King of Hollywood
Chapter 648 - 56: Released

Chapter 648: Chapter 56: Released

When the car came to a stop, she quickly adjusted her clothing once again. As the valet opened the door for her, a smile had already graced her cheeks. Stepping onto the red carpet, the cameras flashed incessantly, and the shouts of movie fans, alongside inquiries from reporters, filled the air. At that moment, she was the Natalie Portman known for her brilliant intelligence and elegant demeanor in Hollywood.

Maintaining her smile, Natalie made her way to the large poster. She was particularly fond of this one, where a close-up of her face was veiled in ice blue, exuding an indescribable steely determination. In the bottom left corner, three silhouetted figures sat in a small boat, shining a flashlight, casting a cruel sense of coldness that left one ruminating.

"Hi, Natalie," greeted a young girl waving at her with a giggly smile just as she had settled in front of the poster.

"Hi, Hannah," Natalie responded with a smile to Dakota Fanning, who played her younger sister in the movie. She was dressed in a pink dress, looking adorably charming with her sweet smile.

"Look who’s here, the fearless Miss Ray Dollie herself! I was just talking about you," John Hawkes’s voice followed. He stood amidst a crowd of reporters, wearing a well-fitted suit, sporting a trim mustache, and his hair neatly combed, a stark contrast from his scruffy appearance in the film.

"Hi, John, it’s great to see you," Natalie greeted him, then turned to face the eager reporters.

"Miss Natalie, what are your thoughts on ’Winter’s Bone’? Mr. Hawkes said no other girl could capture the feeling like you did."

"Thank you. I guess it’s similar to how I’ve always thought that no one could portray ’Tear Drop’ with the same sentiment as John. Our cooperation during the shooting was excellent, and we got along very well off-set—Hannah can attest to that. It’s truly a great film, stark yet filled with innocence and hope. I’m delighted to play the lead role in ’Winter’s Bone’."

"How would you describe Mr. Adrian, Miss Natalie?"

"He’s indeed a very talented director, meticulous in his work, and good at evoking actors’ emotions, although he may occasionally say something cutting. Still, collaborating with him is a fortunate thing."

"And off-set?"

"That’s a question you should ask Mr. Adrian, not me."

Natalie replied to the reporters’ questions without missing a beat, all while stealing glances around with the corners of her eyes. Adrian was nowhere to be seen nearby; she didn’t know if he had already gone inside or had yet to arrive. A sense of relief and relaxation came over her, but at the same time, an indescribable anxiety bubbled up.

After fielding a few more questions, she proceeded into the theater with Dakota and Hawkes, maintaining her smile all the while. Even when certain reporters maliciously asked about her relationship with the Miracle Director, she displayed no displeasure or impatience, perfectly conveying her composure and eloquence.

"This is my movie, why can’t I hold a premiere?" The familiar voice reached her as she entered the screening room, causing Natalie’s heart to flutter gently. She unconsciously slowed her pace and lifted her head to look.

Nearby at a counter, the well-dressed Adrian was conversing with someone, looking quite pleased with their friendly exchange. At his side, a petite blonde clung to his arm, affectionately close, wearing a black long-sleeve silk top paired with a knee-length skirt, a natural sensuality about her.

Natalie knew that woman, Naomi Watts, one of the Miracle Girls, and without a doubt, one of Adrian’s many bedfellows. Since rocketing to fame with "Mulholland Drive," her career had rapidly advanced in the past two years, making her a leading star—it was no wonder she and Adrian were so unabashedly affectionate in public.

Subconsciously biting her lip, Natalie also knew she shouldn’t harbor such malicious thoughts, but her mind incessantly wandered there regardless. The only consolation was that she could relax a little now; Adrian’s brazen appearance with Naomi at the premiere was clearly a statement to the media that there was nothing intimate between him and Natalie.

Even so, Natalie still didn’t want to go over and see him, but before she could make a move, Hanks had already called out, "Hey, Ed."

"Hey, John, you finally made it, oh, and there’s Natalie and the lovely Little Hannah." Adrian looked up with what seemed to be genuine surprise.

"Hey, Ed," Dakota waved her little hand, and Natalie could no longer pretend not to notice, managing to keep a smile on her face as she greeted Adrian.

"You look really beautiful tonight, Natalie. I’m almost tempted myself—if Nami weren’t by my side," Adrian said to the girl in an exaggerated tone.

His act was a success, drawing laughter from those around them. Naomi playfully shook his arm, but only Natalie caught the meaningful glance that flashed through his eyes.

"Did I hear you talking about the premiere? Is there a problem?" asked Hanks, once Adrian had introduced the person he was previously speaking with.

"Sanders reckons I’m too extravagant," Adrian gestured toward the producer, Sanders Morley, as he spoke with a chuckle, "just the cost of holding the premiere would be enough to shoot a quarter of ’Winter’s Bone.’"

