keep anyone waiting, declaring, "I endorse Martin Davis!" Ceylon, the sole Turkish director who hadn't yet voiced his stance, recognized the prevailing sentiment and affirmed, "I also support Martin!"
With eight in favor and only one against, the Best Actor award was undeniably sealed. The meeting minutes recorded the resolution, and the Best Actor decision was deemed final, needing no further discussion.