80th Oscars Honor Foreign Talent
Day-Lewis, Cotillard, Bardem and Swinton Bring Home Acting Honors
Feb 25, 2008
Relief and hope permeated the air of the 80th Academy Awards ceremony last night. Referencing the toll the writers strike had taken on Hollywood, host Jon Stewart declared, “The fight is over. So tonight, welcome to the make-up sex.”
“No Country” Wins Four
The awards went far and wide, honoring independent films and actors from around the globe.
No Country for Old Men was the night’s biggest winner, garnering four awards, including Best Picture, Best Director(s) and Best Adapted Screenplay for Joel and Ethan Coen, and Best Supporting Actor for Spain’s Javier Bardem, for his chilling performance of psychopathic killer Anton Chigurh.
While his brother Ethan didn’t have much to say, Joel Coen thanked the Academy for “letting us continue to play in our corner of the sandbox.”
Day-Lewis and Cotillard Win Actor and Actress
Ireland’s Daniel Day-Lewis won Best Actor for his mesmerizing performance in There Will Be Blood, which also garnered Robert Elswit his second Oscar for cinematography (his first for Good Night and Good Luck). Parisian born and bred Marion Cotillard took home Best Actress honors for personifying Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose, which also won for Best Make Up for transforming Cotillard’s transformation.
Supporting Actress went to Scottish-born Tilda Swinton for her almost-human portrayal of a corporate shark whose conscience threatens to crack her ice-queen composure in Michael Clayton.
The quirky dramatic comedy Juno earned Diablo Cody her first Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. As the only film up for Best Picture that didn’t kill off a major character, Juno prompted Stewart to quip: “Does this town need a hug? What happened? No Country For Old Men, Sweeney Todd, There Will Be Blood? All I can say is, thank God for teen pregnancy.”
Oscar Moments
Several memorable moments highlighted the ceremony. Bardem thanked the Coen brothers for giving him the opportunity to shine in a role with “one of the worst haircuts in history,” before thanking his mother in Spanish:
“Mama, this is for you, for your grandparents, for your parents, Rafael and Matilde. This is for the Spanish comedians who’ve brought, like you, dignity and pride to our profession. This is for Spain! And this is for all of you!”
Cody, a former exotic dancer, tearfully thanked her family for “loving me for who I am,” while Cotillard gave one of the most heart-felt thank-you’s, in accented English. Breaking down in tears, she gave a warm hug to the hulking Forest Whitaker, who didn’t seem to mind returning the favor.
Cameron Diaz lightened the mood when her pronunciation stumbled while presenting the award for “cinematographer.” She brought the house down by saying, “I can do this!”
One of the freshest moments occurred when “Falling Slowly” won Best Original Song for the indie charmer Once, with music and lyrics by Ireland’s Glen Hansard and his Czech girlfriend Marketa Irglova. Hansard said it was amazing that a little song in a movie filmed in three weeks for a budget of $100,000 could take home such an award. He wrapped up his thank-you saying, “Make art. Make art.”
But the Oscar Nazis brought the music up and cut off Irglova before she got out word one. Luckily, Stewart had the class to bring her back after a commercial break. Irglova said the award should encourage every independent musician out there. “This song was written from a perspective of hope. And hope, at the end of the day, connects us all.”
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