Avatar Scoops Golden Globe Best Picture

by Helen Earnshaw | 18 January 2010

Avatar fever gripped the Golden Globes as James Cameron's movie scooped the Best Picture Drama gong.

The sci-fi success for the year faced tough competition from The Hurt Locker, Up In The Air, Precious, and Inglourious Basterds but romped home with the two biggest awards of the night.

Cameron also took home the Best Director prize, seeing off Kathryn Bigelow, Clint Eastwood, Jason Reitman and Quentin Tarantino.

When he collected the award the filmmaker said:"Frankly, I thought Kathryn was gonna get this. But make no mistake, I'm very grateful."

Despite a great few weeks on the award circuit for Kathryn Bigelow's Iraq war drama The Hurt Locker the movie walked away empty handed last night.

Another movie that was left disappointed was Up In The Air which only picked up one gong for Best Screenplay, despite being nominated for a string of awards including Best Picture.

The Hangover was the surprise hit of 2009 and it was rewarded last night as it picked up the Best Picture Musical or Comedy.

Jeff Bridges' campaign for Oscar glory was given another huge boost last night as he picked up Best Actor for Crazy Heart while Sandra Bullock collected Best Actress for The Blind Side.

It was the first major award for Bullock who became the first actress to break $200 million at the U.S. box office with this movie. An Oscar is now definitely a possibility next month.

Meryl Streep picked up another Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her performance in Julie & Julia, a performance that should bring her an Oscar nod.

Streep and Bullock both shared the Best Actress prize at the Critics Choice Awards on Friday night.

And there was award success for Robert Downey Jr in the Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for his version of Sherlock Holmes.

Christoph Waltz was one of the more predictable wins of the night as he picked up another Best Supporting Actor award for his performance in Inglourious Basterds.

And Mo'Nique strengthened her award potential as she scooped Best Supporting Actress for the hard hitting Precious.

But it was a disappointing night for the Brits as best Actress contenders Carey Mulligan, Helen Mirren and Emily Blunt were left empt handed. Colin Firth, who was contesting Best Actor also missed out.

Picture, Drama: Avatar

Picture, Musical or Comedy: The Hangover

Actor, Drama: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart

Actress, Drama: Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side

Director: James Cameron, Avatar

Actor, Musical or Comedy: Robert Downey Jr., Sherlock Holmes

Actress, Musical or Comedy: Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia

Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique, Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire

Foreign Language: The White Ribbon.

Animated Film: Up

Screenplay: Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air