Two Toms sitting together on stage to promote a joint film—this itself was considered a Hollywood spectacle.
But when the reporters saw Gilbert, they no longer found it strange. Only a director like Gilbert could bring the two Toms together to act in the same movie.
And truth be told, even without knowing the plot yet, the reporters were already looking forward to seeing how the two Toms would perform together.
With Charlize Theron, the newly crowned Best Actress, Dustin Hoffman's participation, and Matt Damon's cameo added, the cast had reached an extraordinary level of strength.
Naturally, the reporters' first concern was the two Toms. They asked why the two had agreed to work together this time.
It was widely believed in Hollywood that the two Toms would never appear in the same movie because of the rivalry for the title of "Hollywood's top actor" back in the 1990s.
Even with the later rise of Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and other stars, the debate over who was the true number one in Hollywood still remained between the two Toms.
Tom Hanks was the first to respond:
"I worked with Director Gilbert on Saving Private Ryan, and that was a truly wonderful experience.
So when Gilbert invited me again, and I learned that there was also an opportunity to work with the other Tom, I gladly accepted."
Tom Cruise then added:
"Gilbert is very mysterious. He brought the script to my house, and not even Mary was allowed to read it.
After I finished reading, he took it back immediately. Very secretive."
"Can you tell us roughly what the script is about?" a reporter asked.
"I signed a confidentiality agreement," Tom Cruise replied with a smile. "But from what I know, my character helps Hanks pull off a massive, earth-shaking case."
In fact, once the actors signed their contracts, they were given the full script. But even then, the leads were left confused. Who was the painter supposed to be?
Was it Charlie Dyke played by Tom Cruise? Or Ido Dash played by Tom Hanks? Or perhaps Mary Cassatt, played by Charlize Theron?
Tom Cruise was even more puzzled. Did his character actually exist? Or was he merely something Ido Dash invented?
By the script stage, the leads already felt their heads spinning. But this was exactly the effect Gilbert wanted.
A straightforward story requires no thought—the audience just enjoys it.
But such films already flooded the market. Gilbert wanted to give audiences something different, something that made them think.
And facts had proven: audiences weren't unwilling to think—as long as the film was good enough, allowing them to immerse themselves fully and follow its rhythm.
Charlize Theron later shared her thoughts on working with Gilbert again:
"Ever since The Matrix, I've wanted to collaborate again.
Gilbert told me the general outline of the story early on, and I was deeply, deeply intrigued. I insisted strongly on joining.
This time, the role's setup is great, and I really love it."
Dustin Hoffman said:
"I've never worked with Director Gilbert before. This time, Cruise recommended me, and I happily agreed.
I believe every actor would want to work with a director like Gilbert…"
The press conference turned into a stage for mutual praise, while also letting the public know: We are making this project, and here's roughly what it's about.
As expected, the news of the two Toms collaborating instantly set Hollywood ablaze. And since it was another Gilbert project, the buzz was enormous.
"Hollywood's two biggest stars since the 1990s finally working together—highly anticipated."
"This is the first time Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks have collaborated. What kind of sparks will they ignite?"
"Apart from the two Toms, the film will also feature Charlize Theron and Dustin Hoffman, with Matt Damon reportedly making a mysterious cameo."
"Gilbert strikes again, assembling three megastars. Reportedly, the film tells a story about counterfeit money crimes. Excited to see how Gilbert will present it."
Sure enough, the counterfeit-money-crime angle was revealed. Online, countless little stories about counterfeiting popped up, with links at the end directing people to the official False movie page.
That page detailed some even more bizarre counterfeiting cases, such as the "Mr. 880" case.
The protagonist was a frail, gray-haired unemployed old man named Emerich Juettner. During the Great Depression, after losing his job, he survived by collecting junk.
One day, an idea struck him: why not try making counterfeit bills? He targeted small-denomination one-dollar notes.
Strangely, Juettner's counterfeiting methods were crude, but they somehow worked. The FBI chased him for ten years, and in the end, it was only when his warehouse caught fire that he was exposed.
Reading this story, one couldn't help but wonder whether to marvel at Juettner's luck or the FBI's incompetence. It also served as a reminder to always be mindful of fire hazards.
Another story also came from the last century and bore a curious resemblance to False.
This case took place in Hong Kong and involved the six Tam brothers from Xinhui in Guangdong Province. The eldest had loved painting since childhood and apprenticed under Cui Meizhou, a painter from Nanhai.
Cui was a well-known folk artist in the Pearl River Delta during the early Republic era, skilled in calligraphy and painting, especially in imitating famous works. Once, in a whimsical mood, he even forged stock certificates so convincingly that no one could tell the difference.
