The 2004 awards season is about to come to an end. Now there are only two final awards left for the Oscars, Best Director and Best Film, which has not been announced. This year's awards season is basically a double dragon of "Million Dollar Baby" and "Flyer". In the first half of the "Flyer" takes the lead, and in the second half, the "Million Dollar Baby" rises strongly. The Golden Globe Awards can be said to be a watershed.

Above the Golden Globe Awards, "Flyer" won the best film in the plot category and the best actor in the plot category, but "Million Dollar Baby" won the best actress in the plot category and the best director. Even though everyone knows that the Golden Globe Awards like to divide the cake the most, you can still see the upward momentum of the "Million Dollar Baby". Sure enough, the American Directors' Union Award announced the answer: Clint Eastwood's career was favored by the Directors' Union for the second time.

In the 67-year history of the American Directors' Union Awards, as of 2015, only seven directors' union winners failed to win the Oscar for Best Director. This is an authoritative, professional and pure portrayal of the Directors' Union Awards, which is also a sharp contrast with the two extremes of the American Actors' Union. This year, the American Directors' Union Awards chose Clint, which is also the most direct proof of the counterattack momentum of the "Million Dollar Baby".

Whether it is the highly praised Alexander Payne or the Mike Lee who came from behind, Lance Lot Strello, the competitiveness of the best director department does not change the entire situation. Especially the works of these three directors have their own shortcomings and cannot be ignored. Even Lance, who has received numerous praises in the past year, is still a runner in the department.

The nomination for two consecutive years is a recognition of the highest honor for Lance, and he has been shortlisted for the final five of the American Directors' Union for two consecutive years, which also proves Lance's strong reputation among professional directors. But if he wants to break through and win, whether it is "City of God" or "killing with a knife", he is still a little short of breath.

This year belongs to Martin and Clint. The former is a long journey of thirty years of dream fulfillment, while the latter is the shining of human nature. No matter who wins, a legend will be written. However, judging from the choice of the American Directors' Union, the balance of victory and loss seems to have changed.

Sure enough, award presenter Julia Roberts announced the final result, "Clint Eastwood, million dollar baby."

In an instant, all the audience stood up and applauded again, giving Clint the highest praise. The tsunami-like applause and whistle truly reached tonight, and it was more turbulent, boiling and enthusiastic than any previous awards.

As one of the few directors in Hollywood who can compare with top presences such as Martin Scorses, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Clint has a wider popularity. The glorious history of an actor is an indelible result of Western films. The image of a tough guy cowboy has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. After his tough directorial style has been deeply analyzed and discussed the complexities of human nature. It can be said that he is now standing at the door of the legendary palace.

Therefore, Clint's victory is of historical significance, and it truly allowed him to join the ranks of legends. The noisy applause is no less than the respect and admiration of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

However, Martin, who stood in the shadow of Clint, became more and more regretful to wake up. Martin, who had proved himself in the 1970s, had never been recognized by the academy after working hard in Hollywood for more than 30 years. As a director, Martin contributed only a lot of film history classics than Clint, but in the face of Clint's second award, it further highlighted Martin's misery.

In the loud applause, countless eyes fell on Martin. The mixed emotions such as sympathy, regret, and comfort fell like broken stars, making Martin's old shoulder look a little more lonely and lonely.

Lance also stood up, maintaining a polite and polite social mask, and gave Clint a smile, but he could not ignore Martin's figure. He only saw that Martin straightened his back, his gentlemanly demeanor could not find any flaws. He politely slapped his hands, his eyes always staring at Clint on the stage, expressing his respect, and he could not see Martin's loss and frustration at all.

Until everyone sat down one after another, Lance and Martin also sat down.

Martin turned his head and saw Lance's curious gaze with no mercy, but sincere concern. Even if Martin noticed his gaze, he still remained calm. This made Martin's tense heartstrings slightly relax. If he sensed a slight sympathy or mercy in Lance's gaze at this time, he would only smile and turn his head politely, but Lance did not.

"It's not an unexpected result, isn't it?" Martin lowered his voice and said briefly, but it seemed meaningful.

Martin has been out of luck with the Oscars throughout his career. The hidden behind him is that he has never won the recognition of the American Directors' Union. Therefore, after missing the American Directors' Union Award again this year, Martin may have expected the situation tonight. But even so, he still came to the award ceremony with a glimmer of hope in his heart. Until this moment, the bubble of the beautiful dream was pierced.

