199 Partying all night long

Looking at the dark indigo expanse above, constricted by the canyon into a bowl-like shape, with faint clouds drifting slowly and a touch of tranquility in the air; the hushed whispers and rustling discussions in the background carried a sense of restlessness and excitement that surged beneath the noise, even more intense than shouts. It was as if one could hear the bubbling of blood boiling.

"Are you sure you didn't forget to bring a lighter? I can borrow a box of matches from someone else," Rooney's cool voice snapped Renly's wandering thoughts back from under the streetlamp. Her voice had a unique quality to it, soft and murmuring, yet imbued with a stubborn chill, like a hot spring volcano hidden within snow-capped mountains.

Renly withdrew his gaze, looking at the cigarette between his fingertips and chuckled softly, "I just wanted to learn the pose of a rock singer. Why, don't you think it's fitting?"

A flicker of annoyance flashed at the corner of Rooney's eye as she raised her gaze to Renly with a calm look. She didn't say anything, but her disdainful gaze said it all.

Renly tugged the corner of his mouth nonchalantly, "I was just thinking that this is a movie that needs to settle in." Although he had watched "The Social Network" in his previous life, watching it again, especially in a cinema, brought a different feeling. Details that he hadn't noticed before emerged, not to mention that "The Social Network" was a film with a sharp style and a surge of information.

Now Renly finally understood why the Oscars chose "The King's Speech" over "The Social Network". Also, he understood why film critics favored "The Social Network" more than "The King's Speech".

In simple terms, "The King's Speech" presented a retro elegance, the past glory that the academy had been seeking for. It was refined, restrained, and exquisite, but not too ostentatious, radical, or rebellious. On the other hand, "The Social Network" reflected social reality, the rapid changes of the era and the darkness of the business world. It contained sharp sarcasm and mockery towards those geniuses between the lines, a hint of David Fincher's style.

From the beginning, the nature of the Oscars dictated that the academy would choose "The King's Speech" over "The Social Network", just like the 84th Oscars, where the academy chose "The Artist" over "Hugo" or "Midnight in Paris". The academy was ultimately too self-absorbed, ultimately loving itself the most.

"Do you think Mark Zuckerberg is a jerk?" Rooney tilted her head curiously.

This seemed to be a definite answer, as almost every viewer who finished the movie had such a sentiment, especially considering the promotional tagline of "The Social Network": How many friends is success worth sacrificing?

However, Renly's response was not so straightforward. "No, I don't think so." Rooney didn't show a surprised expression or rush to inquire further. Instead, she calmly looked at Renly, waiting for him to continue. "I think he's an outsider, someone society doesn't accept. You know, often geniuses are outsiders, and jerks as well."

Renly's answer was thought-provoking, and Rooney began to ponder the movie she had just watched. It was the first time she had seen the complete film. Her role wasn't extensive, but she watched it meticulously, and her insights into the movie were more subtle.

"...Oh my god, the editing is so rapid, there's so much information, I feel like my brain can't keep up. I have to agree, that curly-haired actor, who is he? His performance is truly remarkable; is that really how Mark Zuckerberg looks?"...

Amidst the bustling crowd, two individuals fervently discussed their preferences as they hurriedly passed by Renly and Rooney. Not far away, a group of five or six people had gathered, their faces flushed, engaged in a heated debate, passionately sharing their opinions.

"Honestly, "The Social Network" is unparalleled, from the director to the actors and the characters, there's nothing comparable to it in any other film. Come on, according to your logic, "127 Hours" is unique, and so is "Buried", but they're not better than "The King's Speech", are they... You actually like such a refined and sophisticated piece? Good Lord, this is a typical British film, devoid of any originality... A TV movie could achieve the same level, and you actually find it outstanding? What? What did you say? A TV movie?"

Opinions surged in all directions, arguments collided, and there was hardly any time to respond before the rebuttals intersected. Just a moment ago, these two individuals had been fervently arguing, but the next second, they joined forces against the other four people. The scene was more intense than a debate competition, making one wonder if they'd start brawling in the next second.

Rooney withdrew her gaze and noticed that Renly, like her, was also observing the commotion there. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and she couldn't help but smile. "So, do you prefer "The Social Network" or "The King's Speech"?" Rooney asked curiously.

A faint crease appeared on Renly's brow, and he pretended to be anxious as he asked, "This isn't a trap question, is it?" This made Rooney chuckle lightly, and she saw Renly's smile in response as he gave his answer, "The Social Network".

