The joy of defeating Tom Cruise and winning the lead role in A Few Good Men lasted less than two days for Hugo—soon enough, he was brought back down to the harsh reality. And the so-called reality was this: Hugo was still two whole levels below Tom, and the impact of the Golden Raspberry Awards hadn't completely faded away yet. The real hardship was only just beginning, with the upcoming shoot being the most grueling part.
"Hugo…" Joseph looked worriedly at Hugo, who was still sitting in his seat. Though Hugo had shown a remarkably positive attitude since the Razzies, as if he had become a different person, Joseph was still concerned that the fragile Hugo from before might suddenly collapse under pressure again.
But before Hugo could even turn his head, Kevin had already stepped in front of him, wearing that familiar smile before giving Hugo a big hug. "Didn't expect to see you again under these circumstances."
Hugo stood up, his face beaming with a bright smile. "I was hoping for a warmer welcome than just now." In truth, Hugo only had some vague impressions of his predecessor working with Kevin Bacon, but as far as he himself was concerned, he genuinely liked Kevin as an actor.
Although Kevin wasn't considered one of Hollywood's top-tier actors, he held a special place in the hearts of many serious film fans. He had never been nominated for an Oscar at least not by the time Hugo had time-traveled from 2014 but that didn't affect Kevin's status among his fans. Films like The River Wild, Apollo 13, Mystic River, Frost/Nixon, X-Men: First Class, and other brilliant works all featured him. Without a doubt, he was a truly remarkable actor.
Hugo's first encounter with Kevin had been through a TV series called The Following, and it was through that show that Hugo truly experienced Kevin's unique, eerie, and sharp on-screen charisma. Awards might be the best way to recognize an actor's work, but not winning one didn't mean the actor wasn't good Kevin was the perfect example of that.
So when Hugo saw Kevin, he was genuinely happy. Not to mention, during the earlier script reading, Kevin had already shown goodwill toward him Hugo suspected that Kevin might be the only actor in the cast who welcomed him.
In fact, A Few Good Men featured quite a few actors who would become household names. For instance, Kiefer Sutherland, who would later become famous for 24, played Lieutenant Kendrick, an officer under Colonel Jessup. Then there was Cuba Gooding Jr., who would later win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in Jerry Maguire—he played a witness, Corporal Hammaker.
But of all the actors, Kevin was the only one who smiled at Hugo. It was clear that he and Hugo had previously shared a good relationship at the very least, Kevin's smile now was sincere.
"I believe you can handle this situation," Kevin said with a grin as he gave Hugo a light punch on the arm. "You've got the talent—it all depends on whether you're willing to work hard now."
Hugo's first film had been a collaboration with Kevin, and at the time, Hugo was just fifteen years old. Kevin, who was twenty-four, had already acted in several movies by then. He had given Hugo a lot of guidance and had witnessed Hugo's brilliance in Diner. Kevin had admired Hugo's performance in several subsequent films as well. In 1986, they had even competed for the same role in Silver Bullet, and though Hugo got the part based on merit, Kevin had felt admiration rather than jealousy.
To Kevin, Hugo's decline over the past two years was merely a result of him squandering his talent. As long as Hugo adjusted his mindset and worked hard again, it was only a matter of time before he returned to the spotlight. So when Kevin heard that Hugo had landed the lead role in A Few Good Men, his first reaction was: Hugo is back!
That's why Kevin had no reservations about showing his support—he even started looking forward to Hugo's future achievements.
Hugo picked up the script from the table and waved it in front of Kevin. "I'm ready now." What Hugo lacked most at the moment was time—he needed time to read the script. Even putting aside understanding the role or the plot, he at least had to skim through it once and gradually immerse himself in the story.
Jack had stormed out and declared a thirty-minute break—this was actually to give Hugo enough time to read the script. Whether Jack did this out of goodwill or not, the purpose was clear: preparation makes execution easier. To avoid dragging down the quality of today's rehearsal, giving Hugo ample time was necessary.
Kevin quickly understood Hugo's intention. Smiling, he took the script from Hugo's hand. "This morning's rehearsal mainly focuses on the scenes with Jack. We'll start with those." He then marked the script for Hugo.
Kevin was playing government prosecutor Jack Ross, who served as the opposition to Daniel in the courtroom. Simply put, he was Hugo's on-screen rival, though in private, Jack and Daniel were friends. On the stand, however, they were adversaries.
"This afternoon, we'll be rehearsing the courtroom debate scenes. These are the most intense parts, with the heaviest dialogue and highest emotional demands." After giving Hugo his pointers, Kevin patted him on the shoulder and turned to leave. There was no need for more pleasantries—thirty minutes wasn't a lot of time, better to let Hugo get to work.
As Kevin walked out of the conference room, Hugo called out, "Thanks." Kevin waved his right hand and left without looking back.
Hugo turned to glance at Joseph, giving a helpless smile, then let out a long sigh. "Time to get to work."
Though Hugo knew that shooting A Few Good Men would likely be much harder than Scent of a Woman, he also knew that since he had won the role of Daniel through his own efforts, he had to give it his absolute best. He even hoped for a breakthrough in his acting—not just for the crew, but also for himself. So what if obstacles lay ahead? He would tear them down one by one and win back the respect he deserved through outstanding performance. That was the real truth!
Joseph had initially wanted to comfort Hugo, but seeing him bounce back so quickly, the tension in his heart eased. The Hugo now in front of him was clearly someone to be trusted.
Once seated, Hugo immediately started reading the script.
He had seen A Few Good Men before. Though he couldn't recall the details, he still remembered the main plot. Daniel was the quintessential American hero—rising against the odds, defeating the antagonistic force, and upholding justice. Of course, calling the opposing force in A Few Good Men "villains" wasn't entirely accurate. The story delved into the traditions of the U.S. military, and its meaning varied depending on perspective. But from a legal and human rights standpoint, Daniel's persistence was undoubtedly the correct path.
As Hugo read through the script, his memory of the movie gradually returned. The most thrilling part of the film was undoubtedly the final courtroom showdown between Daniel and Colonel Jessup. The two clashed fiercely, battling for control of the trial. In the end, Daniel seized on a slip-up and a flaw in Jessup's testimony, accomplishing the impossible. That courtroom battle was exhilarating and even sparked Hugo's deep interest in legal dramas.
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