Whose Cake

"The winner of the best original screenplay is... American Beauty! Alan Ball!"

Following the announcement, the entire hall burst into applause. Sitting in the crowd, Levi also applauded, watching American Beauty defeat The Truman Show and win another award.

Levi's nominations can be said to be very few this time at the Oscars. There are only five nominations, and these nominations lack the most important performance awards, best editing, and best cinematography awards. It can be said that in this Oscars, The Truman Show has already announced in advance that it will miss the best movie.

Therefore, seeing awards such as best original screenplay being taken away by others, Levi didn't have many surprises on his face: this wasn't his Oscar in the first place.

He came here not so much to wait for the awards but to see the difference with the awards in his memory.

After all, he has changed Hollywood a bit, and some things are different from what he remembers. He also wants to know what changes will be made to the Oscars this time.

However, it seems that until now, the changes are not too big: the best sound, the best sound effects editing, the best visual effects, and the best editing, all of which successfully went to The Matrix. The stunning visual effects of this movie are still an unshakable fact. And these awards are originally reserved for commercial blockbusters. It is normal for The Matrix to get them, just like Levi is sure next year, the X-Men will definitely have a place in these awards.

Sleeping Hollow won the best art direction. This mature work of Johnny Depp indeed has a very unique artistic style. Tim Burton and Johnny Depp jointly made a gothic movie. Although the atmosphere is a bit weird, it has to be admitted that this is a good movie.

Of course, one has to mention another masterpiece of this year: American Beauty. This movie is also extremely successful. It portrays the American middle-class family quite deeply and has indeed been loved by many people.

At this Oscar dinner, at least the best original screenplay and best cinematography have been easily won by it.

Unlike Levi's film, this one won Best Picture right from the start. There are several major nominations, such as Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor.

Although there are not many nominations, it is one of the most popular movies. This is Sam Mendes' first filming. But he, like Levi, is enough to become famous in one fell swoop by relying on this movie.

After all, a good movie is still a good movie, and the greatness of these movies is there. Even if Levi can have some influence on Hollywood, it cannot really make the movie look different. Obviously, in these several selections, he did not exert much influence.

And Mendes' luck can be said to be even better than Levi's. Apart from these few movies, there are really not many good movies this year.

The Sixth Sense is a good movie. But if a thriller wants to win an Oscar, no film except The Silence of the Lambs has ever done it.

The Green Mile was well filmed, but it was obviously just reproducing the leftovers of The Shawshank Redemption, which was not satisfactory.

The commercialization of The Insider is a bit heavy, and the movie The Cider House Rules is too bland.

Unlike the movies of previous years, which were excellent works, this year's film competition is a little dull. Levi filmed The Lives of Others two years ago. Although well-received, it received very few awards. And American Beauty became the biggest hit as soon as she appeared. Good luck is also a very important thing.

People with good luck can become famous with just one movie, while people with bad luck will lose their honor due to inexplicable reasons.

***

"Best Supporting Actress... Chloë Sevigny!"

When the Best Supporting Actress was announced, the trend of the movie finally changed.

This time, the award did not fall into the hands of Angelina Jolie in memory but to Chloë Sevigny. The change isn't surprising: Angelina Jolie wasn't nominated for an Oscar at all.

According to Levi's memory, she won the award this year because of the movie 'Girl, Interrupted,' but the script of 'Girl, Interrupted' is still in Winona's hands. After Winona won the Oscar, she chose to take a break instead of continuing to shoot the movie. So this movie was never shot, and Julie naturally couldn't get the award.

And Chloë Sevigny successfully won the award. This actor was actually nominated for the first time, but the few people who competed with her were almost all unknown actors. The Best Supporting Actress in Hollywood has always had the habit of promoting newcomers. Although she won this award, although it can be said to be an accident, it is not difficult to understand.

After all, actresses such as Toni Collette, Catherine Keener, and Samantha Morton are not much better than her. This year's Oscar competition for Best Supporting Actress is without much pressure.

