Girl with the Miniature Cinema: And the OSCAR goes to...

The 84th Academy Awards just wrapped up. Awards were handed and movie history was made for the books. The good news is, my acting bets bagged the Golden Guy. The French silent-film 'The Artist' won 5 awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Michel Hazanavicius. Being a Francophile I'm more than happy for their success. "Hugo" Scorsese's love letter to the cinema also won 5 OSCARs. All in all this year's Academy Awards truly lived up to my expectations and painted a happy smile on my face.

Meryl Streep won her 3rd acting OSCAR for her stellar performance as Britain's PM Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady". With 17 nominations, Streep is the most nominated actor in Academy Award history. Meryl joins the company of Jack Nicholson and Ingrid Bergman for having won 3 acting OSCARs. She is definitely the best in the biz.

French Actor Jean Dujardin received his first acting OSCAR in the silent film "The Artist" as George Valentin, making him the first Frenchman to win an Academy Award. Forget Clooney, Dujardin is the man of the hour.

Acting legend Christopher Plummer finally won his first (and long overdue) OSCAR for his performance in Mike Mills' independent film "Beginners", making him the oldest actor to win an Academy Award at the age of 82. I grew up watching "The Sound of Music" and I have watched him act in several films that to see him finally get awarded is truly a moment of inspiration. I knew the first time I saw "Beginners" that that movie and his performance is special, and indeed I'm right. A well deserved win!

Octavia Spencer's portrayal as Minny Jackson - a domestic help - during the early 1960s is both moving and funny that I put her name right away on my acting bets alongside Jean Dujardin and Christopher Plummer. So far, so good, she won every nominations. Let her win remind every one of us that true talent sees or knows no color.

It is hard not to root for Michel Hazanavicius in spite of Martin Scorsese's presence and excellent film. In the times of 3D (and 4D) technology a man who can think of making a film entirely in black and white and a silent one at that could be considered crazy, but hey, Hazanavicious made it irresistibly luscious and universally renewing. Genius!