Reel Views: The Artist takes top honour at Oscars

Every so often the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gets it right. They did so recently when choosing The Hurt Locker, one of the most powerful war films in cinematic history, over the supremely popular Avatar, and this year they've done it again.

Oftentimes it seem like members of the Academy forget that they are tasked with determining the best achievements in cinema, not declaring the highest grossing sequel of the season. The Oscars are, for many filmmakers, the highest achievements to strive for and it makes true cinephiles, like myself, ecstatic when the Academy honours those who have done great things for the world of cinema.

At this year's Oscar ceremony, the host fell flat; he was tired and overdone. Billy Crystal is a funny man, but we've all seen him host the Oscars before. The awards, though, this year they were really something special.

For the full list of winners, visit oscars.com/nominees.

It is a great honour for The Artist to be chosen as this year's best film, and it is well deserved. Aside from its classic old-Hollywood charm, The Artist has a powerful message about the progress of the film industry and it obviously was heard loud and clear.

Other highlights from the awards included proud Canadian Christopher Plummer becoming the oldest recipient of an Oscar, "Man or Muppet" making Flight of the Concords and Lord of the Rings actor Bret McKenzie an Oscar winner and the contemporary Iranian film A Separation taking top foreign language honours.

Well done, Academy; I applaud you. For any of you keeping score out there this year, I only nailed down eight. I'm sorry Mr. Scorsese; I grossly underestimated you and your little film called Hugo.