"Chicago is a successful commercial adaptation, a typical Duke Rosenberg movie carnival feast. In essence, this is no different from popcorn films such as Independence Day and The Island of Deadly. It is just a popular and mediocre commercial film under the guise of singing and dancing. It has very little artistic content. Apart from the gorgeous visual impact and the humor that makes people laugh, there is extremely limited praise. This is ultimately a pseudo-song-dance film with extremely lack of artistic and traditional singing and dancing elements!"

——Chicago Sun Roger Albert.∮

On Christmas Eve, a large number of articles criticizing "Chicago" appeared in the media, and film critics rushed to the forefront, with many remarks like Roger Albert. They used all their rhetoric and tried their best to push the film towards commercial direction.

As Harvey Weinstein said, the two high-grossing films "Forrest Gump" and "Save Private Ryan" have become the winners of the Oscars one after another, which inevitably touched the sensitive nerves of the conservatives in the academy. In the inherent thinking of these people, popularization must be vulgar, and movies with too strong commercial elements will inevitably not be liked by them, especially under the premise of the previous two sessions as the prelude.

Harvey Weinstein is not the future Harvey Weinstein, but he has also grasped the mentality of the conservatives who dominate the academy.

This is only one aspect, and on the other hand, Harvey Weinstein aimed at Tom Cruise, and media comments like "Cruise's performance is as bad as it is" and "his singing and dancing are as ridiculous as a duck."

A bad actor will directly affect the entire performance of the film during the awards season. In the absence of fame of the other two heroines, is Duke still better than Tom Cruise when there is no pain in his feet?

Moreover, in the eyes of those old men, Tom Cruise, who is the representative of the "small and stinky" actor, has always been synonymous with no acting skills and relying on his face to make a living. Who would he not behave?

What's more, Tom Cruise can be criticized.

It was probably because Duke had the experience of blackmailing Cruise a few years ago. During this sensitive period that was related to the entire awards season, many gossip newspapers once again talked about Tom Cruise's belief. Although faith cannot be the main reason to attack people in this land that claims to be free, the primary premise of the Oscars is that the political and value orientation is correct. The one advocated by Scientology is really difficult to be recognized by mainstream society.

Many tabloids also dragged Nicole Kidman in and criticized Tom Cruise for having problems with family. He and Nicole Kidman were in a false marriage. Cruise divorced his ex-wife Rogers and married Nicole Kidman. He was completely manipulated by Scientology. He was not an independent Hollywood movie star at all, but just a puppet used by Scientology to promote.

The college has more than 6,000 members. Half of them or even more, and they don’t go to watch movies before voting. Even if it’s just one of them, it often takes a lot of effort to win the favor of these people and fight for the votes in their hands, and it only takes a nasty reason to arouse their disgust.

There are countless examples of hateful actors and hateful of a movie.

What is even more exaggerated is that the tabloid questioned Tom Cruise's sexual orientation, which is not the future. Even Judy Foster, who has never lacked courage, dares to disclose sexual orientation. It is a taboo for the Oscars.

The competition for Oscars in the past was also fierce enough, but the behavior of smearing opponents often ended in moderation, and everything seemed to have changed since the previous Oscars.

Mel Gibson went from a popular Oscar to a frustrated person who is now unwilling, which has allowed many people to see a good way to win awards - to get rid of their competitors and get ahead!

Harvey Weinstein, an Oscar speculator, is naturally the best among them.

Unfavorable remarks about "Chicago" are circulating everywhere, and Warner Bros. and the Duke Studio are of course not idle either. While the other side is attacking, they are also constantly fighting back.

Many judges do not watch related movies, and even if they do a lot of work, they can still vote with their feet. So some media questioned that "The Patient in the UK" has a tendency to sympathize with the Nazis.

Truth is not important, what is important is that it can affect some people's choices.

At the same time, many gunmen reports also made a vague hint that this is a movie about Europeans, Anthony Mingla is also a homosexual, etc.

In short, Miramax is smearing "Chicago", while Duke Studio and Warner Bros. attack "British Patient". None of them uses less means than each other.

It seemed that he had received some hints. In the following days, the media supporting "The Patient in the UK" had been criticizing Duke for over-commercializing the production of "Chicago" and losing the essence of the song and dance film.

