Chapter 932 - The Biggest Suspense of This Year's Oscars

"Although that's true, his performance this time was truly outstanding. If he doesn't win, I'll be very disappointed in the Oscars. Let's watch it together again sometime. When I watched it last time, I felt like I gained some new insights."

Laila nodded happily. "Sure."

Roy made it sound simple, but Daniel Day-Lewis's competitors were no pushovers. First, there was George Clooney, the lead actor in 'Michael Clayton'. This award-winning actor has always been a favorite among judges and audiences alike.

Then there was Johnny Depp, an actor often hailed as a genius. His performance in 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street' is considered a classic by many, even in the future.

Although the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' series, which made him a global sensation, was given to Roy by Laila, talented individuals are never overlooked. Depp still managed to reach the same heights as in his previous life through other films.

The presenter for the Best Actor award was Helen Mirren, who won Best Actress last year for her role in 'The Queen'. She gracefully took the stage and, under the spotlight, read out the names of the nominees.

Then, she opened the envelope containing the final result and announced the name.

"The Oscar for Best Actor goes to... Daniel Day-Lewis!"

"Wow—" Thunderous applause erupted.

It was indeed him! Roy also stood up and applauded vigorously for his win. It's incredibly rare for a villainous role to earn the Best Actor title. In the history of cinema, such examples can be counted on one hand.

Laila also stood up, though her attention wasn't on the stage but on Roy beside her. His eyes were shining brightly, revealing his excitement. She knew he wasn't envious of the Best Actor trophy—after all, he had won one himself. What he admired was the sheer audacity of outperforming everyone else through acting.

"You'll get there too. Remember your Joker? I believe that by next year's Oscars, your Joker will make everyone remember your performance." She leaned into his arm and linked hers with his.

Roy was momentarily stunned, then gave her a big smile. "I also think my performance there was great, but is it possible to surpass him?"

"It is!" Laila was certain. She had directed the scenes, edited the footage, and watched the final cut multiple times. She knew every detail of the film like the back of her hand.

His performance in it was nothing short of miraculous, especially the hospital explosion scene. If not for his quick thinking, such a grand moment could have been ruined, undoing all their hard work. Moreover, he pushed his limits in portraying the character. She believed his performance was even more shocking than the original!

Daniel Day-Lewis knelt on one knee as if receiving a knighthood from the queen, to accept his award from the presenter. This gesture was partly because the presenter had starred in 'The Queen' last year, and partly to express his excitement.

This was his second time winning this award, with the first being back in 1990. The long-awaited trophy made it hard for him to contain his emotions, and the close-up on the screen clearly showed his reddened eyes.

His win wasn't much of a surprise. Despite playing a villain, his acting had already earned widespread acclaim.

But the next award carried far more suspense. Even some betting agencies were hesitant about this one. Whether Laila would win the Best Director crown had become the biggest悬念 of this year's Oscars!

If one could see the live ratings at this moment, they would notice a sharp and rapid increase, reaching levels that would make TV executives laugh in their dreams.

Too many people wanted to know if Laila would win. Last time, 'Chicago' won Best Picture, but the Best Director award wasn't given to her. This led many to believe that the Oscars were too harsh, too rigid, and too focused on superficial things like age and seniority.

Three years later, Laila returned with 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'. Although the first two films in the trilogy had also earned nominations, everyone knew the judges wouldn't award a trophy for the first two installments of a trilogy.

But would the third installment finally earn her the award? No one had made such a promise.

At 27 years old, Laila had been creating miracles ever since she directed her first film at 18. She had worked her way up, accumulating more experience than many established directors. Who could stand up and say her 'The Lord of the Rings' was inferior to other films?

Whether in terms of box office, influence, or sheer quality, her film stood head and shoulders above the competition. If even she couldn't win the award, could the Oscars still be trusted?

Previously, everyone thought she would win. But then someone wrote an article titled 'Ten Reasons Why Laila Won't Win', which quickly went viral. The arguments were so convincing that almost everyone who read it believed it might happen.

Did this mean she would ultimately part ways with the Best Director trophy once again?

If she still didn't win this time, would she ever have a chance to break the record before it was too late?

The answer was about to be revealed!

After a montage of past Best Director winners, the host invited the presenter, Martin Scorsese, to the stage.

The renowned director, born in 1942 and a graduate of New York University's film school, had won Best Director last year for 'The Departed'.

"I'm delighted to be standing here again tonight. It's an honor to have the opportunity to present the Oscar for Best Director to one—or perhaps two—of these great artists. Believe me, this award holds special significance for the winner," he said, his bushy eyebrows twitching, whether from nerves or excitement.

"The nominees for Best Director are..."

"Julian Schnabel for 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly', Jason Reitman for 'Juno', Joel Coen and Ethan Coen for 'No Country for Old Men', Laila Moran for 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King', and Paul Thomas Anderson for 'There Will Be Blood'."

With each name read, the hearts of the audience both in the theatre and at home trembled. This award was too significant. It would either create a new record in film history or be bombarded by media criticism tomorrow.

Would the Oscars' traditional, serious judges stick to their old ways, or would they, on their 80th anniversary, breathe new life into their increasingly outdated institution?

The answer lay in the envelope in Martin Scorsese's hands!