Lance fell silent.

Turning around, you can see that there are still many people with sympathy in their eyes, as if Martin is a beggar who needs to give alms to prove himself. What a ridiculous situation. Martin does not need alms or pity. He is an excellent director. There is no doubt that he has long occupied a place in film history with practical actions. But in Hollywood or in modern society, people are always accustomed to labeling, using money, status, awards, certificates, and education to measure a person's value, rather than his work, his works, and his strength.

It is hard to imagine how much pressure Martin was under on his shoulders, and it is impossible to guess what kind of emotions Martin was in his heart at this time. In a trance, Lance understood that Martin had no loopholes in his etiquette.

After grabbing two trophysical trophysical actors and best directors in a row, "Million Dollar Baby" has returned to the same starting line as "Flyer". Although "Flyer" has included five trophysical actors, only Best Supporting Actress and Best Movie Editing are core departments. Best Photography, Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design are all trophysical departments. Due to the professionalism and special nature of these departments, the impact on the direction of the best film is very small. This also means that "Flyer" who has led the entire night and even the entire awards season has been caught up by "Million Dollar Baby" at the last moment.

If you add the Best Supporting Actor Award at the opening, the three trophys of "Million Dollar Baby" are not inferior. They make up for the shortcomings in quantity with quality, and even vaguely surpass the "Flyer", becoming the most powerful candidate for winning tonight. The situation has truly undergone earth-shaking changes.

It's like a marathon. No one can say he is the winner before he crosses the finish line.

The only thing that can be confirmed is that three of the top five of the Best Pictures have fallen behind in advance and withdrawn from the competition. "Glass of Wine Life" and "Soul Song King" each won a trophy, and "Looking for Dream Island" failed to win, and they were basically sure that they would not be able to win the final prize. The winner of the Best Pictures will only be between "Flyer" and "Million Dollar Baby", and implement the main theme of the award season to the end.

Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand joined hands to reveal the suspense of the last award tonight.

Lance turned his head to look at Martin next to him, but found that Martin was not nervous at all. He just didn't know if he had given up, had expected the ending, or had calmed down his mind. He noticed Lance's eyes, Martin raised his head and showed a calm smile, as if saying, "A normal mind." Then, Martin looked back at the stage again.

Dustin opened the envelope and Barbara revealed the answer. The trajectory of history temporarily deviated from the track at the Best Actor Award, and then returned to the original track again. The "Million Dollar Baby" carried a powerful reputation and completed the counterattack against the "Flyer", successfully ranked the Oscar and won the Best Picture!

Lance and Martin stood up again and witnessed the "Million Dollar Baby" crew taking the stage together, receiving the best film Little Golden Man, which symbolized the highest honor, officially ending the 2004 awards season.

The award ceremony was over, and everyone began to prepare to leave one after another. Although the awards had found their respective owners, some were proud and some were frustrated, life would continue. Oscar Night followed, and that was another battlefield. This is the world of fame and fortune, and the war will never end.

Lance stood in front of Martin and stretched out his right hand, "It's a pity that was not you who came on stage in the end." The teasing with a slight smile made Martin laugh, with a hint of bitterness in his hearty laughter.

"I'm lucky, that's the fact." Martin grabbed Lance's right hand and shrugged. At least the "Flyer" won five trophies. In terms of the number of trophies, it was still the biggest winner tonight. "It's a pity that Leo is still a little bit of luck." Relatively speaking, Leonardo, who missed the personal award, is indeed regrettable.

Lance laughed silently, "I refuse to make any comments on this matter." The pretentious words made the atmosphere easier. "So, see you on Oscar Night later?"

Martin didn't answer, just smiled and nodded. Perhaps, it would take him a little time to slowly digest the failure. Just as Lance was about to say goodbye and leave, Martin continued to speak, "Where is your hometown?"

Lance obviously did not expect the source of this question, he was stunned and subconsciously answered, "San Francisco." He did not answer Green Bay, nor New York, but chose San Francisco. This is also the data he filled in in public information.

Martin nodded meaningfully, showing the elder's kind smile, "Good place." Then he patted Lance's arm, and without saying anything, he turned around and started socializing with others.

Lance thought about it carefully, but still had no idea. He could only take a step and slowly leave the Kodak Theater along the crowd. To be continued.

...
Chapter completed!