Watch 'The Hurt Locker' is Oscars' dream film LIVE!

It was the Little Engine That Could against the Big Kahuna that couldn't.

In what will go down as one of the more controversial Academy votes for best picture, Kathryn Bigelow's "The Hurt Locker" ran roughshod over James Cameron's "Avatar" on Sunday night in a race that initially was thought of as a cakewalk for the 3D extravaganza.

Talk about a money gap: Since its release in June, Bigelow's taut Iraq War drama has mustered a measly $14.7 million at the domestic wickets, while her ex-husband's years-in-the-making epic has in three months grossed $721 million stateside and a whopping $2.6 billion worldwide. Only his other tour de force, "Titanic," comes close, with a $1.8 billion worldwide haul.

On the budget side, too, the discrepancy was huge, hers costing $15 million and his $300 million or thereabouts.

So what happened?

A lot of folks were asking that in the wake of Tom Hanks' bolt to the stage to blurt out the final winner at the end of the overlong, 31⁄2-hour awards show. The audience hardly had time to gasp before being herded to the exits. Not since -- take your pick -- "Shakespeare in Love" outshone "Saving Private Ryan," "Gandhi" edged "E.T." or "Crash" beat "Brokeback Mountain" has there been such an eyebrow-raising finale.

OK, "Hurt Locker" did have the momentum going into the final lap of awards season, especially after its recent Producers Guild triumph, but still ...

No doubt there will be a lot of theories -- conspiratorial and not -- bandied about, even though we arguably never will know what precise mixture of factors contributed and in what percentages.

But some explanations can be hazarded.

After so many Iraq War dramas that have failed to hit their marks at the boxoffice or strike an emotional chord with the public, this one seemed to hit a nerve, achieving the right thematic balance between the horrors of a conflict that just won't go away and sympathy for those who have to take part in it. This story of a wounded, addictive psyche might well do for our time and for our collective mood what, say, "Platoon" did for the Vietnam War -- the irony being that so few actually have seen "Locker."

Even so, its messages were clear and clearly portrayed, and distributor Summit did an excellent job in mounting an awards campaign that appealed to Academy voters across the various industry categories.

Then there's that preferential voting system, which likely skewed the outcome toward the indie pic. "Avatar" might have garnered more first-place ballots than any other contender, but probably just as likely it appeared way down on the ballots of other voters who didn't wish to see it win. "Locker" probably was high on most everyone's list, benefiting when the second- and third-place entries were scooped up and re-assigned.

Also playing a role in the selection might have been a predilection for the perceived underdog -- and a charming, talented, articulate woman at that -- over the self-styled king of the world who no doubt rubbed some Academy members the wrong way the last time he was onstage brandishing the Oscar.

The very idea that a female helmer made the kind of movie heretofore the exclusive reserve and prerogative of male directors also might have been too tantalizing to resist. More appealing was that a little pic with a difficult story managed the feat of amassing enough dough to shoot under adverse conditions in the Middle East while Fox for years was signing the checks for a helmer hunkered down in a high-tech hangar in West Los Angeles. Bigelow's crew faced suspicious crowds, curfews and fusillades; Cameron's crew faced a bunch of computers.

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In short, "Avatar" simply might have been too complicated a phenom to get one's arms around and the money it's thrown off too unseemly -- or so it would seem from how Fox variously waged its awards campaign.

First, it was all about 3D, which while an amazing advance technologically -- even Spielberg made a point of publicly praising Cameron's achievement in raising the bar for filmmakers -- never resonated widely as an emotional message.

Secondly, Cameron and company began arguing for the actors in the movie to be considered for their performances in the same category and league with traditional thespians. Many no doubt felt that computer-generated or enhanced or re-created performances are different in kind from their own -- or even a threat to their profession. As the largest voting bloc among Academy members, they might have tilted away from this Pandora's box.

Thirdly, the accent of the campaign began to tilt most recently toward the environmental themes of the film, but that approach came too late to be effective. There was also a sizable critical contingent that felt the plot lines were simplistic, fuzzy or even anti-American. "Just a more tricked-out take on 'Pocahontas' or 'Dances With Wolves,' " these detractors argued dismissively.

In the end, and despite opening the competition to 10 contenders, the Academy's decision might have come down to that reflex preference for art over commerce or to its sense of purpose in rewarding art in an increasingly corporate, commercially driven film industry. Indie pics, they might have reasoned, are an increasingly endangered species, while mainstream, studio pics have been extraordinarily counter-recessionary.

