The Greatest Showman #1367 - Buy One Get One Free
From the Olivier Award to the Best Actor trophy at Cannes, Renly Hall has once again captured the public's attention, earning two major awards in a short period.
Following Transcendence, Renly delivered another exceptional performance, defying the so-called "Golden Man's Curse," "EGOT bottleneck," or "Age Shackles." Every step he takes is deliberate and grounded, cementing his place in the global film industry.
Although Drunken Town Ballad hasn't fully released, and the reception of Gravity remains to be seen, Renly's Cannes Best Actor trophy essentially secures his reputation. Regardless of box office outcomes or future awards, Renly has fully shed any "curse" and established the brand of "Renly-Hall."
It's extraordinary, but if you've followed Renly's journey closely, you'll understand that it feels entirely natural. This is Renly's era, and we're only now seeing its peak.
With the Best Actor Award announced, the awards ceremony has officially entered its second half.
Surprisingly, the Best Director award did not go to the Coen brothers, Abdai Koschich, or Paul Sorrentino, but to Alexander Payne for Nebraska. This marked the evening's first major upset.
It's not that Nebraska is a bad film, but much of the praise for it has been directed at Bruce Dern, the only actor who could rival Renly in the Best Actor category. After the list of nominees was leaked earlier today, most believed Nebraska would take home Best Actor, while Drunken Town Ballad might compete with Adele's Life for the Palme d'Or—an expected balance.
Then, the unexpected disruption from City of Absolute Beauty led to speculation that both Best Actor and Actress could be awarded together, avoiding the two top-scoring films from being overlooked.
But now, there's no double win for the acting awards, and Alexander Payne's victory for Best Director is a stunning upset.
After his directorial debut in 1992, Alexander quickly made a name for himself in independent cinema with About Schmidt, Sideways, and The Descendants, earning critical acclaim and multiple Oscar nominations. Today, he's part of a group of East Coast screenwriters—alongside Noah Baumbach, Wes Anderson, and Charlie Kaufman—poised to inherit Woody Allen's mantle. This award solidifies Payne's position as a master director.
However, with two major awards still to be handed out—the Palme d'Or and the Jury Prize—tension in the media center is palpable. Three films have yet to be called, including Drunken Town Ballad and City of Absolute Beauty.
The likelihood of a double win for the Jury Prize remains, leaving everyone to speculate: who will be the "cannon fodder"? Will it be Adele's Life or Hurley that takes the Grand Jury Prize, leading to an uproar after the ceremony?
When Nebraska won Best Director, the media center fell into stunned silence, followed by frustration, disappointment, and anxiety. Emily was no exception.
She had just celebrated Renly's Best Actor win and was now seething at the jury's decision to overlook Drunken Town Ballad. Disillusioned, she turned away from the screen, taking out her phone, her nerves starting to churn.
The Lumiere Hall and media center were filled with nervous energy as the crowd anxiously awaited the next announcement. Steven Spielberg stood up, signaling another wave of tension. Emily, despite her earlier resolution not to watch, couldn't resist glancing at the screen. Christian Mongy, a Romanian director, appeared as the presenter. Was this a sign that Hurley's director might win the Jury Prize?
But then came the announcement.
"The winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 66th Cannes Film Festival is…"
Emily's attention snapped back. Her fingers, still frozen on the phone, barely registered the flashing game on the screen.
"Drunken Town Ballad, USA."
What?
The entire media center fell silent for a moment, followed by an eruption of cheers and celebration. Drunken Town Ballad had just claimed the Jury Prize—again! This wasn't a double yolk, but a "buy one, get one free" situation, underscoring the jury's immense respect and support for the film. Renly's Best Actor win had been followed by Drunken Town Ballad taking the Jury Prize, cementing its place in the hearts of Cannes.
Two major awards in one night! Unbelievable!
Instead of screaming, Emily hastily typed a message to share this joy with her followers on social media. Her hands trembled with excitement, making it difficult to even type correctly. As tears streamed down her face, she fought to contain her emotions, laughing uncontrollably in the midst of it all.
After several attempts and multiple revisions, she finally posted her message and stood up, joining the others in their jubilant celebration.
The night was complete.
No double yolk—Drunken Town Ballad won the Jury Prize, while Renly claimed Best Actor. Although the Palme d'Or slipped away, Drunken Town Ballad earned the recognition it truly deserved. This was the perfect conclusion to the Cannes Film Festival.
The Coen brothers, equally surprised by the outcome, walked up to accept their Best Screenplay award, their faces filled with astonishment. They exchanged smiles and took their trophy from Christian Mongy, entering the stage for the fourth time at Cannes.
Joel Coen stepped aside to let Ethan take the microphone.
Ethan thanked the audience, his voice full of gratitude. "For this film, everything we wanted to say is embedded in the work. Every viewer can find their own interpretation. When we began, we were apprehensive—worried no one would like it. But being here in Cannes, recognized by so many, has been the greatest reward for us as filmmakers and artists."
He turned to Renly. "We owe a lot to Renly Hall. Without him, there would be no Levy En Davies. His performance, even through exhaustion, made this film what it is today."
"Sometimes, I still wonder if Levy En Davies is real, or if he always existed. The ballad era may be over, but the film wave continues, and we are grateful to be part of it. We may have missed the 1960s wave, but we are living in this moment, and we thank God for that."