King of Hollywood
Chapter 474 - 195: Various Gossips

Chapter 474: Chapter 195: Various Gossips

"Frankly, gentlemen, your performances were all stellar, and this is going to make for a splendid film, well done!" Adrian said with a beaming smile to the three main male characters in "L.A. Confidential."

Since the movie had already been screened to meet the Oscar selection criteria, most film critics had released their reviews on "L.A. Confidential", and as expected, the praise was abundant.

"A fascinating and nuanced thriller that takes us back to the chaotic, deal-filled, yet always thrilling Los Angeles of the 1950s. The director masterfully controlled the pace of the story, and all details were perfectly portrayed, carrying all the charm of the golden age of Hollywood films, leaving us yearning for more. If anyone wants to understand the vibe of 1950s Los Angeles or misses the style of golden age films, ’L.A. Confidential’ is definitely not to be missed!" noted the renowned film critic Angelo Peak.

Generally, older film critics greatly appreciated the movie, just like the young assistant at Bossworth Film had said, one of the main appeals of "L.A. Confidential" was its nostalgia. As for the relatively younger critics, although they were not as lavish in their praise as older ones, most still found the film rather impressive.

"Strictly speaking, it should be categorized as a drama. The suspense elements were not particularly standout, as one could guess the truth when the victimized girl questioned the main character. The police chief’s gunshot merely served to fully unravel the mystery. However, the film’s true excellence lay in the performances of the leads: River Phoenix played Edmund, an idealistic young police officer just out of college taking after his father; Kevin Spacey was Jack, a smooth, seasoned cop accustomed to ups and downs; and Russell Crowe was Bard, a rough cop who only solved problems through violence but possessed his own brand of justice.

The three characters, each different, clashed intensely over a case, influencing others while being shaped themselves. Eventually, Edmund became less idealistic, no longer sticking rigidly to his principles to uphold justice; Jack, although he died, rediscovered his ideals before his death; and Bard, despite remaining rough, found true love and was willing to protect her. These subtle shifts were superbly delivered by the actors, earning them well-deserved accolades.

It’s worth mentioning Katherine Zetajones, the actress from Wales who played the most prominent female supporting role in the movie. As gorgeous and classical in demeanor as in ’The Mask of Zorro’, she stood out not only for her beauty but also for her acting skills, particularly impressive in her helpless and regretful expression after being mistakenly slapped by Bard.

Therefore, even though the movie’s climax was somewhat underwhelming, with such vividly distinct characters, it remains a film worth watching."

— "Hollywood Report," John Worthington

Even though they criticized the story for being thin and debated over Zetajones’ acting quality, they all acknowledged the remarkable performances of the three male actors, thus Adrian’s comment.

"Oh, of course, there’s no doubt about it. If only I had died just a little later, or better yet, taken part in the final shootout, that would have been perfect," Spacey quipped as usual.

"Unfortunately, Kevin, if you hadn’t died, there would have been no last shootout," River remarked jokingly beside him.

"The lady next to Ed is just as excellent in her acting," Crowe pointed out, nodding towards the attractive woman beside Adrian.

"Thank you," Zetajones responded flirtatiously, tightening her grip on Adrian’s arm, looking extremely affectionate. She was dressed in a black one-shoulder evening gown, her hair up, revealing a seductive neck and shoulders, smiling with bright eyes and sparkling teeth, as stunning as ever.

"Alright, let’s head in and enjoy it with everyone," Adrian then gestured for them to enter, escorting Zetajones inside.

"How enviable," Spacey murmured under his breath, then winked at River, "Don’t you think?"

"Let’s go, the movie’s about to start," River smiled noncommittally, patted them both, and followed them into the screening room.

"River Phoenix is always so serious, it’s boring," Spacey sighed, then looked towards Crowe as if seeking the answers he wanted.

"Come on, Kevin, if you’re really jealous, why not give it a try?" Crowe said with a smile.

"Forget it, Russell, I’m not like Ed, who can attract a crowd of women around him," Spacey pouted, "They’re right, the movie is about to start, let’s go in."

Crowe burst into laughter.

Although the plot of "L.A. Confidential" was criticized by younger critics who hadn’t experienced that era as somewhat weak, it didn’t seem that way in reality, as the rich character portrayals greatly complemented the story. Whether it was Edmund’s idealized integrity, Bard’s rough justice, Jack’s self-serving avoidance, or Lynn’s charm, all were depicted in just a few scenes that immediately captured the audience’s heart, something even the critics couldn’t deny.

