A_nobody
patreon
Chapter 183: The Beginning of the End
🕑 Added 2024-12-12 17:55:02 +0000 UTC"Bill Clinton praised *Saving Private Ryan*, saying that the film reflected the American spirit…"
Like the news coverage of Duke and others attending the memorial event, the next day's media was filled with stories about Clinton and *Saving Private Ryan*. Hollywood was no stranger to using the President for film promotion. Fox employed a very orthodox promotional strategy, but if necessary, they wouldn't hesitate to stir things up with humorous anecdotes about Bill Clinton and the film.
In the media's portrayal, the person in the White House was never revered but often the butt of jokes and scapegoating.
With the content of the film and the backing of three major companies and their media partners, *Saving Private Ryan* had sparked a nationwide sensation.
Even though some African Americans were still protesting outside the Fox building, mainstream media ignored them entirely. Instead, the praise for *Saving Private Ryan* grew louder. Influential publications like *The New York Times* and *The Los Angeles Times* rushed to declare it "the best war movie ever" and "a milestone in the history of war films" immediately after Memorial Day.
Even Sidney Coleman, the acting president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, said in an interview, "War films can now be divided into those made before *Saving Private Ryan* and those made after."
In this wave of praise, one group was conspicuously silent: the professional film critics!
This group, usually so eager to offer opinions on the film industry, seemed to be blind to the phenomenon of *Saving Private Ryan*. In their world, it was as if the film didn't exist—they were utterly silent.
"Yesterday, on Memorial Day…"
Gene Siskel, sitting at a small round table in the garden, looked across at Roger Ebert, who was slowly sipping tea, and said, "*Saving Private Ryan*'s box office rebounded, grossing $19.25 million in a single day! Its total North American box office has reached $78.49 million!"
"In another two or three days, it'll cross $100 million."
Roger Ebert, putting down his teacup, seemed lost in thought. "Is he going to succeed again?"
"Given the current trend, it should hit $100 million in another two days." Gene Siskel wore a deeply reluctant expression. "*Independence Day* hit $100 million in North America in six days. Could it be…"
"It won't. *Saving Private Ryan* won't become *Independence Day*." Roger Ebert shook his head. "Its box office success is partly due to the film itself and partly to the timing. After Memorial Day and the anniversary of the Normandy landing, its box office will plummet."
Gene Siskel didn't respond. While Roger Ebert's predictions about the Academy Awards were authoritative, his box office forecasts were about as reliable as those of other professional critics—which was to say, not very.
After a while, Gene took a sip of his tea and said thoughtfully, "Luckily, most critics took your advice and didn't confront Duke Rosenberg directly on this film."
If they had attacked *Saving Private Ryan* the way they had *Independence Day* last year, they might have been drowned out by the chorus of praise from the mainstream media. They could even end up like those protesters outside the Fox building—completely ignored by mainstream society.
"Roger, I've received reliable information," Siskel continued, "*Saving Private Ryan*'s producers have decided to go for next year's award season."
"Duke Rosenberg won't win an award!"
Roger Ebert's eyes flashed sharply. "Duke Rosenberg definitely won't win!"
While critics might not be able to stand up to Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, and Walt Disney, they could still block someone from winning at the Academy Awards, which held the most influence.
Duke had already been notified that *Saving Private Ryan* would compete in the awards season, which was only natural. A film like this was bound to maximize its benefits, and if it won a few Oscars or similar awards, its VHS and television rights would rise dramatically.
After leaving Washington, Duke and other key members of the cast went on a promotional tour of major cities across North America. Although Tom Hanks was the most popular member of the cast, Duke, as the director, was no longer a stranger to audiences, and he even met a few dedicated fans.
As Memorial Day weekend came to an end, *Saving Private Ryan*'s box office took a sharp dip. However, it still managed to pull in $11.57 million on Tuesday and $11.05 million on Wednesday, firmly pushing its North American box office past the $100 million mark within six days—an impressive $101.11 million!
Meanwhile, its closest competitor, *Braveheart*, grossed only $8.79 million in the same period, falling short of the $10 million threshold.
With *Braveheart* underperforming and *Die Hard 3* past its peak, *Saving Private Ryan* was dominating the North American box office heading into the weekend. Its biggest competition for the coming weekend would be *The Bridges of Madison County*, directed by veteran cowboy Clint Eastwood and starring Meryl Streep.
