booktalesy Chapter 334 Oscar Best Picture, Director
Chapter 334 Oscar Best Picture, Director
Chapter 334 Oscar Best Picture, Director
In the first quarter of the new millennium, Inception swept through like a perfect storm, completely reshaping the global film market.
From January to March, this film's performance in North American and global theaters was nothing short of a ruthless money-printing machine. Those so-called Hollywood blockbusters released at the same time were utterly powerless against its screen time and occupancy rates. Its global box office easily surpassed the one billion dollar mark within a month, and the trend remains strong.
However, box office figures are merely the surface of this frenzy.
What truly cemented Inception's place in history was the cultural tsunami it triggered globally and its profound academic impact.
Outside the Kitahara Group's meeting room, major distributors and retailers practically fought tooth and nail for the rights to release the film on VHS and the soon-to-be-popular DVD. A Wall Street valuation firm made a staggering prediction: in the next thousand years, thanks to its complex nature requiring repeated viewings to fully grasp its logic, the sales of Inception's home entertainment video products would easily surpass its theatrical box office, becoming an inexhaustible goldmine.
The academic community's reaction was even more enthusiastic.
After the start of the new semester in February, the University of Southern California, New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, and even the Cinema de la République in France all included Inception in their core textbooks for the semester.
In interviews with major authoritative film magazines, those film professors, who are usually arrogant and aloof, spared no praise.
"Makoto Kitahara redefined the relationship between the camera and physical space." An old-school film theorist who received a lifetime achievement award wrote in Cahiers du Cinéma, "That thirty-meter rotating corridor is not only an engineering marvel, but also another great liberation of cinematic language. In a time when special effects are rampant and CGI is about to destroy the quality of film, Kitahara used the most expensive real-life sets to preserve the purest dignity of the art of light and shadow in film."
Unsurprisingly, Inception stormed into Hollywood's awards season at the beginning of 2000 with unstoppable momentum, and won eleven major nominations at the 72nd Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Visual Effects.
When the news reached Asia, the entire Japanese archipelago was instantly abuzz!
Major newspapers printed extra editions overnight, and the front pages of the Yomiuri Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun were entirely dominated by that man's name. At intersections in Tokyo, giant electronic screens continuously played the shortlist for "Inception."
The reason why the Japanese people are so excited is because they have been waiting for this for far too long.
The last time a Japanese filmmaker stood under the spotlight of this highest hall of global cinema was back in 1990. That year, Akira Kurosawa, the "Emperor of Cinema," received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Steven Spielberg and George Lucas at the 62nd Academy Awards. Going back further, in 1986, Kurosawa received a Best Director nomination for "Ran," but ultimately went home empty-handed.
In the hearts of the Japanese, Akira Kurosawa is an insurmountable artistic master. But Kurosawa's era ultimately belonged to the traditional samurai films and adaptations of classical dramas of the past.
But the current Kitahara Shin is completely different.
He arrived with the air of a conqueror, bringing with him a massive commercial sci-fi blockbuster that he conceived, invested in, directed, and starred in entirely on his own, forcefully smashing open the doors of Hollywood, which was monopolized by white capital! He was not only a creator of art but also a controller of capital. This overwhelming power, which allowed him to trample the global entertainment industry underfoot, gave the entire Japanese nation an unprecedented sense of pride.
"This is the movie emperor of the new century! No, this is the Asian tyrant who has conquered Hollywood!" Countless young people frantically typed on their keyboards on online forums, venting their inner fervor.
Late March, Kitahara Estate, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.
On a chilly spring morning, the early cherry blossoms in the manor had already unfurled their pink buds.
Today is the day that Kitahara Shin departs for Los Angeles to attend the 72nd Academy Awards ceremony.
