The 82nd Academy Awards, held Sunday, March 7, 2010, at the
Kodak Theatre here in Hollywood, California, were a great
success. Although the time had been threatened to be cut shorter,
the program rounded out with the red carpet entry at exactly four
hours. And though acceptance speeches were also threatened to be
cut completely, and put only on the internet, they
remained.
After Neil Patrick Harris' introduction, Steve Martin and Alec
Baldwin made the start of the show a success with some hilarious
comedy, ripping on many of the nominated stars, including their
favorite to pick on, George Clooney. After concerns that formerly
planned Sacha Baron Cohen would denigrate the esteemed event with
his ways, he was dropped. Ben Stiller instead succeed with a
funny rendition as a character from "Avatar," complete with face
paint and a tail.
Chicago filmmaker legend John Hughes legacy was given due nods,
with the cast of some of his great comedies including Macaulay
Culkin, Ally Sheedy, Molly Ringwald, and Anthony Michael Hall, in
a touching memorial in front of his family. And while the best
picture prize winner was cut short, they squeezed the award in at
the last minute.
Many were surprised that the most successful film of all time,
"Avatar," lost best picture and best director. Even more ironic,
is that the film's director, James Cameron, is ex-husband of the
winner. With an African-American as president of the United
States, and an African-American woman, Mo'Nique winning best
supporting actress for Oprah's touted "Precious", it seemed right
that the director of "The Hurt Locker," Kathryn Bigelow, would
win best picture as she did. But the fact that she is the first
woman not only to win the award for best director, but also to
lead the film itself that won best picture, as "Hurt Locker" did,
is remarkable.
What is even more unique is that Hurt Locker is not some
lighthearted love story of wine and roses that was an easy shoot.
Instead, Ms. Bigelow directed a gripping, edge of the seat war
movie with riveting action, violence, and explosives. To say that
Kathryn Bigelow proves that American female directors can get in
the trenches as the best of any male director is an
understatement.
And Kathryn Bigelow's wins go to show that while it still has a
long way to go in this regard, as does the rest of society, the
Hollywood film industry is becoming more and more a place of
diversity. The charming, talented and lovely Sandra Bullock won
best actress for "The Blind Side," and the ever talented and cool
Jeff Bridges won best actor for "Crazy Heart," among
others.
During her onstage speech, Kathryn Bigelow accepted her award for
best picture for "The Hurt Locker," stating, "I was just gonna'
reiterate that (...) Rob and Patrick, (...) took a very brave
shot with this movie (...) we owe them dearly. Perhaps one more
dedication, to men and women all over the world who (...) wear a
uniform, but even not just the military - HazMat, emergency,
firemen. They're there for us and we're there for them. Thank
you. Thank you." She later stated at The Governors Ball, that
girls who dream of being directors should believe that anything
they want to happen can happen and come true.
The Hurt Locker's win sends a message that mainstream Hollywood,
largely defined by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts
and Sciences ® which holds the Oscars®, are more
concerned with reality, for the present, and ending war, rather
than fighting it in some fantasy. While "Avatar" was an expected
win for a great film, we can be sure that Mr. Cameron, with the
most profitable film of all time, will somehow survive. For now,
his ex-wife, Kathryn Bigelow gets the glory. This year above all
others, she shows clearly that she stands on her own as she
shines bright- and she deserves it.