"That’s absolutely true, you know, Ed. If there weren’t a premiere, I’d be off watching a very, very amusing film with my girlfriend," Hanks immediately interjected.

"Don’t tell me, the film you’re referring to..." Adrian pointed, eyebrows raised.

"That’s right, that film. It’s quite fun to appreciate the work of the Miracle Director from another angle," Hanks burst into laughter, and Morley beside him laughed along, giving Hanks a thumbs-up.

"What are they talking about?" Dakota, puzzled, tugged at Natalie’s clothes.

"Nothing much, just an R-rated spoof comedy," Natalie sighed. It could only be "Scary Movie" that would mock Adrian like this.

It was a crudely vulgar comedy that spoofed many famous movies and had premiered at the beginning of November to surprisingly good reactions—many media even praised it as a vulgar yet accurate portrayal of American free culture. Spoof comedies had long existed in the United States; not to mention the 1980s’ "Airplane!" and "The Naked Gun," the early 1990s’ "Hot Shots" was a perfect example, spoofing films like "First Blood," "Terminator," and "Star Wars," and even making a tidy sum at the box office.

However, "Scary Movie" was somewhat different, as the films it mocked were almost all related to the Miracle Director. The main plot was like "Scream," originally a script by Adrian, intersected by titles like "Scent of a Woman," "The Usual Suspects," "The Matrix," and "Mulholland Drive"—Adrian’s works as either director or screenwriter. Therefore, it had a formidable selling point and was met with applause upon release, with a first week box office gross of $40 million, even though the film’s budget was only $19 million!

That advertising slogan "Want to know everything about the Miracle Director?" was too tempting, and even Natalie couldn’t help but watch a screening, despite her general disinterest in films that were funny for the sake of being funny, and despite having an ulterior motive.

"Robert Shaye really has a brain, investing in this kind of movie," Adrian sighed somewhat helplessly in the face of their laughter. Although he didn’t mind, he still changed the subject to something else.

The topics were mostly related to movies, so Dakota chimed in a few times, her slightly childish remarks sending them all into fits of laughter.

"Speaking of which, I think there’s a role that could really suit you, Hannah," Adrian said to the little girl as he seemed to remember something.

"Really?" Dakota’s eyes widened with curiosity, but she didn’t immediately inquire further.

Smart kid. Natalie praised in her heart and then sighed again, looking at Adrian with a slight frown, remaining silent.

"It’s about a smart girl and her intellectually-challenged father, I’ve been worrying about casting these two characters, but I think with your cleverness, you could definitely give it a try." Adrian said with a slight smile, "If you’re willing, I’ll hand the script to your agent tomorrow. How does that sound?"

"No problem, no one would refuse an invitation from the Miracle Director," Dakota said cheerily, and then added sentimentally, "To be personally invited by the Miracle Director is something I can be proud of."

Her cute remark once again brought laughter, which made the turmoil hidden deep within Natalie resurface. Fortunately, Adrian didn’t continue, and after checking the time, he promptly ushered everyone to the screening room. Natalie finally relaxed. She really didn’t want to engage in much conversation with him. Since that day, her fear of him had reached an extreme. Despite seeming normal on the surface, inside, she was filled with intense fear.

What pained her was that she couldn’t resist him, not just in her eating habits, but especially in bed. She had to initiate, then be played with at his whim, each time losing herself in that twisted pleasure.

Hang in there, Nata, just endure, there will be a turning point. Natalie constantly consoled herself with self-hypnosis, or like now, diverted her attention by focusing on the movie.

The effect was great. The movie began, displaying the Missouri Mountains’ scenery, perfectly capturing the icy cold of winter and the home’s warmth, creating a wonderful sense of harmony. But soon, this harmony was disrupted when the police announced that Ray’s father went missing and the house would be seized if he failed to appear in court next time. Then the scene from the trailer appeared.

"I will find him, I said I could find him!" Ray said defiantly, her hostility not at all concealed, like a hen protecting her chicks.

Compared to the fleeting shots in the trailer, Ray’s expressions were clearer on the big screen. Her hardness and resilience caused even Natalie, who portrayed her, to take a deep breath. Particularly when her brother wanted to ask the neighbors for some meat, and she said, "You can accept but you must not beg," immediately showcasing the girl’s character.

Next, Ray started her journey to find her father. What should’ve been simple became complicated as the story unfolded. With a minor climax approaching, Ray’s uncle Tear Drop pulled out a gun to threaten her, forbidding her from searching for her father. Though strong, she was still at a loss in such a situation and ultimately left the place in a bit of a panic. By this point, the family situation in Ray’s home, or rather in this mountain area, slowly began to unravel.

