Chapter 1972: 1972 Fall Short
After all, history continues to move forward according to the original track. Although there was a little accident in the process, "LA Confidential" snatched the best film editing award, which made it impossible for "Titanic" to catch up with "Titanic". According to the historical record of "Ben-Hur", "only" won ten statuettes in a single session, ranking second in film history, and failed to further create history; but the ending still developed according to the standard procedure. After including the best director, "Titanic" "It was a matter of course that the best picture was included in the bag, and it became the biggest winner of the 70th Oscar in one fell swoop, and the topic of endless debate finally came to an end for the time being.
Although everyone knows that the debate between the traditionalists and the innovative will continue forever, just like the balance between commercial films and art films-it has been debated for nearly a century but has not yet reached a conclusion. The debate between "Titanic" and "LA Confidential" is also difficult to draw a clear conclusion: after all, this is not a math problem.
But at least for now, Oscar has given an answer as an authority: the historical process of the film industry will continue to move forward, which is unstoppable. Computer special effects have become the most important part of the film industry. Best film statuette to prove it. On the road of historical progress, the reformists once again defeated the traditional conservatives who were stagnant.
Just like the birth of "Male and Female Thieves", this work announced the surging wave of new Hollywood movies with a ground-breaking gesture. On the 40th Oscar, "Male and Female Thieves" won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Two Best Supporting Actors, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Ten nominations including best photography and best costume design, and finally won the two statuettes of best supporting actress and best photography.
It wasn't "The Graduate" that won best picture that Oscar, it wasn't "Guess. Ho's. Coming. To. Dinner", it wasn't "Doctor. Dolittle" , nor "Male and Female Thieves", but "Hot Summer Night (In. The. Heat. Of. The. Night)".
History has proved that the Academy's choice was not wise, because even though "Male and Female Thieves" was not recognized by the Academy, it still completely changed the trajectory of the entire Hollywood film industry and affected the direction of film development for the next thirty years. As for "Hot Summer Night", it has been submerged in the long river of history. Although this is still an excellent work about racial issues, even "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" is more widely regarded as an equally reflective work. praise.
In the face of history, even the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences can only be regarded as a pawn, and their decisions cannot stop the process of history. This is the true power of history!
Now, thirty years later, another cycle has returned. "Titanic" appeared in the film market as a "male and female thief", and this time the Academy did not miss it again. They chose "Titanic" and the development direction of film production represented by this movie. Follow the trend of the times and gallop forward.
This is not a victory for "Titanic", nor a victory for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, but a victory for the entire film industry-at least on the night of March 23, 1998, everyone firmly believed that a little.
Hugo knew that the wheel of history was hard to shake. He was just a little butterfly, and even though he tried his best to flap his wings, he could not resist the might of the tsunami. But even so, Hugo still felt a trace of regret that he was so close—so close that he could use his own power to change history. In fact, he has changed history.
"L.A. Confidential" won the Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing awards, and once again made people feel the infinite charm of Hollywood's golden age classic movies. After "Titanic", it ranked second in the 1997 year-end box office list.
After "As Good as It Gets" won the Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Original Screenplay awards, it once again made people realize the charm of the lines and re-displayed the solid writing skills of the screenwriters in those golden years and delicate shaping ability. The name "Ernst Lechmann" has once again returned to people's sight, awakening those memories of stage plays and classic masterpieces.
Although the six statuettes of the two works are not comparable to the ten trophies of "Titanic", the academy expressed their position in this way: it is imperative for computer special effects to change history, but the importance of the script It should never be ignored, and it should be respected again, because only a really good script, combined with the correct use of computer special effects, can make the film industry to a higher level.
This is the history that Hugo changed, "As Good as It Gets" and "LA Confidential" got more attention, and the importance of the script was reiterated once again. In the era of blockbuster films led by visual effects, retro forces should not be underestimated. It's just that, within the large production companies, how much effect this hint of the Oscars will play, and how much influence it will have on the future development of the film industry. No one can predict.
