Bullock, Bridges, Mo’Nique, Waltz among top acting contenders
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – “Avatar” is a dreamy space fantasy that has made more money than any movie in history. “The Hurt Locker” is a ground-level dose of war-on-terror reality and one of the lowest-grossing best-picture contenders ever.
With a leading nine Oscar nominations each and ex-spouses James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow as directors, the films are a study in extremes. They’re also the only two movies that really matter in the expanded race for Hollywood’s top prize March 7.
“Avatar,” about the human invasion of a faraway moon populated by blue-hued creatures, won best drama and director at the Golden Globes. “The Hurt Locker,” a disturbingly close and claustrophobic look at the strains of disabling bombs in Iraq, earned the top prizes from guilds representing directors and producers, and was chosen as the year’s best film by many key critics groups
