Hollywood: The Greatest Showman

Chapter 200: Movie Mania

The tranquility and noise of the early morning hours spread like mist within the warm tones, making the world's colors seem like a spilled palette, instantly becoming vibrant.

"No, no, this is unfair." The clear yet cold voice echoed on the rain-wet streets, the damp dark gray asphalt emanating the crispness of early autumn. "This is a historic problem, you can't just throw it at me so bluntly, it's unfair."

"Heh. Then I'll change the question. 'The Shawshank Redemption' or 'Forrest Gump,' which do you prefer? This is fair, everyone has their own tastes and habits. Speak from the perspective of a viewer."

Rooney didn't answer immediately. Instead, she scrutinized the expression between Renly's brows. He met her gaze calmly and steadily, which made Rooney grind her teeth secretly. She viciously tore off a piece of white bread, threw it into her mouth, and chewed resentfully, as if the bread had a deep-seated grudge against her.

"So, how would you answer the same question?" Rooney was still unwilling to give in easily and countered directly.

Faced with this tricky historical question, Renly showed no sign of panic. He took a bite of his sandwich, swallowed it slowly, and let the silence spread between them. The atmosphere seemed awkward, but Rooney's mouth curled up in a triumphant smile. Just then, Renly spoke.

"It's simple. Compared to 'The Shawshank Redemption,' I prefer 'In the Name of the Father.' Compared to 'Forrest Gump,' I prefer 'Gone with the Wind.'"

Renly's answer stunned Rooney. She hadn't expected this response. After pondering, she found herself unable to refute it and even thought it made a lot of sense. But quickly, Rooney reacted and glared at Renly. "No, that's sophistry. According to you, you don't like 'The Shawshank Redemption' or 'Forrest Gump,' right?" She almost got sidetracked by Renly, missing the original question's focus!

Unexpectedly, Renly nodded affirmatively, "Yes, I don't like either." This caught Rooney off guard, leaving her momentarily speechless. "Relatively, I still prefer 'Pulp Fiction.' Just like I prefer 'The Social Network' over 'The King's Speech.'"

They were discussing one of the biggest controversies in film history: the 1995 Oscars for Best Picture. "The Shawshank Redemption," "Forrest Gump," and "Pulp Fiction"—which one truly deserved the title?

"And you?" Renly didn't give Rooney a chance to catch her breath and continued to press the question.

Rooney detected Renly's intention, her pupils narrowing slightly, sending an annoyed yet regretful glance. But Renly remained unaffected, his expression one of righteous patience. This made Rooney bite her lip, but she had no intention of admitting defeat. "'Forrest Gump,' I prefer 'Forrest Gump,'" Rooney answered straightforwardly. "Because the wisdom conveyed by the film is more thought-provoking."

Renly's meaningful expression made Rooney feel a pang in her chest. "What do you mean by that look?"

"Nothing, I just didn't expect your taste to be so mainstream." Renly shrugged nonchalantly, which made Rooney bite her lower lip and stare at Renly with her bright eyes, making him laugh out loud. He was about to stuff his sandwich into his mouth but raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, earnestly admitting, "I misspoke. Those who like 'The Shawshank Redemption' are the real mainstream. Otherwise, it wouldn't be number one on IMDb, right?"

Even in apology, Renly's words, filled with sincerity and a serious expression, still exuded a British gentleman's dark humor. Rooney couldn't help but laugh out loud and nodded, "Indeed. But you're quite mainstream too, liking Stanley Kubrick."

"Gone with the Wind" is directed by Stanley, a master filmmaker hailed as a genius, known for his wide-ranging and often unconventional works. Many ardent fans revere him as a master of masters. However, due to his fame, even pseudo-fans and pretentious people like to use Stanley as a shield, thinking mentioning "A Clockwork Orange" or "2001: A Space Odyssey" would make them seem like veteran fans—a classic icebreaker.

Facing Rooney's jab, Renly calmly nodded, "I can't argue with that." His calm demeanor left Rooney's mockery hanging, and she too burst into laughter.

The two walked along the chessboard-like straight streets of the small town. Two elderly men with white hair sat on the ground, each holding a bottle of beer, the smell of burning marijuana wafting around them.

Renly greeted them, "The night is so beautiful after a fresh autumn rain. Aren't you planning to cozy up in bed?"

"We're waiting for the 3:30 screening of 'Never Let Me Go.' Want to join us?" one of the elders replied loudly, his strong voice echoing in the street.

"Kazuo Ishiguro's novels aren't my thing." Renly shrugged, politely but firmly declining, causing the elders to chuckle, "You young folks should go on your date and not waste such a beautiful night. Leave the movies to us old single guys."

Hearing this, Renly and Rooney exchanged a glance and burst out laughing.

At the end of the street, a vast field came into view. Climbing the gentle slope to the top, they could see the continuous mountains standing guard over the valley like a giant in the night.

At that moment, a bonfire blazed on the grass, its red flames licking the night sky, casting an orange glow around. Around the fire, three or four dozen young people sat, talking loudly and debating, their lively voices breaking the town's tranquility, bringing it to life. The uninhibited and flamboyant spirit of youth burned in this safe haven, showcasing the soul of the Telluride Film Festival.

"Renly! Hey, Renly!" Someone recognized Renly through the dim light, standing up and calling out. Everyone turned their heads, their shouts echoing, "Renly, Renly!" Someone even ran over, "Renly, oh hey, Rooney! You're here too? Come, come, join us. We were just discussing today's films and need your opinions."

Without giving Renly and Rooney a chance to refuse, the group ushered them to the bonfire. "Can someone tell me what's going on? Why am I suddenly in such high demand?" Renly's playful remark made everyone laugh, and someone even whistled, the atmosphere instantly heating up.

"Because you delivered a damn brilliant performance?" One comment brought a chorus of agreement. "Rooney, 'The Social Network' was fantastic, but we need to deal with Renly first."

Rooney made an inviting gesture, her eyes gleaming with eagerness, "Who's giving up a seat for me?" The young people immediately made space for her, leaving Renly standing alone, a natural target for their questions.

"Who kidnapped Paul? Was it radical terrorists or ordinary civilians?"

(A/N: Yeah, I checked multiple times but the latter option is civilians...)

"What's the deal between Paul and his wife?"

"Why did Dan mention Mark White's name? Was he brushing off Paul, or did he really not know Mark was dead? Or is there some conspiracy?"

"Is CRT's recording legal? With Paul trapped in a coffin, his life in danger, isn't there a law against what they did?"

"Why was Paul's convoy targeted? Was it purely intelligence error or something more?"

"Why were Paul's calls so chaotic, switching between the FBI and the State Department, causing repeated and confusing information? Is there some hidden meaning?"

"How was the finger-cutting scene shot? I think your performance was outstanding, totally outshining James Franco's in '127 Hours'!"

...

Questions came one after another, almost overwhelming Renly, their passion and urgency unmistakable. This reminded Renly of Toronto.

In Toronto, people eagerly approached for photos, autographs, screams, and shouts, worshipping their idols, but more like joining the noisy crowd. "Buried" became a hot topic, and they were just moths drawn to the spotlight, making Renly feel like a clown.

But in Telluride, the focus was always on the films. They never regarded Renly as just an actor but as a classmate or friend eager to share their thoughts and discuss, craving debate and exchanging ideas.

Seeing the expectant eyes before him, Renly finally felt a sense of reality: even in Telluride, amidst the buzz around "The King's Speech" and "The Social Network" on opening day, "Buried" still carved out a place for itself.