Memo to Elizabeth Schiltz

TO:  Elizabeth Schiltz

FROM:  Michael Perry

RE:  Followup to earlier conversation

DATE:  February 21, 1010

Britain's love of the underdog triumphed Sunday as intimate war drama ''The Hurt Locker'' beat 3D spectacular ''Avatar'' to take six prizes, including best picture, at the British Academy Film Awards.

Kathryn Bigelow won the best-director battle with ''Avatar'''s James Cameron, her ex-husband, for her intense depiction of a bomb-disposal squad in Iraq.

''It means so much that this film seems to be touching people's hearts and minds,'' Bigelow said.

Both films had eight nominations for the British awards, considered an indicator of possible success at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles next month. ''Avatar'' and ''The Hurt Locker'' each has nine Oscar nominations.

''The Hurt Locker'' also took British prizes for original screenplay cinematography, editing and sound.

''Hurt Locker'' screenwriter Mark Boal dedicated the best-film prize to the hope of peace ''and bringing the boys and girls back home.''

Bigelow also paid tribute to soldiers serving in Iraq, and said the goal of the film was ''putting a bit of a spotlight on a very, very difficult situation.''

The ''Avatar''/''Hurt Locker'' battle initially seemed like a David-and-Goliath story. Cameron's last feature, ''Titanic,'' won 11 Oscars, including picture and director. ''Avatar'' is a global phenomenon that has taken more than $2 billion at the box office.

''Hurt Locker'' has made about a hundredth that much.

''It did not seem like a slam-dunk commercial proposition,'' said Boal, who thanked Bigelow and the cast for making ''an unpopular story about an unpopular war.''

[HT:  Associated Press.  Full story here.]