"Heath Ledger's Joker was so amazing, why didn't he win?"
"Philip Seymour Hoffman was good, of course, but he's nowhere near Heath Ledger. The Oscar judges were clearly unfair."
"Exactly. To not recognize such a brilliant performance undermines an actor's confidence. In this regard, the Oscars are far behind the Golden Globes."
Some even more radical fans argued that Heath Ledger deserved a Best Actor award. If one didn't know better, they might think that Joker was the lead in The Dark Knight.
In fact, looking at the scale of the ceremony, the stage design, and the topics discussed by the host, the impact of the financial crisis on Hollywood was very apparent.
On the red carpet before the ceremony, the scale was noticeably reduced.
Because sponsors were hard to find, the event didn't hesitate to overtly advertise fashion designers and jewelry brands during celebrity interviews—a humility and concession rarely seen in the past.
Moreover, the stage and seating design at the Kodak Theatre deliberately avoided luxury extravagance. Audience seats were only a few steps away from the awards stage.
It gave the impression that the front and backstage personnel of the American film industry were not here to watch a grandiose show, but rather to engage in professional and personal exchanges among peers.
The stage for this Oscars ceremony was designed by New York architect David Rockwell, with an overall concept inspired by Michelangelo's Campidoglio Square. The stage was surrounded by 92,000 Swarovski crystals.
Additionally, the winners' speeches were strictly limited to 45 seconds.
From the moment the speaker began, a large display screen started a 45-second countdown. When 10 seconds remained, the numbers turned yellow; after 45 seconds, the background turned red.
The Oscars gifts for nominees and presenters included luxury watches valued at $8,000 each.
Besides the high-end watches, there were glass artworks and full sets of premium skincare products. Altogether, each person received a gift package worth at least $25,000.
Hugh Jackman's opening performance combined singing, dancing, and traditional humorous monologues. Gilbert felt the style was slightly mismatched.
Yet the lyrical arrangement was still amusing, and the duet with Beyoncé drew enthusiastic applause.
For the Best Supporting Actor and Actress awards, five previous winners each introduced a nominee in a novel and splendid manner.
The short films introducing the movies were finely crafted, each segment cleverly humorous while staying on theme.
To control the length of the ceremony, awards were presented densely, with multiple presenters per award and one presenter giving multiple awards, ensuring the ceremony's highlights were concentrated.
After the awards ceremony, Vanity Fair hosted the official Oscars after-party, which included a governor's ball.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger personally invited Best Actress winner Kate Winslet to dance with him.
Additionally, the banquet showcased an Asian theme, with dishes including Asian-flavored lobster salad, Thai pumpkin coconut soup, slow-cooked ribs, and meat broth with rice.
Unfortunately, despite all this preparation, the Oscars' viewership continued to decline.
Variety analyzed that the decline was due to the Oscars' increasingly niche tastes, drifting away from general audience preferences.
"In recent years, the Oscars' choices have become increasingly niche, seemingly to showcase the Academy's unique taste. The awarded films often differ from what the public considers great films."
The Hollywood Reporter also criticized, "The Academy's conservatism is the main reason for the decline in Oscars attention. Even with some reforms this year, as long as the judging criteria remain unchanged, the decline is inevitable."
Gilbert attended this year's Oscars as a spectator, without any awards to present. At the final Oscars banquet, he chatted at length with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a member of the Blue Party, and as governor in a blue state, that is expected. However, he often clashed with the far-left California faction, vetoing many of their proposals during his term.
Looking ahead, with the rise of DEI initiatives, while major capital conglomerates are the drivers, the greatest planners are the California faction. California is also the DEI stronghold, making this a very important front.
"I heard you've been battling them fiercely?"
"I don't want to, but sometimes they push too hard, and I have no choice."
Gilbert feigned innocence, though he truly was innocent. He was kind to others, but some insisted on making things difficult for him.
Gilbert continued, "Mr. Schwarzenegger, don't you want to make a move toward Washington? Like Ronald did?"
"Move toward Washington?" Arnold Schwarzenegger looked at Gilbert. "Do I have that ability? You know, no one in the Blue Party supports me."
"It's up to people!"
Gilbert said, "Don't worry, as long as you're willing, I'll find people to handle the rest."
Arnold Schwarzenegger hesitated, then said evasively, "I'll think about it."
Though tempting, the risks were too high, and he dared not make a decision lightly.
It had to be understood that once you set foot on this path, there would be no turning back.
On the way home that evening, Anne Hathaway asked Gilbert, "So? Did you talk with the governor?"
"I did, but I don't see much hope," Gilbert said. "We should consider finding someone to take over for Governor Schwarzenegger. We can't let his political legacy slip away."
The Red Party was not yet ready for change. At this time, Donald still had no interest in the Red Party. To protect his own gains, Gilbert had no choice but to dig a foothold in the California faction's stronghold.
Recently, the Blue Party leader supported by the California faction had already moved into Washington, proposing initiatives focused on economic revitalization and healthcare business matters.
Especially the latter—it was the most critical issue for Gilbert.
It had to be understood that the medical centers Gilbert and Jobs had developed had already opened ten locations, expanding rapidly.
With their strong performance, they quickly occupied the high-end market traditionally dominated by medical complexes. And Gilbert did not share profits with these medical conglomerates, which left them envious.
The Blue Party leader, backed by medical conglomerates, was now in power, and the business plan being launched could very well be aimed directly at Gilbert and Jobs' medical centers.
Anne Hathaway linked her arm with Gilbert's, smiling sweetly.
"Don't worry about us. Whatever you do, we'll support you.
Even if we wander the world in the future, as long as our family is together, there's nothing to fear."
Gilbert was deeply touched. He stroked Anne Hathaway's hair and kissed her forehead.
"Don't worry, it won't come to that," Gilbert said with a smile. "We're building a great foundation here, and we can't have zero resistance."
After the Oscars ceremony, time suddenly seemed to accelerate, and before long, March had arrived.
The closer it got to the summer blockbuster season, the more explosive the movie market became.
However, the most anticipated film in March was Knives Out.
Limited by the film's scale, Knives Out did not engage in large-scale promotion. Gilbert only appeared on a few shows with Tom Cruise and Jessica Alba, which still counted as publicity.
Meanwhile, other summer blockbusters were also active, continuously bombarding audiences with trailers and previews.
...
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