#941 Nine Hundred and Four Variables
At 22 years old, Renly has now received his second Oscar nomination, but this time, he walks away with his first win. Many believe this will not be his last.
This young actor has repeatedly shattered people's preconceived notions, continuously astonishing audiences with his performances. What stands out even more is his unwavering dedication to his craft, his pursuit of artistic excellence, and his dream—qualities that have earned him widespread admiration. As Renly himself put it, "Maybe it was foolish, but it was a foolishness worth admiring."
As Renly exits the stage, Ryan Gosling is the first to stand, whistling, clapping, and offering a standing ovation. He is soon followed by Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Stone, Rooney Mara, and Derek Doremus—around 30 or 40 people in total. This kind of treatment is rare, even for legends like Christopher Plummer or Meryl Streep. It's nothing short of extraordinary for a newcomer like Renly, who has been in the industry for just three years, to receive such recognition.
The name "Renly Hall" has become increasingly significant in Hollywood, especially among Gen Y actors.
After leaving the stage, Renly senses a sharp, piercing gaze directed toward him—an intense stare that cuts through the air, aimed directly at his back. If looks could kill, Renly would be long gone by now. The stare is so fierce, so full of malice, that it is impossible for Renly to ignore.
He pauses in his steps, turns to search for the source of the glare, but the stage lights blind his view. All he can make out is a sea of darkness, with flashes of light and shadow mixing together. He can't make out a face, let alone figure out the direction of the gaze.
Relying on instinct, he takes a guess. A slight smile tugs at the corner of his lips. If he's not mistaken, it's none other than Harvey Weinstein.
It's clear that Harvey's ego was bruised when the young actor—Xiao Jin—accidentally tripped, but it's more than just that. There's an ongoing, irreconcilable tension between them, a deep divide that has only grown. But Renly has learned not to care about such matters anymore.
The voice of the emcee breaks Renly's thoughts: "Renly?" He turns to find Natalie and the emcee trailing behind him.
Backstage, Harvey, who's been silently seething, bites down hard on his cigar, almost to the point of breaking it. He can barely contain his rage.
The cooked duck has flown away!
After Jean Dujardin's success at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, everyone believed the Oscar would surely go to "The Artist" and to Weinstein Pictures. The SAG Awards have long been a reliable predictor of the Oscars, with the winners often mirrored at the Academy Awards. From 2000 to 2004, the results were upended; however, from 2005 onward, the SAG Awards have accurately predicted at least three of the acting winners each year, and in the past two years, they've been flawless.
But this year was different.
At the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the two supporting role winners went on to take Oscars, while the two leads—both favorites—missed out on the top honors. It was a defeat, a failure that stung. But what made it even worse for Harvey was losing to "crazy in love" Renly.
Losing to Brad Pitt, George Clooney, or even Gary Oldman might have been tolerable for Harvey, but not to Renly Hall.
Renly had rejected Harvey at the Sundance Film Festival, and now, during awards season, he seemed to be everywhere, like a shadow haunting the Weinstein brothers. He had become the most formidable and unpredictable adversary.
Harvey's anger bubbles up uncontrollably. He's been the king of Hollywood since "Shakespeare in Love" took the Oscar, but tonight, it felt like a slap in the face—a slap that echoed throughout the room, drawing sympathy from those around him.
"If only they hadn't pushed the 'hype door'," Harvey muses bitterly. The academy's public relations push might have worked in his favor, had things gone differently. But for now, he knows there's nothing to do but focus on the next prize: Best Director.
The year 2005 is a repeat of chaos, with seven categories—Best Original Screenplay, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Editing, and the four acting awards—having their winners diverge from predictions. The battle is fierce, especially for Best Director.
The five nominees for Best Director are: Martin Scorsese for Hugo, Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist, Alexander Payne for The Descendants, Woody Allen for Midnight in Paris, and Terrence Malick for The Tree of Life.
Among the first four directors, each has a contender likely to win Best Picture, making this a highly anticipated, high-pressure race. But the possibility of Terrence Malick winning has added even more uncertainty. No one can predict what will happen next.
Renly, backstage, feels the rising tension in the air. He moves through a crowd of excited faces, eager to congratulate him on his win. As he walks, he catches Natalie's gaze. She stands a little taller, her chin raised, pride evident in her expression. "Congratulations," she says coldly, almost arrogantly, "Victory is rare."
Renly senses her attitude but doesn't take it personally. He's learned not to care. Their relationship has always been neutral, and this moment doesn't change that.
"Thank you," he responds, offering a polite smile before stepping aside, his mind already on what comes next.
As Renly moves toward the waiting room, the atmosphere is electric. He's greeted warmly by the crowd, who step aside to make room for him. The backstage is filled with actors and crew, all buzzing with anticipation for the final awards of the night.
Renly pauses, looking up at the big screen as the next presenter, Michael Douglas, takes the stage. Known as a powerful figure in the industry, Michael has a commanding presence that fits perfectly with the occasion.
"Is it normal to feel so warm at the scene?" Michael's voice rings out, his words immediately putting everyone at ease, and the tension in the air lightens.
The night is far from over, and the stakes are higher than ever. The suspense continues to build.