He might not have a golden Oscars’ trophy, but Australian billionaire James Packer is the big winner at the 87th Academy Awards in Hollywood on Sunday night. The billionaire, 47, who owns film production company RatPac Entertainment with Director Brett Ratner, is believed to have a 10 per cent stake in best picture winner Birdman, which swept the board with four wins. The comedic film starring Michael Keaton took home Achievement In Cinematography, Original Screenplay, Best Director and Best Picture at Hollywood’s night of nights. The Client Eastwood biopic, starring Bradley Cooper, is now the top war movie of all time, beating Saving Private Ryan and taking almost $250 million in the US.

This year’s success follows their 2014 Oscar win when the company’s first film, the Sandra Bullock-George Clooney space disaster Gravity, took seven Academy Awards and earned $US716 million at the global box office.

Packer and Ratner formed Rat-Pac Entertainment, which is quickly becoming Hollywood’s new power player, in 2012 as an independent film company and the business has since branched out into TV, book publishing, documentaries and a China branch. Other films include the Robert De Niro-Sylvester Stallone comedy Grudge Match, Horrible Bosses 2 and the adaptation of the Frankie Valli-Four Seasons Broadway hit Jersey Boys. 

Last year the media hit the headlines for producing a short Martin Scorsese directed film that will star heavyweights Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt. The actors were reported to be cashing whopping paychecks for their work, with Pitt alleged to have taken home $13m, for the two day shooting. The film will be shown at the opening of Melco Crown’s newest James Packer-owned, movie themed resort “Studio City” in Macau and be used to support the company’s expansion in Asia. 

It was said last year that the company had invested $254 million in Warner Bros movies, including The Lego Movie, which was a worldwide hit. They recently moved into the office that used to belong to the original king of cool and head of the Rat Pack, Frank Sinatra. 

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1.Why is James Packer the big winner at the 87th Academy Awards?

A Because he has already got a golden Oscars’ trophy.

B Because the film from RatPac Entertainment won.

C Because it is the third time he got the tile of Oscars.

D Because he made almost $250 million in the US.

解析：选B。B。细节理解题。根据文章第1段第2句的The billionaire, 47, who owns film production company RatPac Entertainment with Director Brett Ratner, is believed to have a 10 per cent stake in best picture winner可知是他拥有股份的电影公司的电影受到好评，因此说他是一个很大的赢家。

2.Which of the following is the actor of Birdman?

A Michael Keaton.

B Bradley Cooper.

C Sylvester Stallone.

D Brett Ratner.

解析：选A。A。细节理解题。根据第1段第3句的The comedic film starring Michael Keaton took home Achievement In Cinematography可以得知Michael Keaton主演了电影《鸟人》。

3.What is the first film James Packer’s company made?

A Grudge Match, Horrible Bosses 2.

B The Client Eastwood biopic

C Gravity.

D Saving Private Ryan.

解析：选C。C。细节理解题。根据文章第2段第1句的This year’s success follows their 2014 Oscar win when the company’s first film, the Sandra Bullock-George Clooney space disaster Gravity不难得知他的公司拍的第一部电影是Gravity。

4.What is the main idea of paragraph three?

A The adaptation of the Frankie Valli was a hit.

B Rat-Pac Entertainment branched out into TV.

C Publishing and documentaries brought profits.

D The development of Rat-Pac Entertainment.

解析：选D。D。主旨大意题。从第3段第1句的Packer and Ratner formed Rat-Pac Entertainment和后面的叙述可以得知该段讲述的就是他的公司的发展过程。

5.After a short Martin Scorsese, the actors ______.

A were whopped greatly

B traveled worldwide

C moved into original office

D were well paid

解析：选D。D。细节理解题。根据第4段第2句的with Pitt alleged to have taken home $13m可以得知演员在演这部电影后，演员的报酬丰厚。