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80th Annual Academy Awards - Feb. 24, 2008

by Jane Boursaw on February 24th, 2008

Jon Stewart makes his second appearance as host of the Oscars. “You’re here!” he says gleefully to the audience, referring to the recently resolved “bitter writer’s strike.”

But no Vanity Fair Oscar party, out of respect for the writers. Too bad. Hey, if VF wants to give the writers some respect, says Stewart, howzabout inviting them to the party? “We promise they won’t mingle.”

Stewart also joked that Hollywood “needs a hug,” with all the grim, bleak Oscar noms (”No Country for Old Men,” “There Will Be Blood”). “Thank god for teen pregnancies!” says Stewart.

Jennifer Garner presents for Best Achievement in Costume Design (and doesn’t trip on the way to the microphone - yah!). Winner: Alexandra Byrne for “Elizabeth the Golden Age.” Those duds WERE awesome.

George Clooney presents a little history of the Oscars. Pretty cool, seeing all the old stars now gone…Jimmy Stewart, Audrey Hepburn, etc.

More after the jump!

Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway present Best Animated Feature. Except he starts out thinking it’s Best Documentary and has to be talked down by Anne. Too funny. I can’t wait for “Get Smart”! Winner: Brad Bird for “Ratatouille”. A much deserved win. (Photo: WireImage)

Katherine Heigl presents for Best Makeup. Arriving at the mike in her red-red-red dress, she says she’s “unbelievably nervous…I’m not very good at this…” I think you do just fine, Katherine. And your nervousness is part of why I have a big girl-crush on you. Winner: “La Vie en Rose.”

First Song: “Happy Working Song,” sung by Amy Adams. She’s my second girl-crush of the night. And that song just makes me…happy.

Duane “The Rock” Johnson presents for Best Visual Effects. Winner: “The Golden Compass.” I loved that movie better than a lot of other critics.

A very pregnant Cate Blanchett presents for Best Art Direction. Winner: “Sweeney Todd.” The camera pans to Johnny Depp, and you can see him mouth the words “beautiful” to his girlfriend.

Jennifer Hudson presents for Best Supporting Actor. It’s hard to believe she was just a “regular” person a few short years ago. She’s so composed and well-spoken. Winner: Javier Bardem for “No Country For Old Men.” All great actors, but he so deserved this award. “Thanks to the Coens for thinking I’m crazy enough to do this part,” he said, adding a thanks to his mom. Camera pans to her, and she’s just bursting with pride! So sweet!

Keri Russell presents the next nominated song, “Raise it Up” from “August Rush.” I wasn’t all that crazy about the movie, but this song is awesome, especially with soloist 11-year-old Jamia Simone Nash with the choir backup singers. Her superb voice gives me goosebumps.

Owen Wilson (how good to see him!) presents for Best Live Action Short Film. Winner: “Le Mozart Des Pickpockets.”

Jerry Seinfeld (as his animated Bee character from “Bee Movie”) does a little spiel about bees in the movies (yep, “Bee Movie” is due out on DVD in the next few weeks) presents for Outstanding Animated Short Film. Winner: “Peter and the Wolf” (I called that one right!).

Alan Arkin presents for Best Supporting Actress. Winner: Tilda Swinton for “Michael Clayton.” Didn’t see that coming. I thought for sure Amy Ryan would win. Tilda looks like an other-worldly creature with her wild short red hair and one-armed wet-look black dress. She comments on how great Clooney was on the “Michael Clayton” set, climbing into his Batman costume with the nipples - that he wore under his suit every day. “You rock, Man!” Ha, way to get back at the practical jokester, T! I’m sure there will be hell to pay. (Photo: WireImage)

A pregnant Jessica Alba, wearing a beautiful royal purple gown with a feather thing going at the bustline, presents the Scientific Technical Awards. Apparently, Jessica didn’t get the memo about swelling up when you’re pregnant. The top part of her still looks trim!

Josh Brolin and James McAvoy (don’t those two look handsome?!) present for Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published. Winner: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen for “No Country For Old Men.” Alright! Those two make me smile.

Miley Cyrus (so poised for her young years) presents the next nominated song, “That’s How You Know,” from “Enchanted.” Kristen Chenoweth performs, and I love her voice. Another happy song! (Photo: WireImage)

Seth Rogen and Jonah Hill present for Sound Editing (as Dame Judi Dench and Halle Berry), then argued over who gets to be Halle. Winner: “The Bourne Ultimatum.”

Those two present again for Best Sound Mixing. Winner: “The Bourne Ultimatum.”

