Mar. 08 2010
The Hurt Locker star Jeremy Renner
Los Angeles (March 8, 2010)- James Cameron may have billions in the bank- thanks to blockbuster Avatar- but it is his ex-wife, Katherine Bigelow, who has this year’s Oscar on her mantle.
Bigelow, who directed the Iraq war instant classic The Hurt Locker, made Oscar history by becoming the first woman ever to win the Best Director Oscar. By the way, the movie also happened to win Best Picture, best original screenplay, editing, sound mixing and sound editing… a total of six Oscars.
Avatar wasn’t completely shut out, winning for art direction, cinematography and visual effects.
The night’s other big winners included Jeff Bridges, who took top acting honors for Crazy Heart. Bridges won for a remarkable performance as an alcoholic country singer.
"Thank you, mom and dad, for turning me onto such a groovy profession," Bridges said, speaking of his father actor Lloyd Bridges and his mother Dorothy.
Sandra Bullock beat out perennial bridesmaid Meryl Streep for Best Actress honors, winning for her role in The Blind Side as a southern mother who takes in a homeless black teenager.
"Did I really earn this, or did I just wear y'all down?" Bullock asked the crowd.
Supporting actor and actress nods went to Christoph Waltz and Mo’Nique, both of whom played horrific characters.
Waltz won for his role as a “Jew Hunter” in Inglorious Basterds.
"Quentin (Tatantino), with his unorthodox methods of navigation, this fearless explorer, took this ship across and brought it in with flying colors, and that's why I'm here," Waltz said.
Mo’Nique played an abusive mother in Precious.
"I want to thank Miss Hattie McDaniel for enduring all that she had to so that I would not have to," Mo'Nique said.
