I am not going to beat around the bush in saying that this year’s Oscars has actually been the most satisfying in quite a long time. After being disappointed again and again at the Academy’s questionable choices, this is the first time in many years where I feel they have gained some true credibility in going for real quality over popularity. And despite the slightly noticeable sense of exhaustion in the aftermath of the writers’ strike, the ceremony delivered more than its share of heartfelt speeches and riotous one-liners thanks to host Jon Stewart.

As most everyone guessed, the Coens’ No Country for Old Men took home Best Picture as well as Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Javier Bardem, who became the first Spanish actor to ever win the Oscar. One memorable highlight was the humorously laconic reaction of younger brother Ethan Coen who, after only saying “Thank you" after accepting the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, said upon their return to the podium for Best Director, “I don't have a lot to add to what I said earlier. Thank you.” Meanwhile, Bardem, after thanking his cast and crew in English, dedicated the second half of his speech to his mother in Spanish, which sounded so natural and moving even if you did not understand exactly what he was saying.

The win I really let out a whoop for, however, was Marion Cotillard’s Best Actress award for her towering performance La Vie en Rose, making her the first French actress to win since Simone Signoret in 1960 and the first one to win for a performance in a foreign language since Sophia Loren in 1962. This surprised many pundits who thought the Academy would not be able to get past the foreign language barrier and vote for Julie Christie instead (though I predicted it). But few will contest that the Academy really vouched for sheer quality this time around over simple veteran respect or sentimentality and I think most people will also agree that Cotillard gave a more sincere and heartfelt acceptance speech than anything Christie would have delivered. Indeed, no other winner in the evening was more speechless and ecstatic about their win as she shouted, "Thank you, life! Thank you, love!" More attentive viewers also noticed the enthusiastically surprised reaction of fellow nominee Cate Blanchett upon presenter Forest Whitaker’s announcement of Cotillard’s name as the winner.