I don’t want to be presumptuous and say something like, “It’s time to call this thing,” but it’s difficult to argue with the two biggest guild crowns ON TOP OF the critical sentiment “The Hurt Locker” is dragging into phase two.
Kathryn Bigelow has won the DGA award for her work on the film, becoming the first woman to be awarded by the guild to date and taking one step closer to the same designation on Oscar night. (Louie Psihoyos won the documentary prize for “The Cove”). Left in the dust with its billions, it seems, is James Cameron’s “Avatar,” with nothing but a Golden Globe to its credit.
Sometimes a winner just looks like a winner. Not to take the intrigue out of it. But seriously, the money thing, it’s just not hurting “The Hurt Locker,” and perhaps the Oscars will serve a purpose in a year the Academy became craven enough to expand its field to allow for critical successes. An independent that barely brought in $12 million at the box office will get the exposure it deserves on a global stage and perhaps reach a new audience.
The irony is unbelievable. On to phase two.
(Photo of Bigelow holding nomination plaque, not winner’s plaque.)
Comments
88 responses to “‘Hurt Locker,’ ‘The Cove’ win with DGA”
They couldn’t have dragged out that awards show any longer than they did. Ridiculous.
it certainly seems locked up for the hurt locker on awards night…shame, i was enjoying not knowing
Well, disappointed, but certainly not surprised. Time to head off to bed now.
Incredible news. I can’t describe how happy this makes me! lol.
why is speaking english disappointed?
I just didn’t think too much of her film.
She totally deserves it…BUT, I think her Oscar’s chance is still 50/50.
mehhhh
I’ve learnt tonight to not give a fuck for any awards anymore
This would seem to just about clinch things for The Hurt Locker, but the Academy isn’t afraid to dare to be different. I can just see them voting for Avatar or Up in the Air, and destroying any slim chance I might have of winning my Oscar pools.
Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bigelow looks like a million bucks to boot.
The entire world is gonna tune on march 7th to see their beloved Avatar, a film everyone in the world has seen multiple times. And then they will be surprised when it looses to ‘ the hurt something’.
:(
I stayed awake just to see this headline (it’s the east coast, I’m tired, shh) and it was worth it. Yay!! The combination of DGA and PGA is starting to make it seem like my favorite film of the year has a real chance at Best Picture honors.
Wow.
I enjoyed “The Hurt Locker”, but I wasn’t knocked out by it the one time I saw it, back in July. I’ve never understood this passionate support for the film. I will definitely have to give it another look and see if anything’s changed.
Let’s see how many nominations it receives on Tuesday. (By the way, is anyone else falling over themselves with excitement that Tuesday will bring the nominations AND the season premiere of “Lost”?)
Bigelow won the DGA….BUT hey I thought Cameron couldn’t lose!!??
Cough, cough – Kris, O’Neil
I certainly never used those words, Ray. I made a prediction. Tom’s the “such and such WILL happen” guy.
Really, I’d rather see UITA or Basterds win. But since neither have as much of a chance as Hurt Locker at beating Avatar, I’m putting all of my supporting behind Bigelow and her film.
I REALLY hope there’s some surprises with the Nominations now…
Justice is served. Now perhaps “Avatar” win join the notorious “Scent of a Woman” as the worst winner of the Golden Globe for Best Picture Drama. Wonder how that happened.
Up in the air, Basterds, and -yes- Avatar were all better films.
She came in 4th. At best.
Tony, I feel the same way to an extent although I will be pissed if Hurt Locker also wins Screenplay instead of Basterds. I firmly believe that Basterds will age better than any of the other films this year and it’s because the script is off the charts. QT is back on form and deserves recognition for it.
Even if HL doesn’t exactly WOW you…you have to admit that its flaws are less than Avatar’s.
All this just goes to prove that the Golden Globe judges are just a bunch of starf*ckers. Way to go, Bigelow. Great news.
D, Basterds should indeed win original screenplay. If, come Oscar night, they announce it as the winner of that category, I’ll begin to sense a Basterds upset (granted it takes Cinematography, Art Direction along with the locked and loaded Supp. Actor win). Doubt it, but one can dream…
I love Basterds, I honestly do, saw it thrice in the theaters and its in my Top 5 of the year.
But even I must say, its essentially a meaningless film. I’ve heard all that healing power of cinema and stuff, but its just a great flight of fancy, a great feat of film-making with no emotional investment. I love the movie, but am not oblivious to its faults.
I love it enough to cheer happily if it wins, but in my opinion, the academy will truly out do itself if it awards The Hurt Locker. It will go down as 1 of the best choices made by the academy in history.
Tony, I’m definitely in the “anyone but Avatar club” even though I want Basterds to get the credit it deserves. No it isn’t an ultra serious movie like the pretentious Academy wants, but neither was Pulp Fiction. Oops, they didn’t vote for that one and 15 years later it is pretty obvious that it’s the better movie. No offense to Forrest either because I love that one as well.