***

In fact, not only supporting actresses, but also leading actresses: Hilary Swank's competitors are nothing more than Julianne Moore, Annette Bening, and Meryl Streep, who have been on the same page for ten years. This competition is also not fierce.

Looking at these people, Levi sighed. After The Truman Show was released, he once considered applying for an Oscar nomination for Naomi. It's a pity that Naomi's previous works are too few, and the movie The Truman Show has special requirements for actors' performances. Oscar doesn't like this style very much, so she could not be nominated.

However, it doesn't matter. Even if there is no nomination, there is still a chance next time.

***

Good actors don't have to worry about not being nominated - this best actor nomination reflects this.

Almost all nominated actors are big-name figures: Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Sean Penn, Denzel Washington, and Richard Farnsworth. Even Levi couldn't hide his amazement at this lineup of powerful competitors.

In Levi's memory, the person who won this award was Kevin Spacey. But Levi doesn't think Hollywood will award Kevin Spacey another Oscar winner so soon — after all, he has also won Best Supporting Actor. It is almost impossible for an actor to win three consequent Oscars. It is nearly unimaginable to win another Oscar so soon.

"Oscar's Best Actor... Russell Crowe!"

Sure enough... While applauding, Levi also said in his heart: Just as The Oscars can't let Levi win two consecutive best pictures, they must not allow actors to get too many honors. Kevin Spacey's nomination was nothing more than an accompanying runner; this time, Oscar gave the award to Russell Crowe.

Russell Crowe is now at the peak of his performance, and his acting skills are indeed very commendable. He won the award, and Levi also thinks it is very appropriate.

However, in Levi's memory, the Oscars should be the competition between Russell Crowe's Gladiator and Tom Hanks' Cast Away next year. In his memory, because Tom Hanks won two Oscars, this award was given to Russel Crowe, but now, Russel Crowe has also won an Oscar, so next year, who will win this award?

The awards are so obvious; why not give Jim Carrey one? Looking at the scene before him, Levi also sighed: Of course, the people competing here are all stars, and Jim Carrey, who couldn't even get nominated, can be said to be the most wronged person.

Levi's sigh was heard by Bündchen beside him. She didn't understand Levi's thoughts and thought Levi was just unhappy because he didn't get an award all night.

"Don't be discouraged; if you don't get the award this time, there will be another time." She comforted him.

"No, I wasn't thinking about that. It doesn't matter if you don't win the award. Besides, isn't there a best director in the end?"

Hearing Bündchen's comfort, Levi just smiled softly. Bündchen didn't even make out what he was sighing.

Bündchen quickly responded to Levi's words, but in her heart, she somewhat disapproved. The Truman Show didn't win any awards all night; how could it be possible to win another best director award at the end? How can a film director be the best if everything else is bad?

This should be Levi's reassurance - she should consider how to comfort him after he can't get this award.

However, at this moment, the sound of awarding awards sounded again.

"Best director... 'The Truman Show,' Nicholas Levi!"

On the stage, the name sounded again. The words Bündchen had on her tongue originally swallowed them all back.

How can it be? He really got the best director? Where did his confidence come from?

Throughout the night, Levi can be said to be a frustrated person. The Truman Show has not won a single award, and he is extremely depressed. However, this last best director award changed everything.

Films can be suppressed because of consecutive nominations, and actors can be pushed out because of poor popularity. However, Levi, who has been nominated for three consecutive years, completely overwhelmed the newcomer Sam Mendes in the competition for best director.

How can you lose Levi's share if you want to share the cake?

Spielberg can beat Levi, and James Cameron can beat Levi, but besides them, who else can make Levi lose?

*****

Thanks and kudos for my patreons

Cherif Doghri

Scott DePaepe

MMMCMXCIX, or 3,999

Britanna

Mandy G

Adam LV

The Main Man

You can read advanced chapters on my Patreon account: https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.