Moreover, director Curtis Hanson really nailed the details, humorously eliciting laughter and unexpectedly shocking the audience. For example, when Edmund and Jack went to a bar to find an informant and stumbled upon a real Hollywood star, Edmund mistook him for a plastic-surgery-altered prostitute and mocked him, ending up with a face full of spilled drink. Or when Jack found a clue and went to the police chief, only to be unexpectedly shot dead by the chief, who thought he had covered his tracks perfectly, but was ultimately exposed by the name "Lolo Tomani," which Jack uttered with his dying breath.

Of course, the movie wasn’t without issues; it progressed rather slowly, and the climax felt a bit unfinished as if it hadn’t reached its highest peak. That was inevitable since one of the film’s appeals was its retro style, and movies from the 50s didn’t have today’s pacing, so such occurrences were bound to happen.

However, flaws aside, the cinema still erupted in applause at the end of the movie, and as the audience stepped out of the theater, they occasionally chatted about the plot. However, the reporters who were always waiting around weren’t interested in the film’s content; they craned their necks looking for two individuals in the crowd, and, as usual, they found nothing even after everyone had left.

"Who would have thought the theater had such a side exit, those guys waiting in the back must be frustrated for a while," Zetajones remarked in surprise as the car hit the street.

"It’s specially prepared for people like us, of course, if you’re not closely associated with the theater, you wouldn’t enjoy such a service," Adrian said, running his finger gently across her cheek.

Zetajones gave a seductive smile, resting her arm on the window frame and supporting her cheek in a temptingly charming pose, recalling how Adrian’s hand had been on her thigh throughout the movie.

However, to her surprise, after dropping her off, Adrian showed no intention of staying the night.

"Have a good rest, I won’t disturb you," Adrian said, standing by the door, his smile mysterious and elusive under the slightly dim light.

"That’s not the Ed I know," Zetajones pouted playfully.

Adrian shrugged and then added, "By the way, I’ve already planned your next project. This time, it won’t be a woman with a retro flair, but rather letting the fans appreciate your fashionable professional woman image and your supple, graceful body."

"Oh, you don’t have to wait that long, you can appreciate it now," Zetajones hinted.

But Adrian remained unmoved and continued, "As for your co-star, I’ve thought of someone too, a former Oscar winner for Best Supporting Actor, and quite famous too..."

"Ed!" Zetajones suddenly interrupted him, her tone wistful and her expression turned gloomy, "Do you really have to say these things now?"

She sighed, wrapped her arms around his neck, looked up into his eyes with a plaintive gaze, and said, "I know what we have is just... but can’t we have something else aside from that?"

Adrian fell silent for a moment, then lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead, still using that gentle and sincere tone, "I think you’ve misunderstood, Kate. Didn’t you say over the phone yesterday that you weren’t feeling well, that you had a cold? I already regret bringing you to the premiere today. You’re dressed so lightly, and it’s not that warm, you might catch a cold again."

"No, I was indeed a bit unwell yesterday, but I’m completely fine today..." Zetajones hurried to clarify for herself, but Adrian didn’t give her a chance, "Don’t try to fool me, Kate. Colds aren’t that easy to get over. Sometimes, you feel cured, but it might just recur. Besides, I heard you sneezing more than once in the theater earlier."

Pressing down her lips that were about to speak, Adrian said with an irrefutable tone, "Okay, now go back to your bedroom, rest well tonight, don’t catch another cold. Remember, you are my woman!"

As he spoke, his hands suddenly touched her buttocks, pressing inwards; Zetajones let out a soft cry and, facing his commanding tone, couldn’t muster any thoughts of resistance, only obediently went inside the house. She watched him get into the car and leave before she closed the door.

Leaning against the door, Zetajones heaved a long sigh. Her expression was a mix of confusion and annoyance. Why was it always like this? Why could he always do things she hadn’t expected, especially when she was so sure of herself!

When you think he would do this, he does that; when you think he would continue, he could switch to another face midway... The glamorous woman felt powerless for the first time and then sneezed loudly.

"Darn it... Ah-choo! He did predict correctly..." Zetajones returned to the bedroom and entered the bathroom. Well, might as well do as he said, since there’s still plenty of time.

Unfortunately, Adrian was right. The next day, her cold not only returned but was even more severe, keeping Zetajones in bed for nearly two days before she recovered.

Setting that aside, although the reporters didn’t manage to capture Adrian and Zetajones’s outing, and indeed they had done nothing that night, that didn’t stop the media from spreading stories. After all, there were photos of them holding hands intimately at the premiere. Fabricating stories wasn’t difficult at all.

"The next Miracle Girl?" was the headline of a piece in the entertainment section of the New York Times.