Have to disagree, red wine. I emotionally invested in Shoshanna’s character. She’s the heart and soul of the film
There’s a parallel at the end of Basterds where Tarantino asks the audience to look in the mirror. We’re laughing at the Nazis getting slaughtered while just moments earlier the Nazis are shown laughing at Allied forces getting slaughtered in a propaganda film. I think that’s a pretty powerful statement about society and no I don’t think I’m looking too far into it. Tarantino is a smart guy. He knew what he was doing with that scene.
The hottest winner this category will ever see, for sure. And she’s like… 58 or something!
yay for Hurt Locker.
Bigelow win is lovely and sure will be at the Oscars. Hurt Locker win, OTOH…Year 2011,what was the Best Picture last year? Anyone? Anyone?
Well deserved!
Bigelow, Bridges, Streep, Waltz and Mo’Nique will be your winners March 7th.
I SO called it.
[gloats profusely]
It’s getting to the point like, why even bother watching the awards show March 7? Just play the outcomes you predict in your head: Mo’Nique thanking GAWD and her husband whom she calls “daddy” for some creepy reason. Jeff Bridges thanking his wife and just being his duderific self. Christoph Waltz looking flustered and giving an obtuse speech, then Bigelow going up there for both director and film, while Quaker Oats aka Mr. Cameron looks on and pretends to be happy for her, while festering in a stew of rage on the inside.
And then Steve Martin makes some jokes that were funny 25 years ago while security tries to keep Alec Baldwin’s copious amounts of chest hair at bay.
There. I saved you guys like, 3 hours of your Sunday night, better spent tweeting or watching scrambled porn.
Just kidding. Still excited for March 7….
Kristopher I think the Academy expanded it’s field to allow for COMMERCIAL rather than CRITICAL successes
Off topic but for Guy and fellow Bright Star-philes, and interesting discussion on another blog where seanflynn has some insights into Apparition’s attitude to the film
http://goldderbyforums.latimes.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2246025764/m/739109663/p/4
As if the DGA win isn’t enough, won’t the new balloting system further boost “The Hurt Locker”‘s chances? Perhaps I’m late to the party with this line of thinking, but I’m guessing that a polarizing movie like “Avatar” is more likely to be ranked toward the bottom on a handful of lists, whereas I envision “The Hurt Locker” being in the top three on more ballots (if not necessarily receiving as many #1 votes as “Avatar”). Once the ballots are redistributed, “The Hurt Locker” would be more likely to benefit. Am I off-base here?
Mo`nique`s “daddy” isn`t her son?
The HFPA were on crack this year.
Jeremy you’re spot on. As PGA showed, the preferential system will help THL. I still think Avatar would win a head to head but THL will get alot of preferences so it has an edge.
And Anna, the HFPA thought they would try being the people’s choice awards (except for Bridges)
I don’t mind admitting I was shivering slightly as I fired up my laptop this morning and clicked to the site. (OK, it’s freezing here in London and my central heating is bust, but still.)
I’d formally predicted Bigelow, but I just couldn’t quite believe things would go my way in this of all years.
My day is officially made.
Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! for Roger Federer too. This is a happy day indeed.
Avatar’s last remaining fail safe are the Oscar nominations themselves on Tuesday.
If THL comes out on top or ties thanks to an Anthony Mackie nomination, that’s all she wrote for the big blue guy.
I don’t think the nomination tally is that relevant, Loyal. In the last five years, the most-nominated film has only won Best Picture once. (Even then, “No Country for Old Men” was tied for the lead with “There Will Be Blood.”)
Bigelow FTW!
DGA to Tom O’Neil: Shut the hell up!
If there’s any hope of Avatar remaining relevant, it certainly does Guy.
It would be quite telling if a 2 billion dollar supposedly 800 pd gorilla tied or was beaten in overall noms by The Hurt Locker. If someone would have proposed that scenario earlier in the season, I would have laughed.
Now all it would take to happen is a surprise nom for THL and Avatar missing out on a tech nom or two somewhere. Films like Avatar are suppose to lead all nominees and lead the media conversation on Tuesday “highest grossing film ever….most nominations this year.”
If that doesn’t happen, yeah, it’s pretty situation for Avatar.
^ pretty bad. :)
Fair point.
I still think there’s a possibility “Basterds” could be the top nominee.
Lovely news to wake up to. Not only a historic moment for female directors, but a deserving winner regardless of gender.
Especially happy to see everyone coming up with a myriad of excuses as to why Cameron couldn’t lose be proven oh so wrong. :D
All it would take for Basterds to lead is an nomination for one of the actresses , editing, and support in the sound categories, quite possible.
And Basterds is my #1 of 2009 but I dont want to see the headline for most nominations wasted on it since it doesn’t stand a real chance at winning BP (like Benjamin Button’s miraculous 13 noms last year).
Tuesday morning is going to be stressful, LOL.
Glad its not the dull avatar that won but I hope in the next month that tarantino takes it
Hurt locker is good but inglorious basterds is superb and I hope voters give it first or second look —so great in every way.
Whatever you do, don’t call it…Remember Brokeback Mountain in 2005? It won the Globe/PGA/DGA…and then?
Remember, there are 6 weeks to the night and Academy voters are very fickle….
The only way I can see Avatar winning is if it gets a screenplay nom. Now, because I don’t see that happening I think I will be very happy come Oscar night.