On Friday, the cast arrived in Nashville, Tennessee, the music capital of the nation. After finishing the routine promotional rounds, Duke tried calling a number he hadn't dialed much since he got it.
"Hello, this is Twain... Who's calling?"
The voice on the other end was still sweet and charming, though it sounded much more distant. Duke replied coolly, "Hello, Shania."
"Duke…"
Ten minutes later, Duke was in a hotel-provided car, leaving downtown Nashville and heading to the address Shania Twain had given him. Since they had parted ways in San Francisco, they hadn't seen each other again.
The car pulled up in the western suburbs of Nashville, past a white house with columns, stopping at the back door. The driver honked a few times, and the door opened from the inside. Duke, wearing a hat and sunglasses, quickly got out of the car and went inside.
Shania Twain stood at the door, dressed in a light blue sheer short skirt and a sleeveless white T-shirt. Her long auburn hair fell naturally down her back, and her beautiful face was lightly made up.
"It's been a while, Shania." Duke handed her a bouquet of flowers. "You're as stunning as ever."
"Thank you!"
Gesturing for him to follow, Shania led Duke inside. "You don't look much different yourself."
They entered the living room, and after Duke sat down, Shania put the flowers in a vase. Turning back, she asked, "Would you like something to drink?"
"Tea or coffee would be fine."
Perhaps it was because they hadn't seen each other in a long time, or maybe because they'd never been that close in the first place, but there was a clear distance between them. Shania made two cups of coffee, brought them over, and sat across from him. Duke could distinctly feel the unfamiliarity and detachment.
"Your new album just came out recently, right?"
Duke did some preparation before coming, and took the initiative to break the awkward silence. "Didn't you go out to run announcements?"
"The promotion is over for now." Shania Twain put down her coffee cup and responded with a smile, "The company is preparing for a US tour, and I'm doing some preparatory work."
"Congratulations, Shania." Duke thought of the conversation they had had. This was a woman who had always been chasing her dreams. She was one of the few women who could catch up with her dreams. "You have realized your dream and are now a famous singer in the United States."
Shania Twain's first album received only average response, but the second album released earlier this year produced many number one singles, and the sales of the entire album continued to rise, and soon became a gold record.
"Thanks!"
Perhaps thinking of her current fame, Shania Twain smiled brilliantly, "Duke, my success is nothing in front of you."
She looked at Duke across from her. The ordinary director had already stood at the top of the Hollywood director ranks. If...
Shania Twain shook her head. Not to mention that the possibility was slim, even if it was possible, she didn't want to be just a vassal of a man, and being a film director wouldn't bring much help to her career.
After finishing a small pot of coffee, Duke and Shania Twain left the living room tacitly and walked into the bedroom on the second floor. They were no longer young men and women full of romantic feelings. Duke's purpose in calling Shania Twain was very clear, and Shania Twain agreed to his visit, and she was obviously prepared for something to happen.
The two of them had no psychological burden. They helped each other take off their clothes as quickly as possible and quickly overlapped each other.
During this time, Shania Twain turned over and sat on Duke, shaking her waist while pressing him down hard, "Remember what you did to me in San Francisco? I said, one day I will get it back!"
"How do you ask for it?" Duke asked curiously, preparing to stand up.
"I want you to do it again!"
Letting go of Duke, Shania turned over and lay on the thick mattress. As if issuing a warm invitation, she slapped her beautiful and firm buttocks with her backhand, making an alluring crisp sound.
Duke naturally would not refuse such an invitation. His long and broad palm slowly stroked up along Shania's legs, then lifted it up and dropped it...
Nearly an hour later, silence returned to the bedroom. Shania Twain lay on Duke's chest and took several deep breaths. She seemed to have recovered. Her blurry eyes gradually became bright. She tried to glance behind her, then propped herself up and moved away from where Duke was lying.
Turning his head, Duke looked at Shania Twain, vaguely guessing that this strong and intelligent woman must have made some decision that seemed to be related to him.
"Duke..." Shania pulled the blanket over her sexy body, "From now on, we will just be ordinary friends."
Duke knew exactly what this meant. He reached out and gently stroked Shania's pretty face, pinched her tall nose, and said nothing.
The two started out as sex buddies and will certainly end up as sex buddies.
Before the night came, Duke rejected Shania Twain's dinner invitation and hurried back to the hotel because his publicist, Penny Kellis, came to Nashville and wanted to discuss Oscar matters with him
