Hollywood: The Greatest Showman

Chapter 199: Party All Night

"Are you sure you didn't forget your lighter? I could borrow a box of matches from someone else," Rooney's cool voice pulled Renly's drifting thoughts back to reality under the streetlight. Her voice was distinctive—soft and murmuring, yet with a touch of stubborn coldness, like a hot spring volcano hidden in snowy mountains.

Renly looked at the cigarette between his fingers and chuckled, "I just wanted to practice the posture of a rock singer. Why, don't I look like one?"

Rooney's eye twitched slightly as she calmly looked at Renly without speaking, her disdainful gaze saying it all.

Renly didn't mind and shrugged, "I was just thinking, this is a film that needs to be savored." Although he had seen "The Social Network" in his previous life, watching it again in a theater revealed new details he hadn't noticed before. Moreover, "The Social Network" was a sharp, information-packed film.

Renly finally understood why the Oscars chose "The King's Speech" over "The Social Network," and why critics preferred "The Social Network" over "The King's Speech."

In short, "The King's Speech" presents a nostalgic elegance that the Academy always seeks—classic, reserved, and exquisite, without being too flamboyant or rebellious. "The Social Network," on the other hand, reflects social reality, the rapid changes of the times, and the dark human nature in the business world, with a touch of David Fincher's ironic humor.

From the start, the Oscars' nature dictated that the Academy would choose "The King's Speech" over "The Social Network," just as they chose "The Artist" over "Hugo" or "Midnight in Paris" at the 84th Oscars. The Academy was ultimately self-indulgent, always loving itself the most.

"Do you think Mark Zuckerberg is an asshole?" Rooney tilted her head and asked curiously.

It seemed like a sure answer, almost everyone who watched the movie had that impression, especially since the tagline of "The Social Network" asked: How much do you have to sacrifice to be successful?

However, Renly's answer was not that simple, "No, I don't think so." Rooney didn't show any surprise or hurry to ask further, but quietly looked at Renly, waiting for him to continue, "I think he's an outsider, someone not accepted by society. You know, often, geniuses are outsiders, and of course, assholes too."

Renly's answer was indeed thought-provoking. Rooney pondered over the movie they had just watched. It was her first time seeing the completed film. Her role wasn't significant, but she watched closely, feeling a deeper connection to the movie.

... "God, the editing is so fast, the information overload is too much for my brain to process right now." "I must agree, who is that curly-haired actor? His performance was outstanding. Is the real Mark Zuckerberg really like that?" ...

Two people were enthusiastically discussing, hurriedly passing by Renly and Rooney. Not far away, a group of five or six people were gathered, arguing heatedly, each vying to express their opinions.

"'The Social Network' is unique, from the director to the actors to the characters. No other film can compare." "Get out, by that logic, '127 Hours' and 'Buried' are unique too, but they don't measure up to 'The King's Speech,' okay..." "You actually like such a conventional, old-fashioned film? Jesus Christ, this is typical British cinema, no innovation at all..." "...BBC TV movies can reach this level, and you think it's good enough?" "What? What did you say? BBC TV movies?"

The bustling opinions clashed, almost too fast to react to, the arguments intertwining. One second two people were arguing fiercely, the next second they teamed up against the other four. The scene was more intense than a debate, making one wonder if they would start a brawl any second.

Rooney withdrew her gaze and found that Renly, like her, was watching the commotion. They exchanged glances and smiled. "So, do you prefer 'The Social Network' or 'The King's Speech'?" Rooney asked curiously.

Renly furrowed his brow, pretending to be tense, "This isn't a trap question, right?" Rooney couldn't help but laugh, and then she saw Renly smile too, giving his answer, "The Social Network."

Rooney was a bit surprised, emphasizing, "This isn't a date." The implication was that he didn't need to say something insincere to please her.

This made Renly smile again, "I know. I like 'The Social Network' because it's a challenge I couldn't achieve, a challenge outside my comfort zone."

Given Renly's academic background, he actually preferred "The King's Speech" for its depth and the restrained power in its performances, which were commendable. But from a film perspective, "The Social Network" was bolder, more innovative, and more deserving of recognition.

"A challenge you couldn't achieve?" Rooney's eyes showed a hint of surprise. Reflecting on the movie "Buried" they watched that afternoon, Renly's nuanced yet powerful performance still vividly lingered in her mind.

In "The Social Network," Rooney had direct scenes with Jesse Eisenberg. She felt his acting power, but personally, she still believed Renly's performance was superior, especially the depth and intensity of his eyes, leaving a deep impression.

Renly shrugged, "First, I'm not Jewish." This joke made Rooney pause, then she understood and rolled her eyes helplessly. "Second, I don't speak that fast." This was Jesse's biggest advantage in portraying Mark, the bullet-like speed of his speech gave the character an arrogant, aloof, and self-righteous quality, easily drawing the audience in. "And third, I'm much more handsome than Mark."

Looking at Renly's serious expression, Rooney couldn't help but find it amusing. On the surface, Renly was joking, but thinking carefully, he was telling the truth. The biggest or most basic attraction of a biopic lies in the resemblance and the essence. Jesse had an innate advantage in playing Mark, while Renly was more likely to break the immersion, relying solely on his acting to turn the tide, which wasn't easy—after all, the audience already had a preconceived notion of the character when watching a biopic.

But Renly had humorously brought out the truth, and after thinking it over, Rooney couldn't help but smile.

"Erica, Erica!" A voice called out from the street, making Rooney turn her head—Erica was her character's name in "The Social Network." "Mark doesn't like you, but it's okay, I like you! He's an asshole, you deserve better."

Rooney looked up, still smiling, nodded towards the voice, and waved, "Thanks. I also think he's an asshole." Her reply made the group of young people across the street burst into laughter.

"I'm a bit hungry now, thinking of getting something to eat. What about you?" Renly glanced at the shops lining the street. Maybe because of the film festival, the whole town was brightly lit, and many shops were still open. Today's lunch and dinner were just casual, and now, after the movie, his stomach was protesting. "Or do actresses need to maintain their figure and can't eat freely, especially at this time?"

After experiencing Chris Hemsworth, Renly had a preliminary understanding of an actor's life. In Hollywood, many actors live freely and indulgently, but to stay at the top, the effort behind the scenes is far beyond imagination. Just maintaining a good on-screen figure requires a lot of effort.

Rooney didn't hesitate and nodded, "Yes, at this time, I can't eat recklessly."

Her straightforward answer surprised Renly, who showed a curious expression. Generally, actresses are women too, and their way of speaking differs from men. Even if they're hungry, they might say they're full; even if they're dieting, they might say they don't need to lose weight; even if they want to eat, they might say they're not interested in that food.

Facing Renly's scrutiny, Rooney raised her chin calmly, meeting his gaze without any change in expression. Her straightforwardness made Renly a bit embarrassed. He quickly recovered and nodded, saying, "This isn't a date." So, no need to pretend or hide.

Renly's reply made Rooney smile slightly. "But I can eat a bit of salad and half a piece of bread." She hadn't eaten much for dinner, and now needed some energy. A banana and dark chocolate would be the best choice, but in a small town like Telluride, she couldn't be too picky.

"No problem." Renly put the cigarette back in his mouth, posing like James Dean, and gestured, "Follow me." His obviously performative manner made Rooney laugh, her shoulders gently shaking.

Fifteen minutes later, Renly and Rooney were back on the street, holding Subway sandwiches. Renly had a smoked cheese sandwich, while Rooney had half a white bread and a small box of salad.