The 82nd Academy Awards were broadcast to millions on Sunday, March 7, 2010, and history was made. The first woman won the Best Director Award, Kathryn Bigelow for “The Hurt Locker” and the Best Picture of the Year was an upset: “The Hurt Locker,” a little-seen film about bomb defusers, starring Jeremy Renner.
“Avatar” won 3 Oscars, when all was said and done, one for Visual Effects, one for Cinematography and one for Art Direction. “The Hurt Locker,” meanwhile, raked in the Oscar for Best Picture, Best Director (Kathryn Bigelow), Original Screenplay (Mark Boal), Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Sound Mixing.
After those two gorillas in the jungle, the numbers dropped off rapidly: only “Crazy Heart” (with 2) and “Crazy Heart” and “Precious” with 2 apiece challenged for awards this night.
The evening opened with a lame song-and-dance number by Neil Patrick Harris, who had actually been good in this role on an earlier awards show. Neil Patrick Harris sang a song whose message whose message was “No One Wants to Do It Alone.” This is true, and is probably why Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin shared hosting duties for the 82nd annual Oscars. I was disappointed in their performance, as they are both so funny and quick-witted, individually, but their scripted stuff was somewhat weak…although not as weak as Kathy Ireland’s red carpet interviewing. None of the people doing the red carpet interviews this year impressed, least of all Kathy, Sherry from “The View” or the editor of “People” magazine (I think). I never thought I’d say it, but give us back Joan and Melissa Rivers. Army Archerd just died, so he’s definitely out. What about somebody like Mario Lopez or Joan Hart or, really, just about anybody but this trio.
The winners this night were as follows:
Best Picture: “The Hurt Locker”
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow (first woman director to win)
Best Actor: Jeff Bridges (for “Crazy Heart”)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Mo’Nique in “Precious”
Best Animated Feature Film: “Up”
Best Original Screenplay: “The Hurt Locker” by Mark Boal
Best Adapted Screenplay: “Precious”, Geoffrey Fletcher
Best Foreign Language Film: “The Secret in Their eyes” (Argentina)
Best Original Score: “Up” (Michael Giacchino)
Best Original Song: “The Weary King” from “Crazy Heart
Best Art Direction: “Avatar”
Best Cinematography: “Avatar” by Mario Fiore
Best Costume Design: “The Young Victoria” (Sandy Powell)
Best Documentary Feature: “The Cove”
Best Documentary Short Subject: “Music by Prudence”
Best Film Editing: “The Hurt Locker” (Bob Murawksi and Chris Innis)
Best Makeup: “Star Trek”
Best Animated Short Film: “Logarama” (French, 16 mins.)
Best Live Action Short Film: “The New Tenants”
Best Sound Editing: “The Hurt Locker”
Best Sound Mixing: “The Hurt Locker”
Best Visual Effects: “Avatar”
Sandra Bullock’s acceptance speech was the most affecting of the night, for me, as she said, “To that trailblazer who allowed me to have this extraordinary opportunity—and to my lover, Meryl Streep.” Sandra also referenced a time when George Clooney had thrown her into a swimming pool and almost choked up during her acceptance speech. I also enjoyed Mo’Nique pointing out that, at least in her case, the award was truly given for the performance. I agree with that, having seen all the nominated performances, but it didn’t hurt any that Oprah got behind the film Big Time, so that somewhat contradicts Mo’Nique’s comment that politics was not a factor in her win. (She also shared TMI during her Barbara Walters interview, telling the world that she does not shave her legs and has an open marriage with her spouse.)
The evening ended on as always-hurried note, with the dynamic duo of Steve Martin and Alec Baldin signing off very quickly.
Most of the winners were not a surprise, with Jeff Bridges and Sandra Bullock and Christoph Waltz and Mo’Nique winning, as expected.