There is no "i" in team but there is in win

Genuinely deserved or publicity stunt? Last night at the Oscars. Kathryn Bigelow took home the award for best director for a feature film (that being "The Hurt Locker"), pretty much curb stopping James Cameron (which, to be quite honest, was brilliant). Bigelow was only the fourth woman director to be ever been in that category, only the second american woman, and the very first woman to actually win it. Lee Daniels (Precious), would also have been the first African-American director to take an Oscar home had he won. Which raises a really interesting question.



It didn't seem too look ago the United States had face the same question, of course, in a much larger spectrum. Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama. First woman, first African-American man. Its great to see that in our century people have become less discriminative and bigoted but is this is really what America wants? or is it just a way to fool people into thinking we're moving forward?

There is a main reason as to why Bigelow might have won her award for other reasons that achieving directorial excellence. 'Firsts' somehow have a way to gathering ratings, and honestly the Academy Awards needs more than their usual amount if they want to survive. Having the very first woman compete and win in this 'men-centric' industry probably brought in a lot 18 - 35 year-old-women, movie watchers to follow this year's Academy Awards.

Did she deserve to win - in a sense. I, however, feel that this year should have been another Tarantino year, since he brilliantly directed Inglourious Basterds, but given he has already won before it was a good thing that Bigelow took home the award for best directing. At the same time, it begs to ask the question... is it worth sacrificing the integrity of the Academy for ratings, or really award who deserves it, even if they have won many times before (pointing at you, James Cameron)?

Being the weakest of the Academy Awards show in the longest time, I sometimes doubt that her award was justified by the way she directed, rather than to make up for the horrid opening and lack of interest by the presenters during the show. I mean, Keanu Reeves, really? Would it cost you to crack a smile?