80 Oscar 08

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I thought about live blogging the 2008 Oscars, but of course, got too caught up in our Oscar Party. The highlight of the evening simply had to be Jon Stewart bringing Marketa Irglova back out to give her acceptance speech. In an awards ceremony full of surprises, most notably the best and supporting actress categories (Marion Cotillard and Tilda Swinton respectively), Irglova and her co-writer, Glen Hansard, won the award for best original song for “Falling Slowly” from Once. Director Bill Conti inadvertently cut off Irglova during her acceptance speech after Hansard concluded his. In what might go down as one of the all-time great Oscar moments, host Jon Stewart invited Irglova back out to the stage to say her thank-you’s. The 19-year-old, who acts twice her age, gave perhaps the greatest acceptance speech of the night. She concluded her humble speech: “The fact that we’re standing here tonight, the fact that we’re able to hold this, it’s just proof that no matter how far out your dreams are, it’s possible. […] And, you know, fair play to those who dare to dream, and don’t give up. This song was written from the perspective of hope, and hope, at the end of the day, connects us all, no matter how different we are.”