Steve McQueen's excoriating 12 Years a Slave and David O Russell's hellzapoppin' true-crime caper American Hustle are in the lead with seven nominations each, but the list is a portfolio of very good films in which there still appears to be no really clear frontrunner: it augurs well for a very satisfying awards season and Oscar night.
The worthiest and most satisfying acting award was to Cate Blanchett for her performance as an impossibly haughty, damaged and heartbreakingly ruined socialite, Jasmine, in Woody Allen's excellent Blue Jasmine, a film which really deserved to get Allen a direction or screenwriting nomination but didn't.
It was "very satisfying" to receive the award after so many years, he said in an interview with The Washington Post, but he had pursued it as a matter of principle, to set the record straight at the end of his life, rather than to attract attention.
After he was notified of his nomination, he said "It's so much more satisfying to get this award now than posthumously.
"It's always gratifying whenever one's work is recognised and valued, but to receive the Shelley award is particularly satisfying," he added.
Those awards were especially satisfying because Cole's entry into pop had been greeted with the usual skepticism facing children of famous performers.
Later, on 31 May 1895, he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity, having previously been excused by the University from satisfying the requirements normally set for the award of the degree.
On the whole, these were well-judged awards, closing this Cannes shut with a satisfying click.
And he was loaded with honours and awards as the greenest businessman in America.Most satisfying of all, sales had increased by two-thirds since his conversion, and profits had doubled.