In the master bedroom's walk-in closet, Akina Nakamori was carefully tying a custom-made black silk bow tie for Nobu Kitahara. She was just over three months pregnant. The most difficult period of morning sickness and exhaustion had gradually subsided, and she had entered a relatively stable and safe period. Although she was wearing a loose cashmere dress, her belly was still flat; only the gentle grace of a mature woman and the radiant glow of motherhood in her eyes and brows had become even more pronounced.
"Your tie is tied a little too tight, otherwise it will easily get messed up by the wind on the red carpet." Akina gently smoothed the wrinkles in the tie with her slender fingers, then took a half step back and carefully examined the man in front of her who was about to be crowned at the pinnacle of the world.
A perfectly tailored haute couture gown, striking features, an upright posture, and the air of someone who has weathered countless battles in the business world.
The composure that comes with being tempered by billions of dollars in capital.
"You timed it perfectly." Kitahara Shin put his arm around her waist, his movements exceptionally gentle. "Once I bring those Oscars back from Los Angeles, I can stay home and spend the next few months with you without worry."
"Don't put too much pressure on me," Akina said with a smile, snuggling into his arms and listening to his steady heartbeat. "I have Quanshui and everyone at home with me, and the doctor checks me every day. The baby and I are both safe. On the other hand, when you go to Los Angeles this time, those proud Hollywood capitalists will definitely be watching you closely. You'd better show your best and make them admire you."
"They've long since lost the right to look me in the eye." Kitahara Shin lowered his head and planted a warm kiss on her forehead. "Stay home and watch the broadcast on TV. I'll give this little one the heaviest trophy as her first gift."
Akina's eyes reddened slightly as she nodded vigorously.
Los Angeles, temple, altar, chapel.
The red carpet at the 72nd Academy Awards was dazzling with stars. Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie—Hollywood's most powerful and bankable superstars—wore for attention on the hundred-meter-long red carpet, all dressed in haute couture gowns costing tens of thousands of dollars.
The area was packed with photographers from hundreds of top global media outlets, their cameras flashing as bright as day.
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At 5 p.m., a black, extended-length, bulletproof Rolls-Royce slowly came to a stop at the starting point of the red carpet.
The moment the car door opened, the screams and camera shutter sounds on both sides of the red carpet instantly increased by a full three decibels, almost piercing people's eardrums!
Kitahara Shin stepped out of the car first. He was dressed in an extremely simple yet expensive all-black suit, without any extra jewelry or accessories, except for a discreet Patek Philippe on his wrist.
Following closely behind were Leonardo DiCaprio, the male lead of "Inception," and Eva Green, who exuded an extremely cool and glamorous aura in a dark red deep-V haute couture evening gown.
The moment the trio stepped onto the red carpet, they became the absolute center of attention.
It wasn't just because of his looks and star power. In this arena of fame and fortune, all the white actors, directors, and even studio executives looked at Shin Kitahara with an undisguised sense of awe.
In Hollywood, although directors hold high positions, they are ultimately high-level employees who have to be subservient to studio bosses. For a budget of a few million dollars, many established directors have to humbly give PowerPoint presentations in the executive conference rooms of Warner Bros. or Paramount.
But Kitahara Shin was different.
He's the ultimate boss who brought his own funding to the project! His massive Kitahara Group had just taken advantage of the chaos following the bursting of the Nasdaq bubble to aggressively acquire top-tier special effects companies and theater assets in Los Angeles. He doesn't need to beg for investment from anyone; every film he makes is a spectacle created with his own money, and he can then extract a hundredfold profit from the pockets of people all over the world.
This kind of capitalist tyrant, who understands top-notch artistic creation and wields the power of life and death, is at the very top of the Hollywood food chain.
Walking on the red carpet, even veteran directors of the caliber of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas stopped and shook hands with him with smiles when they saw Shin Kitahara approaching.
"Kitahara, the combination of the miniature model of that snow mountain fortress and the actual explosions was absolutely brilliant. You've taught everyone a lesson." Spielberg didn't hold back his praise.
"It's just a little physics trick, Steven. I have a seminar on digital camera technology improvements in Tokyo later this year. If you're free, you're welcome to come over for a cup of tea," Kitahara Shin replied calmly.