Rooney was somewhat surprised and emphasized, "This isn't a date, you know." The implication was clear: he didn't need to say something insincere just to please her.

This brought another smile to Renly's face. "I know. I like "The Social Network" because it's a challenge I can't accomplish, and it's also a challenge that takes me out of my comfort zone."

From Renly's academy education, he actually leaned more towards "The King's Speech". The weightiness conveyed by the film and the understated power emanating from the performances were truly commendable. But from a cinematic perspective, "The Social Network" was bolder, more innovative, and more deserving of recognition.

"A challenge you can't accomplish?" Rooney's eyes showed a hint of surprise, recalling the powerful yet explosive performance she had witnessed in "Buried" earlier that afternoon. The impression was still vivid in her mind.

In "The Social Network", Rooney had direct confrontational scenes with Jesse Eisenberg. She could feel the strength of his performance, but personally, she still believed that Renly's performance outshone his, especially the intensity and depth of his gaze, which left a lasting impression.

Renly shrugged. "First of all, I'm not Jewish." This joke left Rooney momentarily puzzled before she caught on and rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Secondly, I don't talk as fast as he does." That was Jesse's greatest advantage in portraying Mark Zuckerberg, the bullet-like pace of his speech imbued the character with an air of arrogance, detachment, and conceit that easily drew the audience in. "Lastly, I'm much more handsome than Mark."

Observing Renly's seemingly serious expression in front of her, Rooney couldn't help but find it both amusing and exasperating. At first glance, Renly appeared to be joking, but upon closer consideration, everything he said was true. The primary, if not fundamental, appeal of a biographical film lay in its resemblance and similarity. Jesse had a natural advantage in portraying Mark, while Renly truly faced challenges that could potentially break the illusion. Relying solely on his acting prowess to salvage the situation was no easy task, especially because audiences often brought preconceived notions of characters to biographical films.

However, the truth had been playfully thrown out by Renly in this manner. After mulling over his words a couple of times, Rooney couldn't hold back her smile any longer.

"Erica, Erica!" a call from the roadside reached Rooney's ears. She turned her head and saw that Erica was the name of her character in "The Social Network". "Mark doesn't like you, but it's okay, I do! He's a jerk, and you deserve better."

Looking up, Rooney still had a lingering smile on her face. She nodded in the direction of the voice, then waved her hand. "Thank you. I think he's a jerk too." Such a response elicited collective laughter from the group of young people across the street.

"I'm getting a little hungry now. I'm thinking of finding something to eat. How about you?" Renly surveyed the shops on both sides of the street. Perhaps due to the film festival, the entire town was brightly lit, with many shops still open. Today's lunch and dinner had been casual affairs, and now that the movie was over, his grumbling stomach was protesting. "Or is it that actresses need to watch their figure, can't eat recklessly, especially at this time?"

After his experience with Chris Hemsworth, Renly had gained a preliminary understanding of an actor's life. While Hollywood did have its share of actors who indulged themselves, if one truly wanted to remain at the pinnacle, the efforts put into their craft behind the scenes were far beyond imagination. Just maintaining one's appearance for the camera wasn't as effortless as it seemed.

Rooney, however, wasn't coy about it. She nodded, "Yes, at this time, I can't eat recklessly."

This candid response left Renly momentarily perplexed, and he showed a curious expression. Generally speaking, actresses were women after all. Their way of speaking differed from men's. Even if their stomachs were grumbling, they'd still say they were full; even if they were watching their diet, they'd claim they didn't need to lose weight; even if they wanted to eat something, they'd say they weren't fond of that particular food.

Facing Renly's scrutiny, Rooney raised her chin unapologetically and returned his gaze, her expression barely changing. Her straightforward demeanor, dignified and honest, slightly embarrassed Renly. He quickly grasped the situation and nodded, saying, "This isn't a date." Therefore, no need for pretense or concealment.

Renly's response caused the corner of Rooney's mouth to gently curl. "But I could have a bit of salad and half a piece of bread." She hadn't eaten much for dinner tonight, and she needed to replenish her energy. Bananas and dark chocolate were the best options, but in a small town like Telluride, she wouldn't insist. "No problem," Renly said again, putting the cigarette back in his mouth and striking a roguish expression in a "James Dean-esque" manner. He beckoned, "Follow me." Rooney's laughter rang out lightly in response as she shrugged her shoulders.

Fifteen minutes later, Renly and Rooney found themselves back on the street, each holding a sandwich from Subway. Renly's was a pastrami and cheese sandwich, while Rooney's consisted of half a baguette and a small box of salad.