Hope at the Oscars

Leave the happy endings to Hollywood. Never mind the writer’s strike that lasted months and cost Hollywood billions. Had it not been for Jon Stewart’s comical references it would seem almost as if nothing had ever happened. And who better to pull off such a stunt than an auditorium full of actors, directors, playwrights, comedians and the like?
Hosting once again, Jon Stewart quickly defined the 80th Annual Oscars calling it the writer’s strike “make-up sex”. His light-hearted comedy seemed to make up for the heavy feeling that hung over Hollywood in the previous months. Both quick and witty, Stewart improvised throughout the show; consciously providing a mistranslation of Javier Bardem’s Spanish to “I believe he told his mother where the library was.” Even cueing the orchestra after one of the commercial breaks, Jon Stewart should be commended.
Afraid that the writer’s strike would extend past the Oscars, the Academy had prepared video clips that recalled famous Oscar moments and decided to use them regardless. The effect was a nostalgic recap of Oscar history that seemed to remind everyone there what they were fighting to preserve.
The Oscars awarded were carefully sprinkled out amongst a large number of movies but a few stood out. No Country for Old Men seemed to pull out on top taking best picture, best adapted screenplay, best director, much appreciated by the famous Coen brothers and best supporting actor for the proud Javier Bardem. But There Will be Blood’s British star Daniel Day-Lewis grabbed best actor and La Vie en Rose’s French star Marion Cotillard grabbed best Actress. Interesting to notice is that the European crowd won many of the awards this year. Taken aback, even Tilda Swinton from Scotland took best supporting actress for Michael Clayton.
Perhaps the most humble to receive an Oscar were Irish Glen Hansard and Czech Market Irglova with best original song; “Falling Slowly”, performed beautifully by them onstage. Cut off before she could give her acceptance speech, and she wasn’t the only one, Jon Stewart took advantage of his hosting powers in a touching moment to allow her to return to the stage and say a few words.
In the absence of the strike something else took hold. In between the random shots of Jack Nicholson smiling in his sunglasses and the clips of Cher’s spectacular costumes there was a feeling of hope for the future. Memories of the writer’s strike and the obvious European failed to tarnish the feeling of communal pride because as Market Irglova wisely noted: “hope at the end of the day connects us all, not matter how different we are”.