King of Hollywood

Chapter 128: Chapter 128 It’s Better to Change the Word

“I never expected to see you here, Drew, you look even more charming,” Adrian said with a smile as he turned to look at the attractive young woman in front of him.

Tonight, Drew Barrymore wore a black spaghetti strap dress with matching stilettos, accentuating her voluptuous figure perfectly. Her slightly unkempt, wavy blonde hair hung down, adding to her exceptionally sexy allure.

“Really? But everyone says I’ve gained some weight,” Drew giggled, her slightly parted red lips giving off a teasing vibe.

“Voluptuousness has its own beauty, as long as you manage it well,” Adrian waved his hand, “I heard some models starve themselves to look like sticks, which is really scary. Anything excessive becomes terrible.”

As he spoke, his gaze unabashedly roamed over her body. Although they had only shared a passionate encounter at a celebration party, the memory was still pleasantly lingering.

Faced with Adrian’s gaze, Drew didn’t shy away but instead pushed her chest out further, her doll-like face becoming even more seductive, “Exactly, which is why I never care about dieting.”

“That too should have a limit, being too voluptuous can look bad,” Adrian’s tone took on a teasing note.

“How disappointing, can’t you keep saying nice things?” Drew flicked her hair and sighed as she moved to Adrian’s right side, “But, maybe you could spin a good story out of this topic?”

Adrian raised his eyebrows, unable to miss the implication. The movie “Guncrazy” he had prepared for her didn’t make much at the box office upon release but did earn a bit since it wasn’t costly. Yet, it was highly praised by critics, many considering it her best performance from the late ’80s to now. For Drew, eager to shake off a negative image, such reviews were far more valuable than high box office returns.

“Who knows? Maybe a sudden spark will inspire some ideas,” Adrian said as he looked at her face and smiled. He certainly didn’t mind having another passionate encounter with her.

But then, another familiar voice chimed in: “Hey Ed, so you’re here.”

“I was just chatting with James and then bumped into Miss Barrymore,” Adrian began introducing Drew to Monica, but before he could introduce Monica, Drew reached out her hand first, “No need for introductions, I know who it is. Monica Bellucci, your muse, right, Ed?”

“Nice to meet you, Miss Barrymore,” Monica said nonchalantly, slightly lifting her chin, “I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

“Not at all, I was just discussing some ordinary things with Ed,” Drew’s eyes flickered with disdain, “I think you two probably have a lot to talk about, so I’ll leave the time to you.”

With that, she smiled slightly and gave Adrian a deep look before turning and leaving, not dragging it out. Watching her graceful departing figure, Adrian couldn’t help but silently applaud in his mind.

“Your relationship seems quite good,” Monica spoke again, her face neutral but her tone slightly jealous, not escaping Adrian’s ears.

“Yes, I invited her to star in a movie,” Adrian looked at Monica with a half-smile.

“I see,” Monica snorted, apparently still unaware of the change in her tone.

“It’s weird, you seem a bit different,” Adrian said teasingly as he looked at her.

Monica took a deep breath and glared at Adrian, saying nothing. Fortunately, Adrian quickly withdrew his hand, but his half-smiling demeanor left her unsure how to react.

It took Monica a few minutes to compose herself, after which she tossed her hair and gave Adrian a seductive look. “What are your plans after the premiere, Ed?”

“Of course, I have to rush back to the villa.” Adrian raised an eyebrow at her.

Monica was slightly dazed. She knew exactly what he was implying.

“Am I just your mistress?” she suddenly asked.

“I think ‘lover’ is a better word,” Adrian replied seriously, watching her intently from the corner of the room where they stood—though he had slightly invaded her space earlier, he made no further moves. “Don’t tell me you’ve never felt it.”

Monica opened her mouth but said nothing, and Adrian laughed as he took her arm. “Come on, the movie is about to start. Let’s head to the screening room. I’m really looking forward to seeing your dance on the big screen again.”

There’s no need to describe the audience’s reaction at the premiere. Didn’t “Pulp Fiction” receive a massive cheer in Cannes? How could it be different here? Interestingly enough, the press conference that followed intrigued everyone. After grilling the actors extensively, the journalists turned their focus to Adrian, who had been absent from the public eye for a while.

“This movie, rich in cult style, has made you the youngest Palme d’Or winner. Do you feel this is more of a positive or a negative for your career, Mr. Adrian?”

“Will you continue making movies in this cult style, or do you have other plans and arrangements?”

“How do you view movies with a cult style compared to art-house dramas?”

“Will we have the chance to see other types of movies from you in the future?”

Nearly all questions revolved around the style of “Pulp Fiction” and another movie that had been put on ice—a tantalizing topic indeed, as everyone was curious about what an art-house drama directed by a filmmaker renowned for his cult style would look like. These reporters were not like the paparazzi; their questions were astute, forcing him to respond unless he wanted to dodge with a “no comment.”

However, Adrian wasn’t troubled by it. Having chosen to return to Los Angeles for the premiere, he was prepared to handle the media. Though the debate since March had earned “Scent of a Woman” a significant amount of attention, and the film was yet months away from its release, it could not be ignored after “Pulp Fiction” won the Palme d’Or. A diversionary tactic was apropos—after all, a suitable debate could only be beneficial, especially when he already knew the outcome.

“To be honest, I’m still surprised that ‘Pulp Fiction’ won the Palme d’Or. The numerous accolades from critics are truly flattering. In my view, it’s just an entertaining, fun noir movie. I pieced together lots of details and borrowed from many movies to create a cohesive, circular jigsaw puzzle, despite its apparent cracks. I’m thrilled that I chose John, Samuel, Bruce, Dennis, and Monica. They perfectly matched my vision and brought their characters to life beautifully. As for the future, of course, I’ll make changes. I have many ideas and plans and refuse to confine myself to a narrow scope. I’m not afraid of failure, nor do I believe I’ll fail. I know you’re all curious about my fourth movie—let’s just say it will be released within the year. Also, my next project, a full-fledged art-house drama, is about to begin production. Stay tuned.”

This was Adrian’s final statement at the press conference. While much of it had been said before, his last remarks piqued enormous interest among the journalists. Unfortunately, as they were about to ask more questions, the host announced the end of the press conference, and Adrian quickly left the theater, making it impossible for them to catch up with him for further inquiries.

The journalists weren’t without recourse, however. They soon shifted their focus to the individuals who hadn’t left yet, including stars who might not know much but would have heard some rumors, and, of course, the Bossworth Film Company representatives. Even if no more details emerged, it didn’t matter; they remembered what they were there for. While major publications had their standards, it didn’t mean they couldn’t exert themselves with the information Adrian had provided.

In early June 1992, “Pulp Fiction” had grossed over 12 million in its opening weekend in North America and over 18 million in its first week—impressive figures for an R-rated movie released in just 1000 theaters.

Critics also lavished praise, much like in Cannes.

“A superb black comedy, Adrian does an excellent job handling the discomforting scenes, making them more humorous and adding significant watchability to the movie,”—Hollywood Report

“The deconstructed circular narrative is astonishing, and the pervasive details and homages are captivating. Adrian has a brain full of marvelous ideas.”—Variety

“If I were a Cannes jury member, I’d vote for this movie too. ‘Pulp Fiction’ is indeed vulgar, but it’s also really good.”—Washington Post

While some thought the plot was too scattered, leaving viewers perplexed, like in Cannes, this view was in the minority. However, compared to the critics, entertainment journalists were much sharper—and, of course, their sharpness wasn’t directed at “Pulp Fiction.” They… (To be continued. For more, please visit www.qidian.com. More chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!)