The Hurt Locker & Avatar Win Big At Critics Choice

by Helen Earnshaw | 16 January 2010

The Hurt Locker

The fight for the Golden Globes hotted up last night as the Critics Choice awards were revealed.

And the big winner was once again the Iraq war drama The Hurt Locker as it was awarded Best Picture as well as filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow picking up Best Director.

Bigelow is vying to be only the second female filmmaker to pick up the Best Director award tomorrow night at the Golden Globes and she has strengthened her position as a real contender win her win last night.

The movie follows the elite bomb squad during their tour of duty in Iraq. The movie was a critical hit when released last summer and has gone on to dominate the awards circuit in recent weeks.

When collecting her award Bigelow said: "It's wonderful to have this honour," she continued, "but the recognition should also go to the men and women who are in the field to this day."

While Jeff Bridges picked up another acting award for Crazy Heart, could this bee the Oscar year for the actor? There was a tie for Best Actress.

Unable to pick out an overall winner Meryl Streep and Sandra Bullock shared the award for their performances in Julie and Julia and The Blind Side.

The Blind Side saw Bullock become the first actress break through the $200 million at the U.S. box office and she, along with Streep, should be in the Oscar mix next month.

Christoph Waltz walked off with another Best Supporting Actor prize for his outstanding performance in Inglorious Basterds.

The Quentin Tarantino movie did well at the Critics Choice ceremony picking up Best Cast as well as best original Screenplay for Quentin Tarantino.

And the Best Supporting Actress award went to Mo’Nique for her role as an abusive mother in Push.

Avatar was the big winner on the night taking home five awards including Best Action Movie, and Best Cinematography.

There was no surprise in the Best Animation category as Up took home the award, also picking up Best Score.

But the biggest loser of the night was musical Nine leading the nominations with ten nods the movie failed to pick up a single gong.

Best Film-The Hurt Locker.

Best Actor Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart.

Best Actress-Sandra Bullock and Meryl Streep for ‘The Blind Side’ and ‘Julie and Julia’.

Best Supporting Actor, Christopher Waltz for ‘Inglorious Basterds’.

Best Supporting Actress Mo’Nique for ‘Precious’.

Best Cast-Inglorious Basterds.