This conversation, characterized by equality, and even a subtle dominance, caused Leonardo, following behind Kitahara Shin, to take a deep breath. He knew all too well the weight of the man before him.
Upon entering the inner chapel of the temple, the awards ceremony officially commenced with a humorous interlude by the famous comedian Billy Crystal.
In the previous technical awards, Inception unsurprisingly demonstrated overwhelming dominance. Best visual effects, best sound editing, and best original score (Hans Zimmer won without a doubt with his classic "BRAAAM")—one Oscar after another was won.
But the most anticipated moments of the entire event are always the final few core awards.
When the presenter walked onto the stage to announce the winner of "Best Actor," the air in the entire chapel seemed to thicken.
The broadcast camera panned across the five candidates in the audience.
Leonardo DiCaprio sat to Kitahara Shin's right, his hands clenched so tightly that the veins on the back bulged, and his breathing was unusually rapid.
Before tonight, Hollywood was rife with debate about whether Leonardo DiCaprio could win Best Actor. Many felt he was too young, only twenty-six. More importantly, ever since *Titanic* swept the globe in 1997, DiCaprio had been branded as a "lucky guy who only relies on his looks." *Titanic* won eleven Oscars that year, while he didn't even receive a single Best Actor nomination, a thorn in his side that he couldn't shake.
Those veteran Hollywood actors sitting in the audience, who considered themselves to be highly skilled actors, including Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, who were also at the peak of their careers, were somewhat resentful. In their view, Leonardo DiCaprio's nomination was entirely due to his connection with Nobu Kitahara; it was Kitahara's incredibly brilliant script and directorial aura that propelled Leonardo to this position.
The winner of the 72nd Academy Award for Best Actor is—
The presenter opened the envelope, glanced at the name on it, a smile playing on his lips, and loudly announced, "Leonardo DiCaprio! Inception!"
boom!
The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause.
The moment Leonardo heard his name, his eyes instantly welled up with tears. Instead of embracing his female companion, he abruptly turned and gave Kitahara Shin, who was sitting to his left, an extremely forceful bear hug—one that almost broke the other's bones!
"Thank you—thank you, Kitahara." His voice trembled in Kitahara Shin's ear, tinged with a sob. He knew that without this man's almost harsh training, without the character of Cobb on the verge of collapse in the dream, he didn't know how many decades he would have to endure to get rid of the "pretty face" label and win this little golden statue.
Kitahara Shin smiled and patted him on the back: "Go ahead, this is what you deserve."
Leonardo strides onto the stage and accepts the heavy little golden statuette from the presenter.
Standing in front of the microphone, he took a deep breath, suppressing his inner elation and excitement.
"I must thank the Academy and all the staff who poured their hearts and souls into Inception." Leonardo DiCaprio raised his Oscar statuette, his gaze fixed on the man in the first row of the audience.
"But today, the person I want to thank the most is the person sitting there. Director Nobu Kitahara."
Leonardo DiCaprio's voice echoed across the globe through the microphone: "Everyone says I'm lucky to have a brilliant script. But they don't know that in the blizzard of the Alps, it was this man on skis who rescued our stuntman from the edge of a cliff. In the zero-gravity corridor, he personally demonstrated every detail of muscle activation."
"He's not just a great director, he's a charismatic leader. With his talent and charisma, he shattered all my preconceived notions about acting. Kitahara, this trophy belongs half to you. Thank you for giving me a second chance!"
Thunderous applause erupted from the audience.
Those Hollywood male stars who were initially feeling a pang of jealousy now had complex expressions as they listened to Leonardo DiCaprio's heartfelt, even somewhat fanatical, acceptance speech.
They finally realized that Leonardo DiCaprio wasn't just lucky. Working with Shin Kitahara meant not only receiving the highest box office revenue share worldwide, but also a real chance to win an Oscar! This double temptation made all the top actors present secretly vow that no matter the cost, they would do everything in their power to get into Kitahara's productions in the future!
