Kathryn Bigelow Defeats James Cameron | Best Director Oscar 2010

In 2010, Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win Best Director at the Oscars, beating her ex-husband James Cameron in the process. In this video, I break down that incredible race and discuss the reasons why Bigelow defeated Cameron. #academyawards #oscars #bestdirector #kathrynbigelow #jamescameron #brianrowevideo
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[@isaacmartinez6904]

They don’t call it “The Battle of the Ex’s” for nothing.

[@TheAwardsContender]

😂😂😂

[@lonellfletcher]

What I love most about Bigelow's win and all of our female Best Director winners is that it really was about the films. Their films warranted the acclaim and accolades they received, regardless of gender.

[@allisontucker9874]

Her wins proves that if men can direct an amazing film then women can do it too!

[@TheAwardsContender]

Agreed!!

[@lonellfletcher]

@@allisontucker9874 even if men couldn't, women still could. Just amazing work!!!

[@aikikaname6508]

Yup. James Cameron and s one of the greatest action directors of all time (man even turned the sinking of the titanic into an action scene 😂), but yeah Avatar wasn’t his strongest work. Hurt Locker was the better film

[@Argeaux2]

Let’s face it, the Avatar movies are pretty rubbish. You enjoy them when they first come out, but then you forget what they are about, soon after.

[@TGTR-06660]

What can I say man. If there were academy awards for best movies-related KZbin channel you would definitely be among the strongest candidates, and not due to any narrative, but due to pure quality. Thanks.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Aww, thank you, means a lot!

[@nitsugazemag]

I was disappointed that Anthony Mackie didn’t receive a supporting actor nomination for Hurt Locker. I probably don’t agree with Chastain winning for Zero Dark Thirty because I believe that that trophy should have gone to Emmanuelle Riva for her heart shattering performance that was equally physical and emotionally devastating about a woman’s life deteriorating mentally and physically after having strokes in Amour. I think it’s sad that here one and only shot was so late in life. I enjoyed Jennifer Lawerence in Silverlinings Playbook, but it felt a bit premature to give her an Oscar that soon. Jessica Chastain is an incredible actress, and may have won that year, but happy that she got to win for a project she herself produced. Kinda wished she was nominated for Molly’s Game, but glad we can call her Academy Award winning actress Jessica Chastain.

[@DavidN369]

Word on Emmanuelle Riva, and the other jaw-dropping omission that year was Jean-Louis Trintignant -- Mme. Riva's performance didn't occur in a vacuum.

[@nitsugazemag]

@@DavidN369 well, her performance was of a best picture/director/foreign language film as well as original screenplay categories. To western audiences, sure, she came out of “nowhere,” but in reality, she had a body of work that spanned decades. I also agree that her co-lead should have received recognition for his acting.

[@DavidN369]

@@nitsugazemagAbsolutely teue. The vacuum I was referring to was that Mme. Riva's performance works in tandem with Mssr. Trintignant's. Am always taken by Emmanuelle Riva's long international career, "Hiroshima Mon Amour" is one of my favorite films ever.

[@nitsugazemag]

@@DavidN369 it is a shame she didn’t win in her only shot 😔.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Absolutely! Thanks for watching!

[@branagain]

Strange Days is a criminally underrated movie. I saw it in the theater, which was empty. Nobody saw it. I still think it’s Bigelow’s best film.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, a fantastic film!

[@paulojrneto]

Reason number 6: The Hurt Locker wasn't a "woman's movie", as there was (and still is) that perception/prejudice that lots of people (including in the Academy) still have that women can only direct certain kinds of movies.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yep, that’s a good point!

[@LebahG4nteng]

Good point, even when I know Kathryn Bigelow directed The Hurt Locker, there wasn't a single moment where I think Bigelow directed that movie. A gamechanger to be honest, hats off to her incredible work

[@timothypolanco8622]

Amazing work put in this video, and IMO this is a fantastic way to start off the director battles for the Oscars. Besides the names I already recommended before I would also like to your take on how Marty lost out on Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas but won on departed.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Should be fun!!

