HWI 558
Hollywood What If Chapter 558
Aside from these three movies, there were also:
The Reader. A drama starring Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes. The film, based on Bernhard Schlink's novel, explored themes of love, guilt, and post-war Germany. The film grossed $108 million worldwide. Also, Kate Winslet's performance in the movie earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Yes Man. A comedy movie starring Jim Carrey. It was a box office success, earning over $223 million worldwide. The film follows a man who decides to say "yes" to everything. Imagine how hilarious and eventful that would be, and yes, the movie presented the concept very well.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, the movie was about a man who aged in reverse. The movie was directed by David Fincher, Kazir's friend and the director who directed Se7en. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was the third collaboration between Brad Pitt and David Fincher. The two had first worked together in Se7en (1995), the second was Fight Club (1999), and now The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008). The movie grossed over $335 million worldwide. It earned 13 Academy Award nominations because the movie had a unique plot.
Other movies that were released in December, such as Seven Pounds, The Tale of Despereaux, Bedtime Stories, and Valkyrie, grossed over $100 million at the worldwide box office.
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December 24, 2008
Hawaii, USA.
The couple, Kazir Grey and Scarlett Johansson, were walking side by side on the private beach. The sunset made this simple walk appear to be romantic. They were a couple, so it was indeed romantic.
Scarlett leaned her head against Kazir's shoulder as they walked barefoot on the warm sand. The sound of waves crashing against the shore filled the peaceful silence between them.
"You really needed this break," Scarlett said, squeezing his hand. She had been worried about Kazir since last year. He experienced terrible things, and Scarlett hoped that he could relax his mind once in a while.
Kazir almost died from an assassination last year. Then, this year's summer, Kazir witnessed his friend almost losing his life. These two events were terrible.
In fact, Scarlett was having a tough time adjusting her mind after witnessing Heath Ledger's overdose. She also knew that Kazir suffered more than her since he was friends with Heath.
Fortunately, Heath Ledger survived, and now the actor is in a rehabilitation program and showing progress.
"Yeah. Grey Pictures can survive without me for a few months," Kazir chuckled.
To be fair, most of the management affairs were handled by Stella Willow, but Kazir's presence in the company was still reassuring nonetheless. Furthermore, Kazir still had to go to Blue Sky Studio once in a while.
Because of this, the couple decided not to go overseas to celebrate Christmas. They agreed to have a fun short vacation in Hawaii instead.
Last Thanksgiving, the couple celebrated it with Kazir's family. So this time, the couple planned a holiday only for themselves.
"You say that, but I bet you're just avoiding Paramount Pictures. I heard they are still sulking over your rejection of directing Transformers." She smirked.
"It is what it is. Let them sulk, I don't want to work hard lately," Kazir shrugged.
"Well, I'm glad you chose to be here instead. Next to me." Scarlett said.
Kazir smiled, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Me too."
The work could wait. Kazir rarely had the moment to enjoy the fruit of his success. In fact, this was the first time he rented a private beach for himself... He found it expensive, but the experience was something noble, so it was not that bad.
Grey Pictures indeed rented a private beach, but it was always for filming purposes.
The sun slowly disappeared. The two were wearing jackets since they knew that evening would arrive and prepared for the cold sea breeze.
The lights turned on and, together with the stars in the sky, illuminated the beach.
The two looked at the sky where endless stars were shining brightly. The sea reflected their lights.
Scarlett looked at Kazir, who was staring ahead. Perhaps Kazir was thinking about his life.
Being his girlfriend, Scarlett learned about his life experiences.
She learned about Kazir's childhood, where he never experienced love and affection from his mother.
She learned about his teenage life. At the time Kazir stepped into middle school, his father's company was facing hardship, hence, Kazir lived an average life...
Scarlett also learned that Kazir was rejected by his high school crush when he confessed, only to then meet her in a 7-Eleven store two decades later. That time, it was Kazir's turn to reject his delusional ex-crush.
Furthermore, Scarlett also knew about Kazir's painful divorce. That event probably broke him to pieces. The wound in his heart was very hard to fix. Even now, Scarlett could still see the pain in his eyes. That was also probably the reason why Kazir rarely opened his heart to anyone.
Then the failed movies in his early career.
Then the false accusations. So many false accusations. Kazir never hurt his ex-wife, not even once. Yet he almost lost his career because of her false accusations.
Kazir also never used his status to have sex with the actresses... The actresses were the ones who wanted to have sex with him. Last but not least, Kazir is not gay.
Then the assassination attempt last year and the traumatic experience of witnessing his friend's overdose this summer... Scarlett sighed.
'This man suffered so much,' she thought to herself.
She was amazed at how Kazir stayed strong despite so many setbacks in life.
What she didn't know was that Kazir was never strong. He was just hiding his weakness and vulnerability. In the depths of his depression, he thought of killing himself so many times. He thought of ending everything.
The only reason he was alive today was because of perseverance.
She squeezed Kazir's hand while looking at the stars. As for her other free hand, it was fiddling with the pictures in the pocket of her jacket. She didn't know how to tell him about the fact that…