The Greatest Showman #1170 – Indescribable
However, controversy over Jennifer's Oscar win never faded. Not because she was undeserving, but because another performance stood out as even stronger that year: Jessica Chastain's.
Both Jennifer and Jessica were close friends of Renly, yet when stripped of personal bias, Renly, now an Academy voter, would have cast his vote for Jessica.
In The Line of Happiness Behind the Dark Clouds, Jennifer's performance was sharp and refreshing, with an underlying fragility and complexity that simmered beneath the surface. It was a captivating portrayal, seamlessly blending character and narrative. However, in *Hunting Ben ***, Jessica delivered a performance that masterfully balanced vulnerability and strength, confusion and determination, struggle and resilience. The seamless fusion of a woman's sensitivity with a soldier's grit created a compelling and layered portrayal. A single glance from her conveyed depth beyond words.
From Renly's perspective, among the five Best Actress nominees that year, Jessica in *Hunting Ben *** was in a league of her own. Emmanuelle Riva (Amour) followed closely with a seasoned and powerful performance. Jennifer ranked third, an emerging talent with immense potential. Behind them were Naomi Watts (The Impossible) and Quvenzhané Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild).
While Jennifer had already shown brilliance in Winter's Bone, a role that truly captured her raw talent and depth, The Line of Happiness Behind the Dark Clouds lacked the same level of nuance. Director David O. Russell excelled in crafting ensemble narratives but was less adept at drawing out individual performances. Conversely, *Hunting Ben *** showcased Jessica's peak performance, thanks in part to director Kathryn Bigelow, who skillfully blended masculine intensity with feminine depth, capturing Jessica's full range.
Jessica's next best performance would come in Miss Sloane (2016), though even that didn't surpass her work in *Hunting Ben ***.
But talent alone does not determine Oscar winners. The Academy Awards are as much about timing, influence, and public relations as they are about raw performance. This is where Harvey Weinstein's expertise came into play.
In the 2012 awards season, Jennifer dominated early on, but Jessica gained momentum in the latter half, making it a close race. They split most of the pre-Oscar awards, with Jennifer holding a numerical advantage while Jessica claimed the more prestigious honors.
Then, in the final stretch, Emmanuelle Riva emerged as a formidable contender. On nomination day, she was 85 years and 321 days old, setting a record as the oldest nominee, while Quvenzhané Wallis became the youngest at just nine years and 135 days. Both had the potential to make history.
Emmanuelle's performance in Amour, which was also nominated for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Picture, garnered immense support, disrupting the Jennifer-Jessica showdown. With the growing sentiment for honoring a veteran actress, Emmanuelle became the unexpected frontrunner. Despite her frail health, she even traveled from Europe to Los Angeles for the ceremony.
Yet, in the end, Jennifer triumphed. Harvey Weinstein's formidable influence and final-stage Oscar lobbying turned the tide. His mastery of the awards circuit was unparalleled, and he once again proved his ability to shape Hollywood's biggest night.
Perhaps today's events at Mount Sinai Hospital were merely one of Harvey's many strategic moves. Jennifer might have been uncomfortable with it, but she had little choice.
Harvey was known for his ruthlessness and ability to manipulate the industry to his advantage. Even Disney's powerhouse executive, Michael Eisner, had been outmaneuvered by him. Actors, directors, producers—no one was immune to his tactics.
This context shed light on Jennifer's behavior earlier.
Renly and Jennifer had first bonded at Mount Sinai, connected by their shared empathy for volunteer work and dedication to acting. Unlike many in Hollywood, Jennifer had never leveraged her past volunteer work for publicity, even after the Heather Cross Foundation gained media attention. She genuinely cared for the children, and her commitment was sincere.
That was why, despite the presence of reporters, Renly never doubted Jennifer's authenticity. If she wanted, she could have joked about today's PR stunt with him, mocking the absurdity of awards season politics. Instead, she chose silence. The reason remained unknown, but Renly respected her decision.
As he pushed open the activity room door, an image of Jennifer's uneasy expression at the elevator flashed through his mind—triggering a sudden realization.
Harvey Weinstein.
Renly had never worked directly with Harvey, but their paths had crossed before, notably at Sundance, where they clashed over the distribution rights of Like Crazy. The encounter had left a lasting impression.
More importantly, Harvey never forgot a grudge. Ever since Sundance, he had been biding his time, waiting for an opportunity to retaliate. Perhaps losing control over the Oscars last year, when Renly became the youngest Best Actor winner in history, had only fueled his resentment.
If Harvey was indeed waging a silent war against Renly, his strategy would be twofold:
Undermining Renly's reputation – Spreading rumors that he was difficult to work with, thereby discouraging top directors and producers from casting him. This would subtly diminish the quality and quantity of roles available to him.
Isolating Renly socially – Using his influence to distance Renly from key industry players, including friends like Jennifer. Renly was not the most socially connected actor to begin with, and if Harvey could chip away at his remaining allies, it would only deepen his isolation.
Was it possible that Jennifer had been pressured to distance herself from him?
Could her earlier nervousness stem from the fear of being seen with Renly by Harvey's watchful eyes?
The thought flashed through Renly's mind in an instant, though it remained mere speculation.
Before he could dwell on it further, a bright voice called out, "Renly!"
That cheerful, radiant sound cut through his thoughts like a burst of light, pulling him back into the moment.