[@55555gino]

I was super happy for Bigelow, but couldn’t believe Jessica didn’t win for 0 dark 30. Like wtf her performance was incredible

[@jehaustin]

I completely agree, but Jennifer Lawrence was the “It Girl”. Plus her having “Hunger Games” that year helped her out a lot. So that was a way of crowning the new. “Darling”. Performance wise. Jessica Chastain easily should’ve won that year.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Sooooo good!

[@benjamintillema3572]

14:57 This is very reminiscent of the most recent Academy Awards when Halle Barry, the very first woman of color to win Best Actress, stood next to Jessica Chastain as she presented the trophy to Michelle Yeoh, only the second actress to win in the leading category in nearly one hundred years. It's sad that there were more than twenty years between Berry's win and Yeoh's, especially because when she did win all the way in 2002 Berry made a point that "the door was open" for more women of color to win the award. She understood the historic nature of her win but sadly underestimated just how difficult it would be for even well respected actresses like Viola Davis to get lead roles in "Oscar worthy" films and then actually get recognition for their talent and hard work. Hopefully it won't take very long for the next woman of color to win Best Actress, the same applies to Best Director.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, very true. Thanks for watching!

[@yassercastillo2607]

The one about Amal being way more accomplished than George and him getting a lifetime achievement award, really got me together. Even tho they have such different professions the irony was still there and i gagged.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Haha, yes, that Amal joke is classic!

[@jameshorn6284]

Great video. I wanted Lee Daniels to win personally but I was also so happy that Bigelow won.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Nice!

[@jhhone]

Another impressive video! So comprehensive and detailed with a fresh take about Ms. Bigelow who has consistently been a gifted filmmaker.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Thank you very much!

[@jonathanvelazquezph.d.2719]

The Hurt Locker wasn't a movie I loved at first viewing. However, after seeing it a second time, I was able to appreciate it more. I'm glad Bigelow won for Best Director.

[@TheAwardsContender]

She did a great job!

[@sarasamaletdin4574]

Sofia Coppola imo should be nominated twice as well regarding women.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes!

[@Jared_Wignall]

She defiantly deserved the Academy Award. James Cameron did a great job making Avatar, but Kathryn Bigelow did the best job out of everyone that year. Her film was the best that year. I wish Jeremy Renner won Best Actor for The Hurt Locker as well, but I’m glad the film won Best Director and Best Picture. Thanks for talking about this Brian, keep up the great work!

[@TheAwardsContender]

Thanks, Jared!

[@gojiguy5436]

I don’t get how The Hurt Locker beat Inglorious Basterds in Original Screenplay

[@TheAwardsContender]

Just got the edge I guess with its top two wins!

[@dariussalepetru6770]

Yeah! I love The Hurt Locker but the screenplay in that movie was not the best. Tarantino should've won for Inglourious Basterds for Original Screenplay, is much better writing

[@pophector]

Fascinating video on one of my favorite wins ever, both historic & deserved for Kathryn Bigelow! And I totally agree that Chastain deserved Best Actress over Lawrence in 2012. Another awesome video, Brian! I think 2010's video will be about The King's Speech defeating The Social Network for Best Picture?

[@TheAwardsContender]

Thank you so much! And as for 2010, don’t give the spoiler so early haha ❤️

[@DavidN369]

Fantastic summation, Mr. Rowe, great way to start what is hopefully a new series. More, please, thank you.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Thanks so much!

[@christiansage15]

I would be interested on you making a video about Peter O'Toole and why he never really won an Oscar.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Will definitely need to make it at some point!

[@edhance9753]

Id love to see elusive oscar videos on directors, namely Chris Nolan. Great video!

[@LouiseAndersen1991]

YES!!! But I have high hopes that he wins it next year for "oppenheimer"

[@edhance9753]

@@LouiseAndersen1991 if he does ill literally cry. Memento, The Prestige, Inception and Interstellar some of my all time favorites

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, would be fun!

[@user-cd7ey3tg8g]

You should do a whole video about how Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner lost that Adapted Screenplay Oscar to Geoffrey Fletcher. As you said, Reitman and Turner did win a lot of previous awards, but at the Oscars they failed to win, which is pretty baffling given how they won everything previous to that.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Good idea!