The awarding of the Best Actor award brought the atmosphere to a climax.
But everyone knows that the real coronation ceremony for the king tonight has only just begun.
The Best Director and Best Picture awards are the ultimate indicators that determine whether a film can be considered a masterpiece.
In the past, the Oscar committee, comprised of white men with an average age of over sixty, often produced surprising upsets in these core awards due to political correctness, seniority, or even behind-the-scenes PR maneuvers. Deep down, they were actually averse to foreign directors who achieved excessive box office success or were overly commercially driven.
But this year, in the face of "Inception".
All the shady dealings, all the seniority, all the arrogance—all were crushed to dust!
There was absolutely no need for Kitahara Shin to engage in groveling public relations or spend money to buy votes. The reason is simple: the quality of *Inception* was simply terrifying, and its structure was simply too ingenious. The academic discussions and box office miracles it sparked worldwide have already made it a cinematic monument standing at the crossroads of the millennium.
If the Oscars dare to award Best Director and Best Picture to someone else, then starting tomorrow, the credibility of the entire Oscars will be completely torn to shreds by film fans and academia worldwide! They will have no choice but to reluctantly and willingly hand over the supreme crown to this Asian man.
When veteran superstar Elizabeth Taylor staggered onto the stage to announce the winner of Best Director.
There weren't even any pauses to create suspense.
"Best Director: Makoto Kitahara, *Inception*!"
Everyone stand up!
Amid thunderous applause, Kitahara Shin slowly rose to his feet. He buttoned his suit jacket and walked calmly and steadily toward the stage that everyone was watching.
He didn't shed tears of excitement like the other award winners, nor did he make any exaggerated gestures. He simply calmly accepted the Oscar from Taylor and stood in front of the microphone.
The stage lights were a bit dazzling, but in Kitahara Shin's vision, he saw the presidents of Warner and Paramount applauding for him, Spielberg nodding to him, and the fervor in the eyes of countless Hollywood stars.
"Someone asked me why I would spend 160 million US dollars to build a corridor that could have been created using computers." Kitahara Shin's voice was deep and mellow, with a magnetic quality that made people unconsciously want to submit.
"My answer is that although dreams are illusory, the process of creating dreams must be real. Because only the most hardcore reality can break through the last line of defense in the human subconscious."
Shin Kitahara raised the Oscar statuette, his gaze sweeping across the audience: "One hundred years ago, film was born, and humanity gained a machine to record time. Today, we stand here to welcome a new century. I promise, this is just the beginning. Kitahara Productions will bring more dreams that transcend the laws of physics to this world. Thank you everyone."
The words fell.
There were no lengthy thank-you speeches to his parents or agent. This acceptance speech, brimming with the domineering air of a ruler's declaration, struck like a hammer blow to the heart of Hollywood's long-established capital.
Ten minutes later.
When the awards ceremony reached its final point, and the envelope for "Best Picture" was opened, Shin Kitahara, as the sole producer and investor of "Inception," once again stepped onto the stage and raised the golden statuette symbolizing the highest honor above his head.
Hollywood's old-school white capital has completely bowed down.
They looked at the Asian man on stage, holding the Best Director award in one hand and the Best Picture award in the other. They knew that at the beginning of this new century, the scepter of Hollywood had been quietly but irreversibly transferred.
With his impeccable talent, he took away their most cherished honor; and with his vast and ruthless capital, he bought up the industrial chain on which they depended for survival during the winter of the stock market crash.
At that moment, everyone—from the Japanese people watching the live broadcast on television with tears in their eyes and cheering, to the Hollywood moguls sitting in the audience with awe—reached a consensus.
Shin Kitahara is more than just a successful filmmaker.
He is a mountain.
An insurmountable mountain spanning the Pacific Ocean, which has completely dominated the global entertainment industry in the 21st century.