by Ginger Voight

Created on: March 08, 2010   Last Updated: March 29, 2010

The glass ceiling has shattered, 2010's Academy Awards made sure of that.  And the Boys Only club of Oscar winning directors will never be the same.  The Hurt Locker's Kathryn Bigalow cashed in not only as the first female director ever to win, but also walked away with coveted Best Picture.  Her film snagged six of the awards it was nominated for, sweeping the rug out from under James Cameron's feet.

Fan favorite and box office juggernaut Avatar only won three of its nine nominations, all for its technical accomplishments in Best Cinematography, Art Direction and Best Visual Effects.  Jim had gone on record that it wasn't about a win for him, so he was probably happy that his crew was rightfully recognized for their outstanding achievements in this epic movie.

The show itself changed things around this year, by honoring their Best Actor nominees both with special recognition before the show and special treatment right before the awards were handed out.  All ten Best Actor and Actress nominees were personally introduced by friends and co-stars, that was both touching and funny.

Jeff Bridges did indeed take the prize for Best Actor, and gave some props to his late famous father, Lloyd.  There was no real surprise here with this win, nor were there really any surprises that Christoph Waltz and Mo'Nique won for Best Supporting.

The true competition was in the Best Actress category, which pit beloved Meryl Streep against powerful newcomer Gabourey Sidibe and Sandra Bullock for her surprising turn in a deeply faceted dramatic role.

Yet it seemed hardly surprising when Sandy ultimately took the Oscar for Best Actress, ironically on the heels of winning (and accepting) a Razzie Award for her role in the critically panned "All About Steve".

Bullock had probably the best acceptance speech of the night, marrying her trademark humor along with surprising depth and humility.  

Precious was no slouch at the Oscars despite the Best Picture and Best Actress losses.  Screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher broke through a glass ceiling of his own when he won Best Adapted Screenplay for his script, the first African American to do so.  He was so overcome he could barely speak.

(And speaking of speeches, there was also some crazy, near incoherent chick who jumped on stage to interrupt Roger Ross Williams' moment accepting his Oscar for Music by Prudence in a very Kanye type moment.  Someone should have told her this is the Oscars...

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