[@apoorvasolanki8124]

That's so amazing to see how the exes appreciate each other

[@TheAwardsContender]

Love it!

[@KevinTRod]

After retiring as a teacher you make a video on one of the races I most wanted you to make!

[@TheAwardsContender]

Woo hoo!

[@khairularchi]

That year for the Best Director and Best Picture is very competitive nonetheless.. All nominated were among my favorites that year..

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, agreed!

[@anarx1830]

Request : Happy feet defeats Cars at Oscar 2006 Probably biggest upset at animated category Cars won Annie , GG , CC , PGA but didn't won Bafta which is goes to Happy feet . Love to see video on that

[@TheAwardsContender]

Good idea!

[@roycerowland2699]

I wish that Lee Daniels would had won the Oscar for best director for Precious but I am still glad that Kathryn Bigelow won best director for the hurt locker. I think that there will be a day where a black director will win the Oscar for best director.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Agreed!

[@jehaustin]

"The Hurt Locker" was definitely my favorite film of that year, and I was thrilled to see Kathryn Bigelow win for that movie. Her fantastic direction kept this movie from being a typical war movie to being a thrill ride. You didn't know if anytime their new assignment was going to be their last, Bigelow's pacing really was fantastic. Because the great direction she also helped Jeremy Renner create a character that the Academy normally wouldn't nominate. He was unhinged and indifferent towards his bomb detinator missions, he had this "if I die I die" attitude but you still got behind him. Renner was my #2 pick that after Colin Firth for "A Single Man". Another person that deserved a nomination that year was Anthony Mackie who deserved a Supporting Actor nomination for being the emotional crutch of the movie. Honestly that year I could've switched out Stanley Tucci's "Lovely Bones" nomination for his performance in "Julie & Julia" and switched out Matt Damon for "Invictus" (I just wasn't sold on his performance) for Mackie. While James Cameron did do a solid job in "Avatar" I didn't feel much outside of the visuals and technical standpoint. If there was someone I would've been okay with besides Bigelow that year it would've been Lee Daniels at least I think so. Great job Brian!

[@TheAwardsContender]

Great points, thanks so much for watching!

[@duanein3d]

Brian, we’ve finally reached the first snag in our relationship. I absolutely LOVE J Law’s win for Silver Linings Playbook 😭😭😭

[@TheAwardsContender]

Haha, I love it too! Not a bad win. Just prefer Chastain.

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

This was the first Oscar’s I experienced not only watching but also keeping up the race at just 11-12 years old I watched almost all the films that were up for best picture (at the time (at the time only an education and a serious man were the only one best picture nominees I didn’t see) and that was thanks to pre-streaming bootleg digital downloads movie websites 😂. So that year Oscar’s has a special place in my heart that year I was rooting for Lee Daniels and Kathryn baltrow to win bc precious and the hurt locker as well as Up were my favorite movies of that year I was happy that Kathryn bc the hurt locker not only was one of the first movies that inspired me to become the cinephile I am today but it’s subject matter got me into dividing into the my love for politics.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Thanks for sharing!

[@JoeJoeJoe25]

Very interesting case it is. Even though im fairly faithful about the Oscar, never could've imagine that they have this kind of dynamic back then

[@TheAwardsContender]

So interesting!

[@gingerkid1048]

Fun fact…Cameron’s first wife Gale Ann Hurd (yes THAT GAH of producing Walking Dead fame) was paid a ton to not come to set near the end of her marriage to Cameron so she wouldn’t find out about his cheating. It’s a pattern with Jim.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Interesting!

[@gingerkid1048]

@@TheAwardsContender my FIL has some great stories from his 40 odd years in the industry. He loves GAH and tells that one often. BTW the ruse didn’t work GAH however took the money & used it to produce further projects then got the divorce.

[@SoulKnightKing]

Still cannot believe Chastain lost Best Actress for 0 Dark 30

[@TheAwardsContender]

I know!

[@jae5103]

I still think Avatar deserved Best Picture...

[@TheAwardsContender]

Good movie!

