HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — The Hurt Locker, an indie drama about an American bomb-disposal unit in Iraq, won best picture on Friday at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, an event that has an uncanny knack for predicting Oscar success.
The low-budget film also earned best director honors for Kathryn Bigelow, who defeated her ex-husband, James Cameron, in the process. It was one of the few setbacks for Cameron, whose sci-fi epic Avatar scooped up six wins, including best action movie.
Jeff Bridges won best actor for his portrayal of a drunken country singer in Crazy Heart, while the actress award was a tie between Meryl Streep for Julie & Julia and Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side. The two stars celebrated the honor with a steamy kiss that delighted the crowd.
The musical Nine went home empty-handed despite heading into the 15th annual event with a leading 10 nominations.
The Critics’ Choice Awards are organized by the 235 members of the Broadcast Film Critics Association in the United States and Canada.
Also see: Critics Choice Awards 2010 Pictures
15th Annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards Winners:
Best Picture: The Hurt Locker
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Best Original Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
Best Adapted Screenplay: Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air
Best Acting Ensemble: Inglourious Basterds
Best Actor: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
Best Actress: (tie) Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia; Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique, Precious
Best Young Actress: Saoirse Ronan, The Lovely Bones
Best Documentary: The Cove
Best Foreign Language Film: Broken Embraces
Best Animated Movie: Up
Best Comedy Movie: The Hangover
Best Score: Michael Giacchino, Up
Best Song: “The Weary Kind,” Crazy Heart
Best Costume Design: The Young Victoria
Best Make-Up: District 9
Best Action Movie: Avatar
Best Cinematography: Avatar
Best Visual Effects: Avatar
Best Art Direction: Avatar
Best Editing: Avatar
Best Sound: Avatar
