vIndianz (3 Feb, 2010) — Fantasy ‘Avatar’ and war movie ‘The Hurt Locker’ claimed nine Oscar nominations each on Tuesday, including best film, pitting the two against one another as front-runners for the world’s highest film honors, adds Reuters.
The contrast between the two presents several intriguing elements. ‘Avatar’ director James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow, his ex-wife and director of ‘Hurt Locker,’ will compete against each other in the category for best director.
‘Avatar’ is a big-budget science-fiction space adventure from major studio 20th Century Fox with a global box office haul over $2 billion. It is the highest-grossing movie of all time — eclipsing Cameron’s previous blockbuster ‘Titanic.’
‘Hurt Locker,’ is a low-budget film about soldiers who defuse bombs in Iraq made by independent Summit Entertainment. Its worldwide ticket sales stand at a mere $16 million.
Bigelow’s nomination was a rarity. Only three other women, including Sofia Coppola for 2003′s ‘Lost in Translation,’ have been nominated for best director in the 80-plus years since the Oscars have been bestowed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. No woman has ever won.
Quentin Tarantino’s World War Two fantasy, ‘Inglourious Basterds,’ also in the best film and best director race.
In a break from the past, Academy voters this year expanded the field of best film nominees from five movies to 10 to boost competitiveness but many pundits said the race, as of Tuesday, boiled down to “Avatar” and “Hurt Locker.”
Joining them was Disney animated movie ‘Up,’ about an elderly man on the adventure of a lifetime. It is only the second animated film behind 1991′s “Beauty and the Beast” to earn a nod for best picture and along with that, also earned a nomination for best animated movie.
Also in the running for best film are corporate downsizing tale ‘Up in the Air’ and urban drama “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire,” with six nominations each.
South African sci-fi film ‘District 9′ also made the best film list in a rarity. Only two other sci-fi films had been nominated for best movie before it and ‘Avatar’: ‘Star Wars’ and ‘E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial.’
Further Reading- ‘Hurt Locker’ team plans film on bin Laden hunt – CNBC.com
- ‘Hurt Locker’ Makers Move to Dismiss Vet’s Lawsuit – ABC News
- Oscars: Bigelow creates history
- Osama Bin Laden Death to Be Featured in Untitled Kathryn Bigelow Project – MovieWeb
- Bullock poised for first Oscar
- 2011 Golden Globes – Best Animated Film – Toy Story 3 – ScreenCrave.com
- South Korean film director makes movie on iPhone – The Associated Press
- Johnny Depp’s ‘Rango’ Could Score Best Box-Office Debut of Year So Far – Hollywood Reporter
- Hollywood has new options with Osama bin Laden’s death – Los Angeles Times
- Kathryn Bigelow working on an Osama Bin Laden death film – Monsters and Critics.com
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