As if to reflect the media's criticism, the North American box office of "Chicago" easily exceeded 100 million US dollars. After spending its fifth weekend before Christmas, the box office reached 111.05 million US dollars!

Judging from the box office trend alone, "Chicago" is like a pure commercial film no matter how you look at it.

Christmas is coming, Duke did not go to New York, and his mother is coming here to attend the entertainment party jointly held by George Lucas and Lucasfilm. This year's Christmas party is spent in Malibu. Unlike previous years, there are two more people spending Christmas Eve together.

The first is Catherine Zeta Jones. Although Pany Carris has been actively planning to end the relationship between the two, the other party does not take the initiative to go out, and Duke can't drive her out on Christmas Eve.

There is also Erin Lauder who came here from New York to attend the Lucas dinner. She came to Los Angeles not only because she accepted George Lucas’ personal invitation, but also represented the entire Estee Lauder. These cosmetics and luxury goods companies have always had close relationships with Hollywood, and the entertainment industry is also their high-end consumer market.

"So you are going to sponsor this Oscar?"

While cutting the roasted turkey, Duke asked Erin Lauder, who was sitting next to his mother, "Has it been agreed?"

"I came to Los Angeles this time, not only to attend Mr. Lucas' banquet, but also to handle these tasks."

Erin Lauder shrugged his shoulders gracefully and said, "In fact, the negotiation has been made today. After the Christmas holiday, I will sign the contract with the Film Academy on behalf of Estee Lauder."

Duke handed over the plate of turkey, waited for her to take it, and said, "Will your products appear in the Oscars package?"

“The turkey tastes great.”

This food has always been a taboo for women on dieting. Erin Lauder just took a bite, put it aside, and then answered Duke's words, "The latest Lauder skincare suit."

She smiled playfully at Duke, "Of course you can't use it, what's last year?"

"I didn't see the Oscar gift package last year." Duke handed the turkey plate to Zeta Jones and continued, "I gave it to Tina after receiving it."

The Oscars provide a gift package for nominees and invited guests attending the award ceremony. The gift package usually comes from sponsors of various brands, ranging from cosmetics to men's underwear to hotel coupons and other items. The gift package also varies depending on the status and the nominations received, and the value ranges from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars.

For people of Duke’s level, these gift packs are usually given to their assistants or friends.

The rumors about Oscar gift packs in recent years can also reflect how crazy this country that started out as tax resistance is in terms of tax collection. It is rumored that the IRS has set its sights on the Oscar gift packs and will tax the recipients!

“Duke…”

Mrs. Leah put down her knife and fork and said, "When I came from New York, the president of Victoria's Secret asked me to invite you to participate in the annual show of Victoria's Secret next year. Also, the shareholders' meeting is about to be held. If you don't attend, it's better to find an agent."

"I get it, mom." Duke nodded.

With his current status in the film industry, as long as he sits in the Victoria's Secret show, even if he doesn't say anything or do nothing, he can raise the style of the show.

"Hey, my dear, are you a shareholder of Victoria's Secret?" Erin Lauder deliberately squeezed his eyes at him, "I guess there will be many men envy you."

"What's there to envy?"

Hearing Duke's words, Erin Lauder raised an eyebrow at him. Duke could understand this expression, and the other party was clearly saying that I understand you.

Sitting silently at the dining table, Catherine Zeta Jones found herself an outsider at all. She could not insert their topics. Even if she spoke, she often could not get enthusiastic responses. Moreover, she could not get most of the topics they talked about.

For example, the high-end New York circle mentioned by Duke and Erin Lauder, the investments that Mrs. Leah occasionally mentions, etc., have nothing to do with Hollywood at all.

This comes from differences in origin, status, wealth and ethnicity. Zeta Jones is not an innocent little girl. This country is known as a paradise of freedom and equality, but in fact the barriers between classes are extremely obvious.

She and they are people who live in two worlds.

For some reason, Catherine Zeta Jones suddenly realized that sometimes people stand taller and see more things.

The small banquet ended until very late. Duke found a driver and sent Erin Lauder back to the hotel.

"Can you see new Star Wars members tomorrow?"

Walking out of the eye-type villa, Erin Lauder asked Duke who sent her out, although he was more mature and smarter than before, but his passion for movies did not completely disappear. "You mentioned the story of Anakin, Skywalker and Padme, Amidala last time? Can you see their new actors?"

“It is said that they will be present.”
Chapter completed!