The eldest Tam was diligent and clever, earning his master's favor and gradually mastering imitation techniques. By the time he finished his apprenticeship, he had already achieved full proficiency.
He then left Xinhui and ventured alone into Shanghai's bustling concessions.
At first, he partnered with others to run a studio for a living, but soon he strayed onto the wrong path. Relying on his imitation skills, he secretly forged batches of HSBC ten-dollar banknotes in Hong Kong and successfully circulated them.
Tasting the sweetness of profit, the eldest Tam became highly ambitious. Within a few years, he had amassed over one hundred thousand yuan—a huge fortune at the time, considering ordinary workers or teachers earned only about twenty yuan a month.
With this ill-gotten wealth, he purchased several houses near North Sichuan Road in Zhabei.
But when Zhabei later became a battlefield and the times grew unstable, he had no choice but to return to Guangzhou.
Back in Guangzhou, he joined forces with his brothers, passing down his skills. Under his personal instruction, each learned techniques such as making printing plates, mixing inks, and pressing counterfeit notes.
The brothers formed a tight-knit group, bound by blood ties, handling everything themselves without any need for outside help. Their counterfeiting operation was airtight, except on rare occasions when they relied on a cousin to handle some outside errands.
It was precisely because this cousin's socializing expenses became excessive, and the eldest Tam failed to provide timely assistance, that the cousin, out of spite, reported them to the Guangzhou Gendarmerie Headquarters.
Just as the first batch of over a thousand hundred-dollar notes was completed and they were preparing to find buyers, the six Tam brothers were exposed and arrested.
After the case was cracked, more than a hundred printing plates were seized from their hideout. Their analysis of colors and patterns was extremely meticulous, having gone through dozens of experiments and improvements.
As a result, the counterfeit banknotes were astonishingly fine and lifelike. Whether tested for paper quality or examined under magnification for patterns and colors, no obvious flaws could be detected.
At the time, each hundred-dollar Hong Kong banknote required the bank official's handwritten signature on the note before it was considered valid.
But the youngest Tam brother, who had graduated from Canton's Great Wall Anglo-Chinese College, managed to imitate the bank official's English signature so perfectly that it was indistinguishable from the real thing.
After the brothers were arrested, because Hong Kong currency was involved, the authorities promptly notified the British Consulate in Shamian, Guangzhou. They even sent one of the seized counterfeit notes to HSBC in Hong Kong for verification.
After meticulous examination, the bank astonishingly found no flaws in the counterfeit note.
The six Tam brothers, meanwhile, were imprisoned and even attempted to break out, though their attempt ultimately failed.
This case became a sensational incident at the time. However, during the Anti-Japanese War, when Guangzhou fell to the Japanese, the six Tam brothers vanished from prison, and their whereabouts thereafter remained unknown.
Gilbert first heard this story while chatting with The Adventures of Jackie Chan director Tsui Hark.
When Tsui Hark learned that Gilbert planned to make a film about counterfeit money, he shared this story with him.
Gilbert thought it was fascinating, so he placed it on the official False website, letting netizens read it like a short story.
Surprisingly, even though it was a tale from the distant East and the last century, the story of the six Tam brothers won over many netizens.
When chatting with Tsui Hark, Gilbert also said:
"I think this story would make a really good movie. Maybe you should find an opportunity to bring it to the big screen."
Tsui Hark replied.
"I did have that idea, but for various reasons it never materialized. Besides, the story doesn't exactly have justice on its side.
A film purely about villains wouldn't be well received in our market. And if you change too much, the audience won't accept it either."
"I think," Gilbert responded, "the real reason is that Hong Kong's local market can no longer sustain multiple films. For Hong Kong cinema to find a way forward, it needs to move north."
Tsui Hark shook his head helplessly:
"It's not that simple. The mainland is also in turmoil right now—everyone's on edge."
Gilbert shrugged. He wasn't surprised at all, since in fact it had a lot to do with him. If it hadn't been for the fake student incident, there wouldn't have been so many chain reactions.
According to some people in that entertainment circle, Gilbert was the one who had "destroyed" the Chinese-language film industry, making him the scapegoat.
But as Gilbert saw it, when you exploit women through casting couches, set up endless barriers, and stifle talented people, you're already destroying the so-called film industry yourselves.
He merely sped up the process, lanced the boil, and administered a strong dose of medicine.
Besides, even without Gilbert, the rise of internet capital a decade later would have marginalized them sooner or later. And compared to Gilbert, internet capital would be an even more poisonous drug to the entertainment and film industry.
And really—if not for discovering the fake student scandal, who would willingly meddle in such things?
He was busy enough with work already—exhausted, even.
....
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