Chapter 303: Burning with Jealousy

Chapter 303: Chapter 303: Burning with Jealousy

The news that Million Dollar Baby had swept seven Oscar nominations hit Hollywood like a bomb dropped into a vanity fair, instantly igniting discussion across the entire internet.

Major media headlines and entertainment sections were almost monopolized by the film’s name.

The Los Angeles Times ran with the headline: "Dark Horse Counterattack! Irene Coppola Leads the Oscar Race with Million Dollar Baby, Seven Nominations Write a Legend for Independent Directors." The article detailed Irene’s rise from Legally Blonde to the present, praising her for "breaking the barriers between commerce and art with delicate storytelling."

The New York Times focused on "The Industry Signal Behind the Seven Nominations," pointing out that the film’s success marked Hollywood’s return to realistic themes and confirmed Irene’s directorial prowess in achieving "both box office and critical acclaim."

On social media, the discussion exploded.

Hashtags like #IreneSevenOscarNominations and #MillionDollarBabyOscarRun quickly hit the trending list.

Netizens commented one after another: "Who dares to call her a ’luck-based director’ now? Seven nominations are the best proof!" "The emotional impact of Million Dollar Baby is truly amazing. Best Director must go to Irene!"

Industry insiders also voiced their opinions.

Steven Spielberg publicly stated, "Irene’s talent is breathtaking. Million Dollar Baby is the movie that moved me the most this year."

Martin Scorsese commented, "Her ability to shape characters is rare among young directors."

Paramount, Fox, and Disney were the first to post congratulations, implicitly highlighting their cooperative relationships with Irene, creating a scene of the "center of attention."

Amid this chorus of praise, the atmosphere in Mel Gibson’s villa was stiflingly oppressive.

He sat on the leather sofa in the living room, clutching an entertainment newspaper.

The headline "Irene Coppola Leads Oscar Race with Seven Nominations" was like a thorn, piercing his eyes sharply.

The television was looping an interview with Irene Coppola.

The 22-year-old director was calm and composed, her tone peaceful when discussing the seven nominations.

That composure, which belied her age, was like a needle piercing deep into his heart.

He wasn’t dissatisfied with the Oscar nominations themselves. After all, Braveheart, which he directed at 39, had garnered 10 nominations and 5 Oscar trophies, including Best Picture and Best Director.

In terms of Oscar honors, he was no less than Irene.

But the problem lay precisely in the age. He had to wait until nearly forty to reach the peak of his career, while Irene had achieved both box office and critical success at just 22.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Pirates of the Caribbean were box office explosions, and now she was leading the Oscar nominations with Million Dollar Baby.

Such talent and speed of growth were things he could only look up to back then.

He had always felt that Irene’s success was mixed with too much coincidence.

Without years of industry accumulation, it was just relying on precise market intuition and a bit of luck to produce a few blockbusters.

But now, the validation of seven Oscar nominations made the "luck theory" collapse, and he had to admit that this young woman’s talent was a threat he could not ignore.

What made him even more frustrated was that he was at a critical juncture himself.

His film The Passion of the Christ had already started shooting.

This film focused on the last 12 hours before Jesus’ crucifixion, recording in detail the brutal torture and death he suffered in Jerusalem.

In the film, the main group persecuting Jesus was the Jewish people.

This setting was inherently sensitive, and although the rumors of his early anti-Semitic remarks had gradually subsided, they remained a sword hanging over his head.

If handled improperly, it could likely trigger strong backlash from the Jewish community, directly affecting the film’s distribution and reputation.

"No, I can’t let her be this smug."

Mel Gibson stood up abruptly, a flash of malice in his eyes.

He grabbed his phone, wanting to contact a gossipy media outlet he knew well.

"I want everyone to know that she’s just an upstart eager for quick success, and Million Dollar Baby is just a calculated attempt to curry favor!"

"Mel! Stop!"

His agent, John, almost burst through the door, pinning his hand down, his tone urgent and grave.

"Are you crazy? You absolutely cannot touch Irene Coppola at this time!"

"Why can’t I touch her?" Mel Gibson struggled to break free.

"She’s riding high right now, stepping on everyone to get to the top. Do you expect me to watch her walk all over me?"

"Watching her rise is better than destroying your own future!" John roared, pressing down on his wrist hard.

"Think about The Passion of the Christ! This movie is the key to your comeback. You know better than anyone how influential the Jewish community is in Hollywood!"

"Irene is currently being protected by Paramount, Fox, and Disney combined, and she has countless critics and investors behind her. If you smear her in the media now, you’ll only be bitten back by her team!"

He paused, his tone softening but carrying more weight: "They will dig up your early anti-Semitic comments and combine them with the plot of The Passion of the Christ, saying you are using the smear campaign against Irene to vent your dissatisfaction with the Jewish community!"

"By then, not only will the Jewish community boycott you, but major Hollywood companies will also distance themselves from you under pressure. How will your movie be released then? Will all the early investment and the painstaking preparations go down the drain?"

John’s words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing Mel Gibson’s impulse.

He froze in place, memories of the difficulties during the film’s preparation flashing through his mind, along with the investors’ concerns and the potential resistance from the Jewish community to the film’s subject matter.

The jealousy in his heart was gradually replaced by fear.

He knew John was right. The Passion of the Christ carried his ambition. He couldn’t destroy all his hard work because of a moment of jealousy.

"But..." Mel Gibson gritted his teeth, looking unwillingly at Irene’s figure on the TV.

"She’s only 22. Why does she deserve to have all this?"

"Because of talent, because of luck, and because of timing." John let go, his tone softening.

"You didn’t win Best Director at the Oscars until you were 39, and she’s leading nominations at 22—it’s certainly enviable."

"But Hollywood never sympathizes with the jealous. It only remembers the winners. The wisest thing to do now is to keep a low profile and focus on polishing your The Passion of the Christ."

"As long as this movie succeeds, you can naturally win back the honor that belongs to you."

He patted Mel’s shoulder and added, "Irene is currently the center of attention, and no one can shake her position. If you come out now, you’ll only become a stepping stone on her path to success and drag your own project down with you. Listen to me, endure it. When your movie is released, letting your strength speak for itself is better than anything else."

Mel Gibson fell silent. He slumped back into his chair, staring at the TV screen with malicious eyes.

On the screen, Irene was smiling and thanking her team, accepting blessings from all over the world.

In his heart, only endless jealousy and frustration remained, yet he was helpless.

He slowly put down his phone, his fingertips grazing the script of The Passion of the Christ.

His eyes gradually became complex, filled with resentment for Irene, anxiety about his own project, and a trace of powerlessness at having to bow to reality.

"Damn it..." he cursed under his breath, but in the end, he put away his impulse.