All of us Once fans got very good news this week when the Academy ruled that Once’s Falling Slowly is eligible for the Academy Award for Best Original Song 2008. The Academy was considering pulling Falling Slowly out of the running because there was some question whether it was truly original (which, when you look at its competition seems like a very silly question.)

Once was one of my favorite movies of the year — actually, one of my favorite movies of all-time. If you haven’t checked out the Once DVDyet, you should. There’s lots of good stuff on there, including a commentary with actors Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova and director John Carney.

Here’s some reaction to the announcement:

From the Academy’s Press Release:
The genesis of the picture was unusually protracted, but director John Carney and songwriter Glen Hansard were working closely together in 2002 when the project that became ONCE was first discussed. “Falling Slowly” began to be composed, but the actual script and financing for the picture were delayed for several years, during which time Mr. Hansard and his collaborator Marketa Irglova played the songs in some European venues. Such previous uses were deemed local enough and minor enough to be inconsequential to the song’s eligibility.

Hollywood Elsewhere:
The deal all along (or so I’ve understood) has been that since Once failed to gather the Best Picture talk it certainly deserved all along, the Best Song Oscar is being seen as not just a fitting tribute for the song (and Glenn-Mar’s touching performing of it), but as a repository of all feelings of respect and affection for the film itself.

Carbetbagger:
Mr. Bernstein said he had called Mr. Hansard in Dublin with the news and described him as “delighted.” Mr. Bernstein said that various parties had raised questions about whether the song had been performed and/or recorded before it became part of the movie, but said that the committee was satisfied that it was written for the film and as such represented a song writing achievement worthy of inclusion in the nominees.

Cinematical:
Who else is tired of all the Academy Award technicalities that make this or that ineligible for best song, best score or best foreign film? Well, we can rejoice for a little bit today, because the popular indie film Once will remain in the running for the Best Original Song award in this year’s Oscar race.