Chapter 377: Chapter 383: The Three Musketeers
Martin stayed in New York for two weeks.
During this time, he made the most of his visit by going on dates with several women—Natalie Portman, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Anne Hathaway, and Scarlett Johansson—who either lived in New York or were filming there. He kept himself busy, to say the least.
Besides these flings, he secretly met with Jennifer Aniston and spent an entire day with her, leaving the older woman utterly exhausted after their passionate encounter.
After sowing his "seeds of love," Martin flew back to Los Angeles with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire to attend the premiere of Leo's movie Catch Me If You Can.
The premiere for Catch Me If You Can was set to be held in two locations simultaneously—Los Angeles and Tokyo.
Frankly, Martin couldn't understand why a quintessentially American film would host a premiere in Japan.
He asked Leonardo about it, and the answer was simple:
"They paid for it!"
"So they paid for the event, but you're not attending?" Martin raised an eyebrow, questioning Leo's professionalism.
Leo shot back indignantly, "And who am I doing this for, huh? For whom? If not for you, my dear friends!"
Tobey immediately exposed him: "Isn't it because Gisele banned you from going to Japan? She was worried about you not being able to control yourself around the girls there."
Leo looked flustered. "How did you know that?"
Then he gasped dramatically, "Shit! You're still seeing Tyra Banks, aren't you? Damn it, Tobey! She has a boyfriend now, and you have a girlfriend! You're such a scumbag!"
Tobey's face turned crimson with embarrassment.
Leo's accusation hit home. Ever since their night at the model house, Tobey had kept in touch with Tyra Banks. Even though both of them had moved on to new relationships, they occasionally enjoyed a "friendly rendezvous" when their significant others weren't around.
Such arrangements were quite common in Hollywood.
Take Leo, for instance. Even though Gisele kept a tight leash on him, he still found opportunities to cheat—a habit that eventually drove her away.
The Los Angeles premiere of Catch Me If You Can was a smashing success.
With Martin and Leo both present, the fans went wild with excitement.
As for Tobey Maguire... well, who was he again?
Before the movie started, Leo enthusiastically shared some news with Martin:
"Dude, did you know I'm a skilled fighter now? I trained in boxing for six months while shooting Gangs of New York. I even sparred with Daniel (Day-Lewis), and guess what? I broke his nose!"
Leo mimicked a few boxing moves and continued, "My coach said I have real talent and encouraged me to keep training after filming ended. I've been boxing ever since—even during Catch Me If You Can!"
Martin scoffed. Given Leo's slim build, Martin felt confident he could easily take him down.
"Are you sure your coach wasn't just trying to milk more money out of you? 'You're amazing, you've got talent'—isn't that the usual spiel fitness trainers use?"
Tobey chimed in, "Exactly! It's all just a marketing tactic."
Leo was incensed. His two friends couldn't stand to see him succeed.
"Fine! Tobey, after the movie, let's find a place to spar. I'll show you what I'm made of!"
Tobey immediately backed down. "Okay, okay, you're great!"
Compared to Leo, Tobey's build was even less impressive.
Martin grinned. "What about me? Want to give it a shot?"
Leo's bravado evaporated. "Nah, you're great too!"
The lights dimmed, and the movie began, putting an end to their banter.
Leo's performance in Catch Me If You Can was impressive. He managed to shed the "Jack from Titanic" image and presented a fresh take on his character.
Unfortunately, acting alongside a seasoned veteran like Tom Hanks was no easy feat. Despite Leo's best efforts, Tom's mastery overshadowed him.
Leo clearly felt the disparity as he muttered "Fuck" and "Shit" under his breath throughout the screening.
As the movie neared its conclusion, he whispered bitterly to his friends:
"When Spielberg invited me for this role, he told me I'd be the absolute lead. But now, it's obvious that Tom is the real star!"
Martin shrugged. "Your performance was overshadowed. When you're acting alongside a legend with equal screen time, the director's natural bias during editing leans toward the stronger actor, giving them more impactful scenes."
Leo groaned in frustration but couldn't deny the truth.
"When will my acting skills reach your level, Martin? You can hold your own even against the best."
Martin patted his shoulder reassuringly. "It's all about talent. You've got a little bit of it, at least!"
Leo shot him a sideways glance. "Are you sure you're comforting me?"
Martin chuckled. "I'm serious! You've got a spark of talent. I especially loved your performance in What's Eating Gilbert Grape. You nailed the intellectually disabled role—it felt so natural, like a part of you!"
"Ugh, not that movie! Don't bring it up!" Leo buried his face in his hands, mortified. That role remained a sore spot in his career.
(Author's Note: If you haven't seen it, check out What's Eating Gilbert Grape. Leo's performance as a disabled teen is hilariously over-the-top. Instead of evoking sympathy, it comes off unintentionally comedic. The film stars Johnny Depp as the lead—a fresh-faced, talented Depp at his best. The global box office was a dismal $10.03 million. Total flop.)
Martin, ever the instigator, added fuel to the fire:
"See? It shows you've improved! You should celebrate, not sulk!"
Leo fumed silently, knowing he couldn't take physical revenge on Martin—his fighting skills were no match for Martin's proven track record.
After the screening, the trio went out for drinks before parting ways.
Recently, with Gisele in Los Angeles, Leo had no opportunities for mischief.
As they said their goodbyes, Leo couldn't help but ask:
"How do you do it, Martin? How do you manage so many women without any drama?"
Even Tobey perked up, eager to hear the answer.
Martin smirked. "You two could never pull it off. It's a gift. Pure, unadulterated talent!"