Official Movie Poster

The Hurt Locker won the Oscar for Best Picture of the Year, landed Kathryn Bigelow with a historical Oscar win for best director, and set Jeremy Renner’s career on a blazing path to critical acclaim and success, so why haven’t you seen it?

Watch The Hurt Locker and other Oscar Winners

If you’re contemplating seeing the film, don’t. Just do it. If you need a push, check out the trailer in the video player below. Here is a brief synopsis.

Slideshow: Red Carpet arrivals at the Oscars (photos 82nd Academy Awards, video)

The film takes place in the summer of 2004 during the midst of the Iraqi war. Sergeant J.T. Sanborn and Specialist Owen Eldridge are caught in the middle of a debate as a new Staff Sergeant leads their team. The new Staff Sergeant William James, played by Jeremy Renner, comes in and handles things differently. The guys aren’t sure whether James is a consummate pro, or leading the troops straight to their demise. The team is a small unit that deals with IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices).

Slideshow: Oscars 2010 Academy Award winners in pictures (photos, videos)

The film takes its name from combat slang used to describe being wounded or injured during an explosion. It also means that someone is in extremely poor physical condition.

Now, we don’t want to give too much away, so see the movie already!  Really!  See it!

Kathryn Bigelow was the first woman to be named Best Director for The Hurt Locker. The film also won the award for Best picture of the year. It seems nearly unbelievable that it took 82 years for a woman to finally win the award, however, it is a great achievement and one recognized by viewers nationwide. Amazingly, Kathryn Bigelow was up against her ex-husband, James Cameron for Avatar.

Slideshow: Red Carpet arrivals at the Oscars (photos 82nd Academy Awards, video)

Slideshow: Oscars 2010 Academy Award winners in pictures (photos, videos)

Kathryn Bigelow spoke about the win with E-Entertainment following the Oscars, you may view footage of that video clip in the player below. During Kathryn’s acceptance speech she said that there was no other way to describe the win but that it was the ‘moment of a lifetime.

She stated, “First of all, this is so extraordinary to be in the company of such powerful, my fellow nominees, such powerful filmmakers who have inspired me and I have admired for, some of whom, for decades. And thank you to every member of the Academy. This is, again, the moment of a lifetime.”

Kathryn thanked many people, including Mark Boal and in turn dedicated the win to those in the military. She said, “And I’d just like to dedicate this to the women and men in the military who risk their lives on a daily basis in Iraq and Afghanistan and around the world. And may they come home safe. Thank you.”

Richard Harbaugh / ©A.M.P.A.S.

After the Awards, Kathryn spoke with Showbiz Tonight and shared her views on making history. Kathryn said, “`I’d love to just think of myself as a filmmaker and I long for the day when the modifier can be a moot point. But I`m ever grateful if I can inspire some young intrepid, tenacious male or female filmmaker and have them feel that the impossible is possible.

Oscar nominations 2010 update: Avatar, The Hurt Locker, and Inglourious Basterds lead (photos, videos)

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced the Oscar nominations for 2010 this morning and several pictures hold a substantial lead over the competition. Avatar and The Hurt Locker tie with a whopping nine nominations each. Avatar is distributed by 20th Century Fox and The Hurt Locker is distributed by Summit Entertainment.

(Photos slideshow of Oscar Nominations 2010 Nominees)

Avatar has been nominated in the following categories: Art direction, Cinematography, Directing, Film editing, Original score, Best picture, Sound editing, Sound mixing, and for Visual effects.

The Hurt Locker has been nominated in the following nine categories including best actor: Jeremy Renner – Best Performance by an actor in a leading role, Cinematography, Directing, Film editing, Original score, Best picture, Sound editing, Sound mixing, and Best Original screenplay.

Following directly behind Avatar and The Hurt Locker is Inglourious Basterds which is distributed by The Weinstein Company and has 8 nominations in the following categories, including best supporting actor: Christoph Waltz –Best Performance by an actor in a supporting role, Cinematography, Directing, Film editing, Best picture, Sound editing, Sound mixing, and Best Original screenplay.

It should come as no surprise that all three top films find their directors up for Oscar nominations. James Cameron has been nominated for Avatar, Kathryn Bigelow has been nominated for The Hurt Locker, and Quentin Tarantino has been nominated for Inglourious Basterds. The category of Best Directing in a motion picture movie is rounded out with Lee Daniels for Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire and Jason Reitman for Up in the Air.

Prime Writer News Network Topic:Oscar, Academy Awards

Oscar Nominations 2010: The Hurt Locker, Avatar, and Inglourious Basterds Lead (photos, videos)

Oscar Nominations 2010: Full List of Nominees

Oscar Nominations to be announced Feb. 2, 2010