Locker slams shut on “Avatar” at Oscars

The gowns have been dry-cleaned, the tuxedos have been packed away and the Oscars are over and done, but the American public has been left positively mystified.

The winners of the 82nd annual Academy Awards were a surprise to almost everyone.

This year’s major blockbuster “Avatar” exploded into movie theaters nation-wide and, since its opening weekend, had received the most Oscar buzz of any film.

Nominated for eleven Academy Awards, a feat unparalleled since James Cameron’s epic, “Titanic,” “Avatar” was a shoo-in for the top prize. Or so we all thought.

But the award for best picture did not go to the blue natives. Nor did the awards for directing, film editing, sound editing or sound mixing.

Though “Avatar” was nominated for these awards, they all–including the award for best original screenplay–went to the sleuth movie of the year, “The Hurt Locker.”

“The Hurt Locker,” written by Mark Boal, follows an elite team of soldiers stationed in Iraq during the 40 days before the end of their tour.

When they are assigned a new team leader who is both brave and reckless, the soldiers must find a way to keep it together or they could lose their lives.

Most of the American public had never even heard of this film.

That’s because, even though it was released in 33 other countries, “The Hurt Locker” was only released in film festivals and in a limited number of theaters in the U.S.

The other big surprise was this year’s winner for Best Supporting Actress. Mo’Nique, an actress known mostly for B-movie comedies, was definitely prepared with an acceptance speech.

“I’d like to thank the Academy for showing that it can be about the performance and not the politics,” Mo’Nique said.

“Precious: Based on the novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire,” the movie for which Mo’Nique won, is a harrowing tale of a teenage girl who, after being impregnated by her rapist father, runs away and goes on a journey like no other.

This movie is obviously not a comedy, making it surprising that Mo’Nique was even in the film, but the actress settled this question in her speech as well: “Sometimes you have to forego doing what’s popular for doing what’s right.”