Date: Monday, March 08, 2010, 6:08 am
By: Tonya Pendleton, BlackAmericaWeb.com
Kathryn Bigelow and her Best Director win for “The Hurt Locker” made Oscar history last night as the first film ever to grant an Oscar to a female director who would then go on to win Best Picture. Bigelow, who seemed both shocked and overwhelmed by her win, will also have the bragging rights that not only did she beat out her ex-husband, “Avatar” director James Cameron; she beat out the top-grossing movie ever. She can also say that she triumphed over nine other films, the first film to do since 1943.
Comedian/actress Mo’Nique may not have made history as the Best Supporting Actress for “Precious,” but she referenced it in her acceptance speech.
Wearing a royal blue gown and a gardenia in her hair, Mo’Nique thanked the first black Best Supporting Actress winner, Hattie McDaniel (the first black to win an Oscar, in 1939) for “enduring all she had to, so that I wouldn’t have to.” (According to Eonline.com, Mo’Nique is hoping to get a McDaniel biopic made, so that could be the reason for her historical reference, as well as to express the import of her big night.)
With last night’s win, Mo’Nique becomes the fifth African-American woman to win an Oscar.
She thanked her husband, Stanley Hicks, for advising her not to do the popular thing, but the right thing. On the red carpet, Hicks said that it was amazing to be able to watch Mo’Nique during this journey, especially since the two have known each other since they were teenagers.
Mo’Nique also thanked Oscar voters for paying attention to the “performance, not the politics.” It was a reference to her refusal during the Oscar season to do some appearances around the film without compensation. Some industry insiders suggested that her attitude could impact her Oscar chances, but as she suggested, apparently the Academy voters were moved by her performance alone.
Backstage, Mo’Nique talked about the backlash about her decision not to do the usual rounds of pre-Oscar promo.
“‘Someone needs to teach Mo’Nique a lesson,’” “she said a journalist wrote. “And I’m very proud to be part of an Academy where we will not play that game. We will judge her on her performance, and on not on how many dinners she did.”
Despite her win last night, Mo’Nique says she still considers herself a comedian. “I am a stand-up comedian who won an Oscar,” she told reporters in the pressroom.
A surprise Oscar winner for adapted screenplay was “Precious” screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher, who was completely unprepared for his win and ironically was rendered almost speechless. He managed to get out a few thank yous to his family, but was visibly moved by his unexpected win.
As expected, Sandra Bullock took home the Best Actress award for her role in the “Blind Side,” but first-time nominee Gabourey Sidibe probably was just as honored by the warm words of Oprah Winfrey. As part of the new Oscar tradition of former nominees paying tribute to current ones, Winfrey talked about Sidibe’s Cinderella-like ride to a nomination in the same category as Meryl Streep.
Family was paramount at this year’s ceremony. Oscar-winning screenwriter for “The Hurt Locker,” Mark Boal, thanked his father, who died a month before the ceremony. Bullock thanked her mother, Helga, who died in 2000, and Jeff Bridges, Best Actor winner for “Crazy Heart,” thanked his late parents, Dorothy and Lloyd Bridges, for turning him on to a “groovy” profession.
Roger Ross Williams, the night’s third African-American winner for Documentary Short for “Music by Prudence,” found himself in one of the more bizarre moments in Oscar history. While accepting the award and in mid-sentence, his co-winner came onstage and interrupted him, taking over the acceptance speech entirely as the whole world watched in amazement.
Things were much smoother for Bigelow, the night’s big winner. She says she hopes she’s not the last woman to win best director. She is just the fourth woman nominated in the category and the first to win.
“Up” was the night’s best animated film, the fifth of nine wins for Pixar studios. And if you care about Oscar fashion, our vote for Best Dressed goes to presenter Queen Latifah, who wore a blush pink one-shoulder jeweled gown.