Whatever we might think of the result, the indie biz can be encouraged by the Academy's nod, and Fox still will laugh all the way to the bank.

Charlie Sheen arrested on domestic violence charges (VIDEO)

Pitkin County Sheriff arrested actor Charlie Sheen on charges of domestic violence.

Sheen is married to Brooke Mueller. They have twin boys less than a year old.

When Tiger Woods and Elin had their falling out a few weeks ago, I wrote a bit of unsolicited advice. You can read that article here. My suggestion to Elin was not to allow Tiger to prolong the marriage long enough to jockey into a better position to gain custody, like establishing residency in L.A..

Sheen makes his residence in Los Angeles. An L.A. residence means an L.A. jurisdiction, should Mrs. Sheen decide to get out of her marriage to an allegedly abusive man. Tough break for Brooke Mueller Sheen. Can you imagine how Judge Elizabeth Feffer would rule on this case? If the Naveen Andrews - Elena Eustache case is any indication, Sheen will have sole legal and physical custody of the children and the mother will get to visit them an hour a week at a "visitation center".




Or perhaps Presiding Family Law Judge Marjorie Steinberg can bring Commissioner Friedenthal back from doing arraignments for this one case. Then Commissioner Friedenthal can appoint his neighbor Michael Howard to monitor Mrs. Sheen and her children. At least Mrs. Sheen would need no fear if Charlie Sheen showed up in a rage. Mr. Howard told me he carries a concealed weapon.

There is no record of a permit for Michael Howard to carry a concealed weapon, but I digress...

Brittany Murphy autopsy report leaked, coroner 'furious'

The Los Angeles Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter says he's "furious" that the initial Brittany Murphy autopsy report was leaked from his office. Murphy died last Sunday after suffering a massive cardiac arrest. She was 32 years old.



Details from the report were obtained by celebrity gossip website TMZ, which included notes written by an "Investigator Blacklock" and contained information that Murphy "had been complaining of shortness of breath and severe abdominal pain" for over a week before her death.

The notes also listed "large amounts of prescription medication" that was issued in Murphy's name, including the anti-migraine medication Topamax, anxiety medications Klonopin and Ativan, and pain relievers Vicoprofen and Hydrocodone. No illegal drugs were found. The lengthy list of pills is likely to have contributed to why the coroner's office needs 5 to 6 weeks to run toxicology tests before officially stating how Brittany Murphy died.

Winter says he's most irritated because it is office policy to never release partial information about a case. TMZ editor Harvey Levin told Winter that the report was not obtained directly from the investigator, but declined to disclose the actual source.

Brittany Murphy starred in a number of different movies, and her biggest success was as the voice of Luanne Platter on Fox's animated series King of the Hill for more than a decade.

Brittany Murphy Died on December 20, 2009

Brittany Murphy dead? Is this coming from the
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same people that say that Lil Wayne is dead or that Miley Cyrus is dead? Sadly not. Brittany Murphy's death is something that is very

real, and is touching to the core. The actress who is credited for films such as "8 Mile", "Just Married", and "Sin City" as well as for being the voice of Luann on "King of the Hill" passed away 5 days before Christmas at the age of 32.

The ironic thing is that many celebrity death hoaxes come out on Sundays around the time that news of Brittany's death circulated. However, the news was broadcast on many major media outlets including CNN and Fox News. Once you see reports about celebrity deaths on mainstream media outlets, you can be almost positive that they aren't hoaxes.

Ashton Kutcher and other Hollywood stars are Tweeting about Brittany Murphy's untimely death. She is said to have had movies in post-production that are due out next year. She was such a beautiful young woman and had a very promising career.

Murphy got her first break in the 1995 film "Clueless" co-starring with Alicia Silverstone. Her first acting gig on TV was in 1991 on Murphy Brown. Her first feature film was "Family Prayers" in 1993. She also worked besides powerful celebrities such as Angelina Jolie ("Girl Interrupted") and rapper Eminem ("8 Mile").

There is a lot of speculation about Brittany Murphy's death. There are some reports surfacing that indicate that the actress may have had a history of diabetes. Some speculate that she was on drugs, while others have a feeling she was anorexic.

Only an autopsy will give us concrete evidence as to what happened to the actress. Her husband has expressed that he does not want to have one performed, although it's almost certain that the authorities will have one performed.