James Cameron, director of Avatar, and his ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow (AP/Matt Sayles)
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Tom Sherak and actress Anne Hathaway announced the 82nd Academy Award nominees in the early morning hours of February 2, 2010. Setting an unusual stage, were the nine nominations for Kathryn Bigelow's thriller The Hurt Locker, pitted against the nine nominations for her former husband James Cameron's record-breaking film Avatar. Both ex-spouses will wrangle for the top spot in the Best Picture and Director categories. Bigelow is only the fourth woman to garner an Oscar nomination as a film director.
Avatar is a 2009 film of epic proportions, which was written, directed and produced by Cameron. The science-fiction 3D masterpiece is the highest-grossing film ever, surpassing Cameron's own dramatic love story, Titanic, with costs that exceeded its $237 million budget. Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez and Sigourney Weaver lead the star-powered cast. The film captured the imaginations of loyal movie-goers and earned upwards of $100 million the first weekend of its release.
The Hurt Locker, is an intense war drama that revolves around the lives of elite soldiers from the Army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit. The thriller was directed and produced by Kathryn Bigelow and stars Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, and Brian Geraghty as Sergeant First Class William James, Sergeant J.T. Sanborn and Specialist Owen Eldrige, respectively.
James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow were married briefly from 1989–1991. It was the third marriage for Cameron. Bigelow began her directorial career in 1982, with the biker film The Loveless. Shortly before her marriage to Cameron, she helmed her breakout film Near Dark, and then directed Break Point and Blue Steel while they were still together.
Cameron, the Canadian director with a temper, is known for his work in the Aliens, the Terminator Franchise and Titanic.
If you enjoyed this article, you may be interested in reading:
- Celebrity Grammy Awards' Gowns (slideshow)
- 2010 Grammy Awards: Winners and photo slideshow
- Golden Globe gowns, hit or miss? (slideshow)
- 2010 Golden Globe Awards: Winners and photo slideshow
Want the news as it is posted? Subscribe above and all new articles will be emailed directly to you. If you have any questions, article ideas or comments, feel free to send me an email at celebritywriter@gmail.com.
.gif){kind=small}
Comments
It's official - I am the only person alive who has not seen Avatar.
This is going to be a good Academy Awards show.
I won't be seeing The Hurt Locker, because I don't watch war movies, but I still hope Avatar wins.
Tere has it wrong...I've not seen it either!
I have not seen The Hurt Locker yet.
Tere, you're not alone; I have not seen nor plan on ever seeing "Avatar" either. Sci-fi just is not my thing.
:)
If Avatar is the highest growing film ever, it should be pretty amazing! It's all about the effects. Its a really good movie!
Good article!
I haven't seen 'The Hurt Locker', (it looks good) - I have seen 'Avatar', and I gotta say...it was just okay-and WAY too long. (my ADD kicked in about 3/4 of the way through) :)
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!