Forest Whitaker presents for Best Actress. Winner: Marion Cotillard for “La Vie en Rose.” Awesome performance, but I was SO hoping Ellen Page would win! But Marion gives such a heartfelt speech, it sort of makes up for it. And how sweet when Forest walks her off the stage hugging her all the way.

Colin Farrell “slides” up to the podium and presents the next song: “Falling Slowly” from “Once” (one of my favorite movies of last year). Such a sweet little song, and performers Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova look at each other like they can’t believe they’re on stage singing an Oscar nominated song.

Jack Nicholson (sans shades) takes a historical walk down “Best Picture” lane. “I love the movies,” he says. “They entertain us, they offer us hope, they give us dramas, they take us places we’ve never been…”

Renee Zellweger presents for Achievement in Film Editing. Winner: “The Bourne Ultimatum.”

Nicole Kidman (just barely showing a baby bump on her tall, willowy body) presents an Honorary Oscar to 98-year-old production designer Robert Boyle. How cool that he takes the stage and so graciously accepts the award. To thunderous applause, he says, “That’s the good part of getting old. I don’t recommend the other.” He goes on to thank the folks who gave him his first break, including Norman Jewison and “Hitch,” who I’m guessing is Alfred Hitchcock. “I have had the good fortune to be a part of this,” says Boyle, “and I thank you all for being there for me.” (Photo: WireImage)

Penelope Cruz, so glamorous in a beautiful, black, billowy gown, presents for Best Foreign Language Film. Winner: “The Counterfeiters.”

Patrick “McDreamy” Dempsey introduces the final song: “So Close” from “Enchanted.” The performer sounds like he lost his voice or something. Still pretty, though. Is that Amy Adams dancing? It might be a look-alike.

John Travolta, dances onstage with one of the “So Close” dancers (was that planned?!), then nearly slips at the podium! He presents for Best Original Song. Winner: “Falling Slowly” from “Once”!!! Wow, that’s so cool, with all those great songs nominated. “This is amazing,” Glen Hansard says. “What are we doing here? This is mad!” He goes on to say that the movie took three weeks to make, and they spent all of $100K. “Make art!” he says. But they cut Marketa Irglova’s speech short with the cut-off music! That’s just not right. (Photo: WireImage)

And awwww…Jon Stewart brings Marketa back onstage for a chance to say her thank-you’s. I love you, Jon Stewart! She tells people not to give up on their dreams, and that the song’s hopeful message connects all of us. Nice, nice, nice.

Cameron Diaz, in a stunning pink gown, presents for Best Cinematography. Winner: Robert Elswit for “There Will Be Blood.” “We’re really all standing on the shoulders of Daniel Day-Lewis,” he says, “who isn’t here right now.” Where did he go? He was there earlier…

Hillary Swank introduces a piece on filmmakers, actors, and industry pros we lost this past year, ending with Heath Ledger.

Beautiful Amy Adams presents for Best Original Score. Winner: Dario Marianelli for “Atonement.” I have to say, that score was great the way it blended with the tap-tap-tapping of the typewriter. (Photo of Amy Adams: WireImage)

Tom Hanks, looking better than ever, introduces a few soldiers in Baghdad (cool!), who present for Best Documentary Short. Winner: Cynthia Wade and Vanessa Roth for “Freeheld.” It’s always cool to see “real” people win, and that’s just what these two ladies are. You can tell they’re just thrilled to be there.

Tom Hanks goes on to present for Best Documentary Feature. Winner: “Taxi to the Dark Side.”

Harrison Ford presents for Best Original Screenplay. Winner: Diablo Cody for “Juno”! Awesome win. As she gives her acceptance speech, she sounds just like Ellen Page in the movie. “And most of all, I want to thank my family for loving me exactly the way I am,” says Cody. How sweet is that?

Helen Mirren (love her - she always looks beautiful) presents for Best Actor. Winner: Daniel Day-Lewis for “There Will Be Blood.” “My deepest thanks to the Academy for whacking me with the most gorgeous bludgeon in town,” he says, giving kudos to his wife, Rebecca Miller and director Paul Thomas Anderson, as well as his father, grandfather and sons. (Photo of Helen Mirren: WireImage)

Martin Scorsese (does he ever change? I think not) presents for Achievement in Directing. Winner: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen for “No Country For Old Men.” Glad to see them win.

Denzel Washington (bald!) presents for Best Picture. Winner: “No Country For Old Men.” I kinda figured they’d do a little sweep here at the end. Excellent.

That’s a wrap! Great Oscar telecast, and so fun to see all of the vintage clips of Oscars past. 

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