However, it is a pity that the cooperation of "LA Confidential" and "As Good as It Gets" is only a little bit away from overturning history, but in the end it fell short. It is precisely this kind of success that is so close at hand that makes Hugo feel an indescribable loss in his heart, as if a ball of cotton is stuffed in his chest, he can only show a wry smile.
But Hugo also has an advantage: he is about to become one of the helmsmen of DreamWorks. As the most important independent production resource in Hollywood in the future, DreamWorks has the ability to become the last piece of pure land after Wall Street controls Hollywood, and it also has this ability to rely on Use your influence to change the market. Therefore, all possibilities in the future exist.
This is a night that belongs to history. According to statistics afterwards, an average of 58 million viewers watched the 4.5-hour awards ceremony, which easily created a new high in the history of Oscars. For the first time, the average viewership of the Oscars exceeded 50 million!
Throughout the entire awards ceremony, the moment with the highest audience was the moment when the "Titanic" climbed to the top. More than 62 million viewers witnessed James Cameron leading the largest cruise ship in history to occupy the sacred auditorium; The moment with the second highest number of viewers was the announcement of the best director, with a total of 59.5 million viewers; and the announcement of the best original screenplay award, with an instant audience of 58 million , not even the best actor reveal moment reaches such heights.
It can be said that this is an Oscar that made history from beginning to end.
From Charlize winning the Best Supporting Actress Award, to Hugo becoming the second actor and screenwriter award in film history, to Jack's third acting statuette, and finally to the "Titanic" award win. The 70th Academy Awards went down in the annals of history, creating an almost insurmountable pinnacle—in fact, no Academy Awards ceremony has attracted so much attention in the two decades since At this point, perhaps Hollywood can only wait quietly for the next moment of historical change to arrive.
It's just that I don't know if it will happen every 30 years or if it will take longer.
In addition to "Titanic", in fact, Hugo was the most prominent of the night, not only because he defeated a lot of strong opponents and won the best original screenplay - unknowingly, his personal statuette has also It reached three; moreover, because of the two works produced by him, "LA Confidential" and "As Good as It Gets" became the works of the night after "Titanic", and the limelight was not inferior. It is foreseeable that in the future, Hugo will set off more waves as a producer and screenwriter. In the process of historical change, Hugo's role will become more and more important.
Therefore, when Hugo came to the backstage of the sacred auditorium and waited for his statuette to be engraved, the reporters surrounded him in an instant, fighting against James Cameron on the other side, just from the perspective of momentum , Hugo is absolutely no slouch here.
James glanced at Hugo through the crowd, and the eyes of the two collided in the air. James smiled provocatively at Hugo, and raised his chin high. This is the first time that James has faced Hugo with such direct emotions, almost undisguised his pride and pride, which made Hugo raise his eyebrows slightly, and responded with a bright smile—because Rain If you know, the blockbuster era has just kicked off, and everything in the future is unknown.
However, James didn't care at all. Any reaction of Hugo seemed to him to be the sophistry and escape of the loser, so he sneered lightly, then retracted his gaze in the victor's posture, and faced the front of him again. reporter.
Hugo had no intention of defending himself, so he looked back at the reporter in front of him, "Hugo, may I ask that tonight both of your works regrettably failed to win the best picture award, but witnessed the 'Titanic' What do you think of the big win, and last year's 'Independence Day' that didn't even get a nomination?"
The reporter's interpretation was really unique and sharp. Hugo laughed, "A movie is the work of the entire crew. I don't think it can be distinguished by victory and failure. I thought you would ask me about the Best Original Screenplay Award What about the problem." In two simple sentences, Hugo expressed his position: he is an independent individual, but the film is a whole, so there is no need to continue to ask.
In fact, Hugo's attitude can also be seen: he avoided the reporters' questions, and did not send blessings or praises to the "Titanic". This is Hugo's position.
"So, can you tell me more about Ernst Lechmann?"