Seven years after America's foray into an ill-fated war in Iraq, Hollywood heaped glory on a tiny, taut film that took audiences to the front lines of the grinding conflict.
"The Hurt Locker," a pitiless look at the soldiers diffusing bombs in Iraq, won six Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director at the 82nd Academy Awards on Sunday.
The triumphs made history for the Academy Awards: Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win the directing honor; and the film, taking a meager $21 million worldwide at the box office, became the lowest-grossing Best Picture winner (the previous low was "Annie Hall," which wound up grossing about $38 million).
Though both wins were historic, neither was much of a surprise. "Hurt Locker" outpaced the global juggernaut "Avatar" -- which won three Oscars in visual categories -- for the entire awards season, taking home all important predictors except for one: the Golden Globe.
But this time, Bigelow's director award was no consolation prize.
"There is no other way to describe it -- this is the moment of a lifetime," she said as she accepted the directing award.
She certainly didn't have much time to take it in, for just as quickly as she left the stage, Tom Hanks took it and abruptly announced that "The Hurt Locker" had won Best Picture.
Without even reading the nominees, it was such a rushed reveal that even Bigelow looked unsure as she dashed back onstage, still clutching her directing trophy.
Bigelow was only the fourth woman to ever be nominated for best director. Lina Wertmüller (1975, "Seven Beauties"), Jane Campion (1993, "The Piano"), and Sofia Coppola (2003, "Lost in Translation") all were passed over.
"Avatar" took the second-most trophies with three, including production design, cinematography and visual effects. "Up in the Air," considered one of the early favorites for Oscar glory, was shut out.
"The Hurt Locker's" six wins included best screenplay, two sound honors and the editing award.
Jeff Bridges won the best actor award for his role as an aging country star in "Crazy Heart," and Sandra Bullock won for her role as a football mom who takes in a troubled teen in "The Blind Side."
"Did I really earn this, or did I just wear y'all down?" said the ever self-deprecating Bullock -- who became the only person to win both a Razzie and an Oscar in the same year -- before launching into an emotional acceptance speech that ended with a tribute to her own mom.
Bridges also took the stage for a more giddy tribute to his showbiz parents (then casually referring to most of the people
he thanked as "man").
he thanked as "man")."Thank you, Academy members!" he yelled, hoisting his statue skyward. "Mom and dad, yeah, look! Whoo!"
Winning two Oscars apiece were "Precious," including Mo'Nique's win for best supporting actress and adapted screenplay; and "Up," which won best score and best animated feature. "Avatar"
