#"Don't worry, Murphy. I'll definitely be on time, maybe just a little late," said Robert Downey Jr. as he hung up the phone. He stepped out of the event venue, instantly surrounded by a throng of reporters, eager to catch a glimpse of the star of "The Wolf of Wall Street."
"Robert!" a reporter shouted, "You've had three consecutive movies grossing over a hundred million dollars in North America. How does that feel?"
Robert Downey Jr. ignored the question, instead correcting the reporter, "Your information is outdated. 'The Wolf of Wall Street' has already grossed over 200 million dollars in North America. Thank you!"
Many reporters were annoyed by his boastful attitude but had nothing to refute, given that in its fourth weekend, "The Wolf of Wall Street" had indeed surpassed the 200 million dollar mark. Coupled with "Iron Man" and "Sherlock Holmes," Downey had now starred in three consecutive blockbusters.
"Robert, what do you think about the controversies surrounding 'The Wolf of Wall Street'?" another reporter asked.
"It's a very enlightening film. The character's actions might seem amusing or funny," Downey repeated what he had said before, "Murphy aims to make the film a mirror for the audience to judge their behavior, rather than simply providing moral judgments of right or wrong."
He paused before continuing, "I hope every viewer can see Jordan Belfort's journey from rise to fall and ultimate destruction and reflect on the consumerist culture in contemporary American society. In a market, everyone inevitably becomes a consumer, naturally wanting to acquire more."
A reporter thrust a microphone towards him, asking, "But many Oscar voters criticize the film's stance and the values it reflects."
"I've said this before," Downey reiterated, "These voters completely misunderstand the situation. The film tries to objectively portray the character's experiences and actions as accurately as possible without any sympathy or criticism."
Seeing more questions coming, Downey glanced at his watch. It was getting late. Signaling his assistant, he squeezed through the crowd of reporters to his Bentley and got into the car.
"To Beverly Hills," Downey instructed the driver, "Murphy's Wavecrest Manor."
The black Bentley sped out of the Santa Monica commercial district, heading towards Beverly Hills.
Sitting comfortably in the car, watching the streetlights and neon signs flash by, Downey felt a sudden sense of unreality.
Had it really been just a few years since he went from being a despised addict to one of Hollywood's most envied A-list stars?
Especially with a film like "The Wolf of Wall Street," which wasn't a mainstream blockbuster, achieving such phenomenal box office success. He couldn't help but admire Murphy's filmmaking skills and his prowess in marketing a movie.
Without the right promotional strategies and word-of-mouth marketing, even if "The Wolf of Wall Street" did well in North America, it would have likely flopped overseas.
But now, the film was not only a hit in North America but also performing remarkably well internationally.
Released in several regions across Europe, the Far East, and other parts of the world in its third weekend in North America, "The Wolf of Wall Street" had grossed over $151 million overseas. Its global box office total stood at over $358 million, making the $400 million milestone imminent.
The film's strong box office performance was complemented by success in the award season, recently winning three major awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association: Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Actor. Moreover, Robert Downey Jr. had learned from his father that a significant group of influential Academy voters, led by Frank Pierson, supported "The Wolf of Wall Street." Currently, the film's chances of securing nominations for Best Director, Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Actor were rising.
An Oscar statuette...
Downey rubbed his fingers together, longing to hold the Best Actor Oscar. However, he knew that, given his association with "Iron Man," winning that award would be a significant challenge.
Lost in thought, Downey didn't realize the Bentley had arrived at Wavecrest Manor until it stopped in front of the mansion.
Getting out of the car, he headed straight to the dining room, where he saw Murphy, Gal Gadot, and Ross seated at the oak dining table.
Ross looked slightly different from before. Downey noticed two new, faint scars on his face.
"You're late," Murphy pointed to an empty seat at the table. "Take a seat."
Downey greeted Gal Gadot with a smile before sitting next to Ross, pointing to his scars, "What happened? Got into trouble again?"
Ross nodded at Downey, then replied, "The Vietnamese are becoming more unruly."
"Vietnamese did this?" Downey was surprised. "They managed to hurt you?"
Ross sneered, "The leaders of the Vietnamese gang are now washing at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean."
"Try this French escargot," Gal Gadot interrupted, steering the conversation away. "It's made by a French chef I specially hired."
Downey glanced at Gal Gadot, admiring her quick thinking.
Ross also looked at her, realizing he had almost said too much. He took a bite of the escargot and nodded, "It's good."
"We haven't been to the city center in a while," Murphy said. "Are the Vietnamese really that aggressive?"
"Old Chinatown is now entirely under Vietnamese control," Ross shook his head, choosing his words carefully. "They don't follow any rules, often resorting to violence at the slightest provocation."
Sensing the tension, Gal Gadot quickly asked, "Is it really that chaotic?"
Ross just smiled, while Downey added, "Ask Murphy. He grew up in a slum."
"For someone like Murphy, who grew up in the slums," Ross said with a hint of admiration, "to achieve such great success is rare. Maybe one in ten thousand."
"One in ten thousand?" Downey shook his head. "Try one in a hundred thousand. There's only one Murphy Stanton in all of Hollywood and America."
"I just got lucky," Murphy lifted his glass towards Ross. "Without the trials in prison, I wouldn't be who I am today."
Ross knew that those difficult times had turned a small-time thug into a determined man.
Thinking of Murphy's achievements, Ross drained his glass and sighed, "Murphy, I envy you. My life feels like I'm walking on the edge of an erupting volcano every day."
Murphy sensed something off in Ross's tone and asked, "Is something wrong?"
"Nothing," Ross shook his head. "It's just that in recent years, I feel more and more like I'm on a path of no return, with darkness ahead and no future in sight."
"Why not change careers?" Downey suggested. "Drop your current burdens and start anew. Murphy and I can help."
Ross smiled wryly, "It's not that simple. My work isn't something I can just walk away from."
Although he hadn't been directly involved, Murphy could imagine that even if Ross wanted to leave, it wouldn't be easy or quick. With his significant control over the Los Angeles market, it was hard to believe he had no ties to certain legal departments.
"If there's anything I can do, just let me know," Murphy offered.
Ross smiled but didn't respond directly, instead saying, "I've been dealing with the Vietnamese a lot lately, and they often talk about fate."
"When did you start believing in that?" Downey shook his head.
"Isn't it true?" Ross shrugged. "Ever since I was molested by a Catholic priest at twelve, I was destined never to lead a normal life."
Downey was shocked, "That happened?"
He glanced at Murphy, who showed no surprise, clearly aware of Ross's past.
Murphy had heard about Ross's unfortunate childhood back in prison. Those traumatic experiences had driven Ross away from school and into a life of crime.
Seeing Downey wanting to ask more, Murphy shook his head slightly. Downey suppressed his curiosity and stayed silent.
The mood in the dining room lightened as they moved past the somber topic. Gal Gadot even prepared an Israeli dish, falafel, to show her hospitality, though its taste was mediocre.
As night deepened, Ross was the first to leave. Murphy, Downey, and Gal Gadot escorted him to the door.
Before getting into his car, Ross stopped and gestured for Murphy to come closer.
"I do need your help with something," Ross whispered.
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