Despite this, Ray didn’t give up. She continued to search for people her father might have contacted, hoping to find out his whereabouts through them. In parallel, some scenes showed her sending her siblings to school and peeping at the training of prospective soldiers—she always wanted to join the National Guard, which could solve some of the family’s financial issues.

One thing after another unfolded, and her father’s issue became clear. Like most of the poor families in this mountain area, he made money through drug production and trafficking. For this reason, when he was arrested by the police, the drug dealers began to worry he would become a snitch. Some thought he had been killed by the drug lord, and others believed he left the area after posting bail, fearing an incident.

Meanwhile, various gazes were also cast upon Ray’s family. A distant relative told Ray in front of some fire-ravaged rubble that this was the last place her father had stayed, and thereby expressed a desire to adopt her younger brother.

Ray had always protected her brother and sister, taking care of their mentally unstable mother. Yet, even with her strength, she couldn’t help but show signs of crumbling, finally shedding tears while taking her mother out for a walk.

"Look at me, Mom! Tell me what to do! Can’t you help me at all?" Ray asked her unresponsive mother loudly. Even so, she still didn’t cry out loud. Although her face maintained its stubbornness, tears kept rolling down her cheeks, and in that moment, her blurred eyes laid bare her vulnerability.

Here, the film’s use of color reached its pinnacle. Due to the nature of the story, the entire film’s color palette was cold from the start, even in places like homes, schools, or bars where there should be some warmth, the dim light still left one feeling not a hint of warmth. When Ray privately sobbed to her unresponsive mother in a small grove, the surrounding colors and the dark sky almost merged into one, evoking a feel of cruel coldness, devoid of any temperature.

Though the shots were simple, the careful construction conveyed intense emotions, causing many in the theater to involuntarily draw a deep breath. Of course, Natalie’s outstanding acting also played a significant role, with that feeling of helpless vulnerability wrapped in strength that came from deep within, so sincere that even she couldn’t help but clench her fists when she saw it.

It might not have been noticed during filming, but in this moment, it seemed ironically fitting—Natalie obviously knew why her image on the big screen looked so real. She couldn’t help but glance over at Adrian’s seat, but he wasn’t there. When he had left, she hadn’t noticed. However, Naomi was gone too, so she could easily guess what he was doing.

Natalie’s fists clenched even tighter.

On the big screen, the story continued. Although Ray had shed tears under immense pressure, when she returned to her siblings, she immediately became strong again. She was now the sole pillar of the family; she couldn’t fall. For this reason, she even taught her brother to hunt with a gun, to alleviate their home’s difficulties with the wildlife from the mountains.

Finally, things began to show signs of improvement. Ray’s married friend, who had previously been unable to help much under her husband’s orders, ultimately came driving over with her child and lent Ray her car. But soon enough, more trouble followed—another climax of the film—Ray was determined to find her father, even if he was dead—a sentiment conveyed by the police. Ray tried everything to find the local drug lord her father had worked for a long time. Previously, he had refused to meet her several times through intermediaries, and the relentless Ray finally traced him to a ranch, only to be caught by a few of his women and severely beaten in a warehouse.

"How should we deal with you, a girl who likes to cause trouble?" the old woman said, eyeing Ray, who was tossed into the corner; it was she who had denied Ray’s request to meet the boss.

"Kill me." Ray spat out a tooth that had been knocked out, her nose bleeding as she sat against the wall and defiantly met the old woman’s gaze.

"That’s not our choice to make," the old woman shook her head.

"Then help me find my father," Ray said immediately afterward.

Adrian once again showcased his control over the visual and tonal elements here. The dim lighting cast a shadow over half of the girl’s face, making her look somewhat obscure, but the streaks of blood were not masked, creating a stark, shocking sight. Her eyes, one in the light and one in the dark, both shone brightly and unwaveringly met the other’s gaze, creating a powerful contrast and conveying a sense of fortitude, stubbornness, and resilience that was arresting.

Finally, things shifted towards a positive direction once more. The old man in charge of disposing stolen goods finally stepped forward. Everyone present became aware of Ray’s family situation, and soon after, Ray’s father’s brother "Tear Drop" also rushed over. These people seemed somewhat afraid of him, so they let him take Ray away. On the way back, Ray realized for the first time that her uncle was not a heartless man; he was just trying to protect them in his own way.

Then, prompted by a small subplot, Ray returned home and pulled out her father’s old photographs, caressing the one of him with her mother. The cinema audience too finally understood that Ray’s father had loved his family, which is why he had kept his drugs trade a secret, why he had struck a deal with the police for an early release when he couldn’t stand the long prison term away from his family, and why Ray had always believed she could find her father.

However, it seemed now, from the drug dealers’ reactions and the fact that "Tear Drop" didn’t know of Ray’s father’s whereabouts, the most likely possibility was that he had been killed. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation.)