However, this claim was quickly disputed. Among the previous five Miracle Girls, only Julia hadn’t played the leading female role in one of Adrian’s works. But Julia was photographed several times on dates with Adrian, plus back then Adrian had only Bossworth Film Company, which was overtly connected to the production of the movies, so it was somewhat forced to consider Zetajones a Miracle Girl.

However, the naming issue didn’t stop journalists from speculating about their relationship, especially given his reputation as a playboy in the industry. Since they appeared so closely in public, it was definitely impossible to claim that nothing had happened between them. For ordinary people, perhaps Adrian’s reputation wasn’t as known as within the industry circles, but celebrity gossip was undoubtedly their favorite reading material, so why shouldn’t reporters exploit that?

In any case, news of Adrian’s new romance began to spread widely, with some even speculating who he might be linked with next in a scandal, even going so far as to connect Adrian with Nicole, who was rumored to be divorcing Cruise.

"We all know ’Eyes Wide Shut’ was directed by Adrian, and Nicole had significant roles in it. Faced with such tempting scenes, with Adrian’s usual style, would he let go of such a beautiful and sexy woman? Clearly, the real reason behind Nicole and Cruise’s divorce is Nicole’s seduction of Adrian," a tabloid emphatically stated.

Since the rumors of the golden couple’s possible divorce last December, speculations about the truth of the news and the reasons for the divorce have been rampant. After nearly a month of silence, such speculations intensified, especially after interpreting their no-comment as an acknowledgment, with the reasons for the divorce becoming a focal point.

Of course, everyone’s favorite subject is when either the man or the woman has an affair. Gossip initially centered around who might have an affair, which then evolved into who did have an affair first, and finally into whose affair was with whom. Cruise needn’t be mentioned, a popular young actor with a handsome face; even if there were no affair to speak of, the media would create a plethora of involvements for him, not to mention he wasn’t exactly pristine. Nicole, even less so, as news of a woman having an affair garners even more attention, resulting in a long list of names, consisting mostly of male actors and directors she had worked with. Naturally, Adrian couldn’t escape this list either.

In reality, when the two began their cold war and separation, rumors of Nicole and Adrian were already circulating. At the time, it was rumored that the cold war started because Cruise was dissatisfied with Nicole’s performance in "Eyes Wide Shut." However, these rumors were not widely known at the time, and Nicole and Cruise would occasionally show off their affection for one another.

But by now, the divorce was almost certain, especially with Adrian attending the premiere of "L.A. Confidential" with Zetajones on his arm, giving paparazzi even more to speculate about. However, despite the detailed nature of these gossips, as if someone had seen it all firsthand, they only formed a small part of the massive conjecture surrounding Nicole and Cruise’s divorce.

Regardless, the gossip about Nicole and Adrian lacked concrete evidence, and given Adrian’s status, even the tabloids could only use phrases like "Nicole seduced Adrian" rather than "Adrian seduced Nicole."

"I don’t understand, can’t you just keep a low profile? At least make it less troublesome for those cleaning up after you," Charlize said as she bent over to arrange documents, speaking rapidly.

Then, sensing something, she turned her head, sighed, and simply lay down on the desk, supporting her cheek with one hand and tilting up a foot, "Like what you see?"

"Of course, never tire of it," Adrian chuckled, "The curve that pencil skirt creates is just delightful."

Charlize rolled her eyes at his brazenness, raising her voice, "Ed!"

"I’m listening, my dear," Adrian shrugged, "Thank you for all that you do."

"It’s not just me doing it all, and besides, I have to live up to this... ah," Charlize hadn’t finished speaking when Adrian suddenly pulled her into his arms.

"Thank you, Charli," Adrian said, looking into her eyes earnestly, "You’re the best, you know? In that meeting room full of people, only you had the right answer, I’m truly delighted."

"That’s nothing, after being by your side for so long, I can somewhat guess what you’re thinking," Charlize replied, maintaining eye contact as she sat on his thigh, seemingly wanting to say more but ultimately just sighing.

"All you need to do now is wait," Adrian suddenly said softly.

Charlize blinked, not quite understanding, but then as if she realized something, she stood up, "Your women have increased again, and also... I really don’t know what to say about you, Ed. Honestly, I think you might be... somewhat addicted to sex."

"Sex... addicted?" Adrian’s face took on a peculiar expression, a mix of surprise and amusement.

"Where did you hear such a term, Charli?" Adrian asked with interest.

"From books, related to psychology," Charlize shrugged.

"Can you tell me who first came up with this concept?" Adrian burst out laughing, "I want to thank him on behalf of all men. He’s given all the philandering men of the world a great excuse!" (The story continues. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to go to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote and subscribe. Your support is my greatest motivation.)