[@dariussalepetru6770]

No! I want The Hurt Locker or Inglourious Basterds to win Best Picture, not awful Avatar

[@RA-hx9uc]

The Hurt Locker is a perfect film. The amount of tension created is rarely seen in film.

[@RalphS223]

Hi again, with a video idea: anything on Anne Bancroft or Elizbeth Taylor would be super cool!!

[@patrarus6097]

Excellent report, Brian! I remember cheering for Kathryn Bigelow that night. Thanks for the memories and keep up your wonderful, in-depth reviews!

[@TheAwardsContender]

Thanks!

[@sarasamaletdin4574]

Can’t say I agree with you, Lawrence deserved her Oscar! She did amazing job and the genre of her films is nearly always under appreciated by the academy.

[@TheAwardsContender]

It’s a great win! I just preferred Chastain.

[@allisontucker9874]

I would love to see how The King’s Speech defeated the highly praised (and what should’ve won) The Social Network

[@TheAwardsContender]

Stay tuned!

[@carlosalonsoperezsosa8162]

Avatar not screenplay nominated, Titanic ok, wins Best Picture AND Director For James Cameron but Avatar was't so strong. Bigelow was ok For me.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Thanks for watching!

[@ChristieFystiki]

Been waiting for this!😊

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yay!

[@PrometheusExselsiorHanzo]

Mr Brian Rowe - your videos are great, continue

[@kellie-nd1yp]

I think it was almost a foregone conclusion she would win that year. You can never be too sure of course but she did win in a strong year for director nominees it wasn't a weak field by any means .

[@TheAwardsContender]

Absolutely!

[@cvill03]

Can't wait for Jess vs Jenn video. May be a unpopular opinion, but i never understand Jennifer Lawrence won that award. SILVER LINING is a film thats overrated. MY OPINION people. Just felt everyone played a moody versions of themselves.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Will be a fun one!

[@pmarkhill519]

I’m sure Bigelow deserved it. On a personal note, after waiting for our son to come back after 2 tours of Iraq, the first with the front line, it is just too hard to go to realistic war movies. Watching someone you love overcome PTSD is enough of living through…

[@patrarus6097]

Thanks once again, Brian, for an excellent critique. I wanted Bigelow to win, and thank God she did. I think it was big of James Cameron to acknowledge her win and to even be a bit humble about it -- IF humble is a word one can even use about this talented yet egotistical director. To clarify: I mean Cameron as the ego-maniac, not Kathryn.

[@claytoncondo3460]

Can you do a video about the 87th academy awards winners someday please?

[@TheAwardsContender]

Making my way through the modern years!

[@claytoncondo3460]

@@TheAwardsContender Okay. I would love to see someone talk about if that year’s best actor win is still deserved or undeserved.

[@claytoncondo3460]

@@TheAwardsContender I would like to see a video opinion on Keaton Vs. Redmayne

[@Dim4323]

Has for Hurt locker, It deserved best picture for its strong story and cast.

[@alpe1987]

Let’s hope there isn’t a married couple nominated in the same category at the Oscars. Though that concept would make a good Oscar winning film also 🤔

[@TheAwardsContender]

Haha yes!

[@luisrizo8813]

01:50; 'Under pressure' documentary.

[@billycorgan82]

Interestingly it happen on international women’s day 2010, what a coincidence 😊

[@filipeferreira2355]

I still think Inglourious Basterds got snubbed in best movie.

[@Bigunk-hc2ri]

I’m a veteran of the Iraq war, yes this isn’t necessarily on topic but I have to say this about the hurt locker. It’s so inaccurate it’s painful and insulting and sometimes laughable……. Btw I love your channel keep up the good work!

[@timgriffin3368]

Im slightly sarcastic and not but i feel youre giving Lee Daniels too much acclaim. I think he was in last place. You just put him in number 3 because you forgot Monique in best performances of that decade but whatever.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Interesting!

[@tbam73]

We need a video of female directors who have been snubbed

[@TheAwardsContender]

Good idea!

[@somethingclever8916]

War in the middle east was very topical in 2010

[@theoscargoesto6733]

Since you're doing directors now, when are we going to get our Denis Villeneuve and the Elusive Oscar?

