After his birthday, Gilbert continued to immerse himself in work.
He understood that his career was the foundation; if his directing career thrived, everything else would follow. Conversely, if it failed, he would lose everything. At that point, not only would other Hollywood beauties abandon him, but even Cameron Diaz, who was currently so compliant, would kick him to the curb.
Besides working on "Final Destination," Gilbert also made time to observe the North American film market this year. In his previous life, he was born this very year, making him a true nineties kid. Not being a native, he was naturally unfamiliar with the events unfolding in this film market. Reincarnating and becoming twenty-two years older out of thin air brought immense opportunities. Whether this exchange was worth it or not was a matter of perspective.
This year, the North American film market seemed a bit quieter compared to last year, perhaps due to the lack of top-tier directors. However, many films performed quite well, with Warner Bros. being the biggest winner in the market so far. "Lethal Weapon 3," released on May 15th, had accumulated $125 million at the North American box office, temporarily making it this year's champion. The film was still showing and was expected to reach over $140 million.
"Batman Returns," released on June 15th, also made a strong debut, raking in $52.613 million in its opening weekend. This second Batman film broke the opening weekend record of "Batman" and set a new best for superhero films. However, this era wasn't the golden age for superhero movies; that would come many years later. Warner Bros. also produced and distributed this film, along with over a dozen others this year, many of which were profitable.
Notably, "Alien 3," released on May 22nd, suffered a box office disaster, with both its earnings and critical reception plummeting. It seemed David Fincher's directorial debut was a failure, and 20th Century Fox deeply regretted entrusting him with the project. Similarly, the failure of "Alien 3," a high-profile sci-fi sequel with a broad fan base, was a huge blow to CAA's efforts to promote their bundled service. Meanwhile, "Far and Away," released concurrently, was celebrating, taking advantage of "Alien 3"'s struggles.
However, rumors circulated that the film's star, Tom Cruise, spent several million dollars out of his own pocket to boost its box office, hoping to surpass "Alien 3." This kind of box office manipulation was common, as the commercial value of a lead actor whose film earns over $50 million versus over $100 million is vastly different. By investing a few million dollars now, Tom Cruise could easily recoup the money through other avenues later. Most importantly, it was about maintaining his reputation and star power, which are vital for Hollywood actors' survival.
Nevertheless, it seemed unlikely that "Far and Away" would exceed $100 million at the North American box office unless Tom Cruise was willing to shell out another $50 million. Of course, that didn't matter; if the North American box office couldn't be boosted, they could boast about the global box office. Globally, "Far and Away" had already surpassed $100 million, keeping alive the legend that any film starring Tom Cruise would earn over $100 million.
This ordinarily had little to do with Gilbert, but after "Far and Away" crossed the $100 million mark globally, an invitation landed in his hands.
"They invited me? I don't have any connection with Mr. Cruise," Gilbert remarked, looking at the invitation oddly.
Cameron Diaz wrapped her arm around his neck and said, "Since you're invited, why not go? I hear Tom Cruise's mansion in Beverly Hills is incredibly luxurious."
"It is the Cruise Estate, after all," Gilbert said, putting away the invitation. "Alright, we'll go see what Mr. Cruise is up to."
Cameron Diaz happily agreed and went to prepare her gown. Without Gilbert, she wouldn't have been eligible to attend such an exclusive gathering.
As for Gilbert himself, if he had the choice, he would have preferred to go to the "Basic Instinct" celebration. That film, released in North America on March 20th, had already grossed over $110 million, setting a new box office record for R-rated films—far more successful than "Far and Away." Of course, that wasn't the main reason; Gilbert simply wanted to meet Sharon Stone, the film's lead actress, and experience her "basic instinct." Unfortunately, she hadn't extended an invitation to him.
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One evening in mid-July, Gilbert and Cameron Diaz arrived punctually at the Cruise Estate in Beverly Hills for the party. A gathering hosted by Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise was, naturally, star-studded.
Before they came, his agent, Shina Boone, had briefed Gilbert on all the important details, especially regarding Nicole Kidman.
"I don't think Mrs. Cruise is an easy person to deal with. Be very careful when you're there," Shina Boone warned him.
Gilbert knew that Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman would later divorce, and that after their divorce, Tom Cruise would briefly become estranged from many. If not for "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol," Tom Cruise might never have recovered. But Shina Boone, based on just a few hints, had predicted the future of the then-flourishing Cruise couple, which made Gilbert look at his agent with new respect.
As the hosts of the party, Tom and Nicole Cruise greeted guests at the entrance. Gilbert noticed a fleeting expression of displeasure on Nicole Kidman's face when guests referred to her as "Mrs. Cruise." Though she quickly masked it with a radiant, enthusiastic smile, Gilbert keenly caught it.
So, he whispered to Cameron Diaz, "When we greet them later, don't say 'Mrs. Cruise.'"
"Why not?" Cameron Diaz asked, puzzled.
"Don't worry about why, just follow my lead," Gilbert instructed. Then, he put on a professional smile and stepped forward.
"Congratulations, Mr. Cruise, on the huge box office success of your new movie," Gilbert congratulated him.
Tom Cruise's smile remained fixed, likely from hearing too many compliments that day, and it seemed rather perfunctory. "Welcome, welcome..."
Attending a private party meant bringing a gift, and Cameron Diaz dutifully placed their gift on top of the pile.
Gilbert then turned to Nicole Kidman, feigning astonishment. "My goodness, Ms. Kidman, you look absolutely stunning today!"
Nicole Kidman instantly brightened upon hearing this, her smile becoming much more genuine. She extended her hand, and Gilbert immediately understood, performing a hand-kiss. With Gilbert setting the example, Cameron Diaz followed suit, greeting them in the same manner.
"So glad you could come. Tom has some excellent wine, you simply must try it later," Nicole Kidman said, very enthusiastically.
"Absolutely, and thank you, Mr. Cruise and Ms. Kidman, for your warm invitation," Gilbert replied, his smile equally sincere. His acting was so good, if not for an Oscar, a Golden Globe was certainly within reach. Every day in Hollywood was a performance.
Tom Cruise, standing nearby, didn't notice the change in Gilbert's address, nor did he notice his wife's significantly increased happiness. To him, Gilbert was just a small-timer, so the arrogant Tom Cruise simply exchanged a few customary pleasantries before ushering Gilbert and Cameron Diaz inside.
Once inside, Cameron Diaz asked curiously, "Darling, how did you know Nicole Kidman would react that way?"
"Heh!" Gilbert chuckled. "Coming all the way from Australia to Hollywood to chase a dream, becoming the wife of the famous Tom Cruise—you gain a lot, but you also lose a lot. For an ambitious actress, she definitely wouldn't be content just being someone's accessory."
Cameron Diaz nodded in agreement. "That's true..."
Beyond Tom Cruise's showing off, the primary function of such a party was networking. So, Gilbert let Cameron Diaz go socialize on her own, which was also good practice for her. He didn't stay idle either, chatting casually with a few acquaintances he ran into at the party.