March 8, 2010
 
Oscar Surprises: 'Hurt Locker' Captures Six
 
By Tony E Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
 
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Surprise. Underdogs still win. Ex-Wife Extracts Ultimate Revenge. Hurry to Walmart.
 
Having just wanted the jubilation of the Academy Award ceremonies, the winning Best Picture came as a word-of-mouth, festival purchased, blown away sleeper. Against the odds, particularly the tracking of films that have been set against the War on Terror, “The Hurt Locker” convincingly prevailed against the most expensive, highest grossing, and 3D groundbreaker, “Avatar.”
 
In order for “Hurt Locker” to best “Avatar” , one long time shut out taboo toppled and another continued the futility of the science fiction genre to spread broadly into the mainstream, even with an easy to crossover theme. Ironically, an Academy tribute aired to a second popular genre (horror) that has not been a Best Picture winner for … did I hear that right, 40 something years?
 
Overall, it was a night for women to roar. Kathryn Bigelow's “Hurt Locker” outdueled her ex-hubby (James Cameroon’s most expensive, more promoted, more hyped “Avatar.” Wonder if someone peeked inside the envelope? Why? Barbara Streisand awarded the Best Director Oscar. Was that a hint? Right after Bigelow spoke, the music played the feminist anthem, “I am woman … hear me roar.”
 
Actually, considering the vaulting emergence of female filmmakers, it’s an honor that’s long, long overdue.
 
The Cinderella night would not be complete. “Precious” scored a one out of two in the acting category. A two for two would have made it and the winners more popular than Susan Boyle. Still, Gabourey Sidibe, who plays “Precious,” a pregnant teenager who struggles to overcome years of abuse at the hands of her parents, became a Cinderella by just having a seat in the audience and her name read as a nominee. Her co-star , Mo’Nique, captured the Best Supporting Actress category.
 
America’s sweetheart, Sandra Bullock, won best actress for “Blind Side,” which itself qualified as a sleeper. Amazingly, the night prior to holding the Best Actress Oscar, Bullock showed up to claim a “Razzie” for “worst” performance in “All About Steve.”
 
Finally, another small film, “Crazy Heart” brought home a couple of statuettes, too.
 
What a night --- a year for the indie, women, underdogs, and favorites.
 
Editor's Note: Here is a complete list of the Oscars awarded Sunday night, March 7, 2010:
 
BEST PICTURE: "The Hurt Locker"
LEAD ACTOR: Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"
LEAD ACTRESS: Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"
SUPPORTING ACTOR: Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds"
SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Mo'Nique, "Precious"
DIRECTOR: Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker"
ANIMATED FEATURE: "Up"
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: "El Secreto de Sus Ojos" (Argentina)
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: "The Hurt Locker," Mark Boal
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: "Precious," Geoffrey Fletcher
ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE: "Up," Michael Giacchino
SONG: "The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)" from "Crazy Heart"
ART DIRECTION: "Avatar"
CINEMATOGRAPHY: "Avatar"
COSTUME DESIGN: "The Young Victoria"
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: "The Cove"
DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT: "Music by Prudence"
FILM EDITING: "The Hurt Locker"
MAKEUP: "Star Trek"
ANIMATED SHORT FILM: "Logorama"
LIVE ACTION SHORT: "The New Tenants"
SOUND EDITING: "The Hurt Locker"
SOUND MIXING: "The Hurt Locker"
VISUAL EFFECTS: "Avatar"