[@marktaronji4694]

Tarantino for INGLORIOUS BASTERDS should've won.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Love that film!

[@dariussalepetru6770]

Yes! He should've won for Original Screenplay

[@rozembergbarbosa24]

You said that Avatar and The hurt locker are diferent. To me they are so similar. DISTRICT 9 i have the same Thinking. They all about the same issue😅

[@TheAwardsContender]

Interesting!

[@luisrizo8813]

Forgot "In the Valley of Elah" ?

[@Dim4323]

Yeah Avatar won 3 awards but didn't win best picture cause it was rip off or inspired by other things. But yeah James cameron is my favourite director cause he can do no wrong, but Avatar is were he question him

[@RichYouTube]

Agree that Chastain should have won over Lawrence - a good choice for a future video

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yep!

[@tjh12473]

Great video, Bigelow deserved the win. She was the only on who had a change to win. Tarantino had the second best movie and if Hurt Locker wasn't released that year he most likely would have won. I think you are being polite with giving Daniels way too much credit. Precious is a movie this is step above a Lifetime movie. The performances are good but that is all it has going for it. The story, in someways, is almost laughable given that everything the lead character has deal with first she is poor, then she is overweight, has an identity crisis because of her skin tone, then is a single pregnant teenaged mother, her children are a product of rape and abuse either her father or stepfather, her mother abuses physically, mentally and sexually, she can't read, a tv is thrown at her, she is kicked out of her home, she steals chicken so she can eat only the throw it up, and then she ends up being HIV positive. It is like what more can happen to this woman? I was waiting for her to be convicted of murder or getting possessed by the Devil.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Thanks for watching!

[@luisrizo8813]

They all pretended that Cameron still has 3.

[@seanchukwuezi3079]

Bigelow deserved both awards the golden globe fucked up the first time 😅

[@TheAwardsContender]

Haha true!

[@LukeLovesRose]

No one cares about Hurt Locker. Black Hawk Down is stull regarded as the best modern war film. Hurt Locker wasnt a breakthrough in cinematic art like Avatar.

[@nahup944]

Yo prefiero a cameron, hizo una joya de los 90s con terminator 2 y true lies 👏👏👏👏

[@adagiobreeze8493]

Up in the Air was a way more superior film than Precious.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Both are fantastic!

[@dariussalepetru6770]

and of course Up and Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds

[@Zed-fq3lj]

'Near Dark, 'Point Break' and 'Strange Days' were good movies and Bigelow proved herself early on as a good director. 'Hurt Locker' is a void, nothingness which nobody remembers regardless of undeserved oscars 15 years after - THAT'S A FACT. Avatar changed the entire world of cinema - THAT's also a FACT. So...'Hurt Locker' is a forgotten fart in the wind. Bye.

[@Argeaux2]

Let’s face it, the Avatar movies are pretty rubbish. You enjoy them when they first come out, but then you forget what they are about, soon after

[@God_mademehappy]

Being married to a pretty good director like james cameron doesnt automatically make you a good director you either got the fuckin talent or your a failure. We all know why they gave kathryn the fuckin oscar and its bull shit because they just needed more popularity and wanted to give a woman an oscar and try to get away with it but inglorious basterds was released that year and we know its bull shit that tarantino didnt get the oscar. this isnt history this is sewage for the industry. its different when u get and deserve it unlike ppl like kubrick who never got an oscar andis the best director.

[@gittes98]

Interesting that the two Oscar front runners were movies that could make audiences nauseous. The Hurt Locker for the incessant hand held shaky cam that passed for directing (that was my own personal experience when seeing it in a very sparsely attended theater) and Avatar for the relentless, albeit impressive 3D effects. You probably won't agree but if The Hurt Locker had been frame for frame directed by a man it would not have won since there were others who complained, some loudly, about the hand-held. Not that Cameron should have won either but it was clear the Academy had an agenda that year and if Bigelow hadn't won, we'd still be hearing whining about it.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Interesting!

[@tvshowmemes-jt8eb]

funny thing is avatar was a better movie than the hurt locker