The Hurt Locker wins the Best Picture Oscar

Kathryn Bigelow makes Hollywood history with her brilliant, low-budget Iraq war drama

by Sheila JohnstonMonday, 08 March 2010

Kathryn Bigelow backstage at the Academy Awards last night Todd Wawrychuk ©A.M.P.A.S.

Kathryn Bigelow made Hollywood history last night at the 82nd Academy Awards by becoming the first woman to be named Best Director for The Hurt Locker, which also won for Best Picture. Her brilliant, low-budget Iraq war drama was the big winner at the ceremony, bagging six statuettes as against three Oscars for the co-favourite, Avatar, the sci-fi extravaganza directed by Bigelow's ex-husband James Cameron. The four acting awards were utterly unsurprising and it was a lean night indeed for the Brits, although the respected costume designer Sandy Powell - previously a laureate for Shakespeare in Love and The Aviator - won her third Oscar for The Young Victoria. A full list of nominees follows below.

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker

Explore topics

Share this article

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

more Film

Love Lies Bleeding review - a pumped-up neo-noir There's darkness on the edge of town in Rose Glass's sweaty, violent New Queer gem

Nezouh review - seeking magic in a war A movie that looks on the dreamier side of Syrian strife

Blu-ray: The Dreamers Bertolucci revisits May '68 via intoxicated, transgressive sex, lit up by the debuting Eva Green

theartsdesk Q&A: Marco Bellocchio - the last maestro Italian cinema's vigorous grand old man discusses Kidnapped, conversion, anarchy and faith in cinema

I.S.S. review - sci-fi with a sting in the tail The imperilled space station isn't the worst place to be

That They May Face The Rising Sun review - lyrical adaptation of John McGahern's novel Pat Collins extracts the magic of country life in the west of Ireland in his third feature film

Stephen review - a breathtakingly good first feature by a multi-media artist Melanie Manchot's debut is strikingly intelligent and compelling

DVD/Blu-Ray: Priscilla The disc extras smartly contextualise Sofia Coppola's eighth feature

Fantastic Machine review - photography's story from one camera to 45 billion Love it or hate it, the photographic image has ensnared us all

All You Need Is Death review - a future folk horror classic Irish folkies seek a cursed ancient song in Paul Duane's impressive fiction debut

If Only I Could Hibernate review - kids in grinding poverty in Ulaanbaatar Mongolian director Zoljargal Purevdash's compelling debut

The Book of Clarence review - larky jaunt through biblical epic territory LaKeith Stanfield is impressively watchable as the Messiah's near-neighbour

Follow @theartsdesk