Kathryn Bigelow

Oscar nominated directors Avatar's James Cameron and The Hurt Locker's Kathryn Bigelow used to be married and they're up against each other this Sunday night. Check out who our editors think will be victorious in this big battle of the exes!

I've been sharing some tidbits from the press room at this year's Oscar nominees luncheon, and comradeship was definitely a common theme among the honorees. Sure, they've been going head to head all award season long, but the actors seem to have nothin' but love and admiration for each other — or at least that's what they want us to believe. Here are a few highlights:

• Carey Mulligan on being starstruck: I'm not great at the mingling side of things, I tend to stick in the corner. I've kinda followed Kathryn Bigelow around a lot, I don't know if she's noticed. Gabby and I switched numbers and we've been texting each other about clothes and things. It's been lovely, you know, meeting Meryl Streep — it's complete madness. And Helen Mirren and Sandra Bullock. And they've all been so unbelievably kind and not intimidating, because you have them on such a pedestal, and they could be a nightmare if they wanted to, because they're so good.
• Kathryn Bigelow on Mulligan: I've been following her around. She's so talented.
• Christoph Waltz on the friendships he's made: This is one of the fantastic things about this whole thing that's been going on from September until now. It was never about winning. It's not a competition. It's not a sports event. There's no pistol going off. We do this together, and it's a beautiful, really beautiful camaraderie that I have never experienced. In a way, it's lovely to see these people who turn into friends. The outcome, we'll see. Nobody will begrudge anything.
• Colin Firth on advice to younger nominees: Advice? I have no wisdom on this. I've spoken to other people who have been nominated several times, and they all say you never get used to it. It's the first time every time. And it's all good. You're in a professional daze.
  

"If The Hurt Locker is not the best action movie of the summer, I'll blow up my car." — A.O. Scott, New York Times.

All of a sudden, I really want to see The Hurt Locker. For one thing, this movie is getting incredibly positive reviews, with most critics noting that this may be the first movie about the Iraq war that audiences will actually enjoy. For another, it sounds suspenseful and action-packed — like, blow-your-mind-and-your-eardrums style. And for a third, it's already gotten some recognition before it even hits theaters in the form of two Independent Spirit Awards nominations. Here's a description:

[The Hurt Locker is] an intense portrayal of elite soldiers who have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world: disarming bombs in the heat of combat. When a new sergeant, James, takes over a highly trained bomb disposal team amidst violent conflict, he surprises his two subordinates, Sanborn and Eldridge, by recklessly plunging them into a deadly game of urban combat.

The movie stars Jeremy Renner and Anthony Mackie and also features Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes, David Morse, and Evangeline Lilly. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow (Point Break), The Hurt Locker opens in New York and LA today and will hit another group of cities July 10. This trailer's definitely worth a watch, and you can check it out when you read more