<div><p>Science fiction epic "Avatar" won the best picture prize at the Golden Globe Awards here Sunday, cementing its status as a front-runner for the Oscars as Jeff Bridges and Sandra Bullock scooped prizes as best actor and actress.</p><p>"Avatar", the 3-D science fiction blockbuster, which earned a best director prize for creator James Cameron earlier in the evening, beat out competition from "The Hurt Locker", "Inglourious Basterds, "Precious" and "Up in the Air."</p><p>It was the second Golden Globe directing honor for Cameron, who won the same award for his 1997 epic "Titanic."</p><p>The 55-year-old Canadian's "Avatar" has shattered a series of box office records since it was released and is on course to pass "Titanic" as the highest-grossing film in history.</p><p>The movie has been hailed as a cinematic milestone for its use of specially developed 3-D cameras and motion capture technology.</p><p>Accepting the award for director earlier in the evening, a delighted Cameron said he had been expecting to lose out to ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow, who had been nominated for her powerful Iraq war drama "The Hurt Locker."</p><p>"I'm unprepared. Frankly I thought Kathryn was going to get this," Cameron said. "But make no mistake I'm very grateful."</p><p>Bridges won the best drama actor prize at the Golden Globes here Sunday for his performance as a washed up country singer in "Crazy Heart."</p><p>The 60-year-old Hollywood veteran, who had been nominated for a Golden Globe on three previous occasions but never won, has received widespread critical plaudits for his performance.</p><p>Bridges received a lengthy standing ovation as he walked to the stage to receive his honor.</p><p>"You're really screwing up my under-appreciated status," he quipped before dedicating the award to his wife and family.</p><p>Other nominees in the category included George Clooney for "Up in the Air," Colin Firth for "A Single Man," Morgan Freeman, ("Invictus,") and Tobey Maguire ("Brothers.")</p><p>Bullock won the best drama actress prize for her performance as an inspirational mentor in "The Blind Side."</p><p>The 45-year-old veteran beat out fellow nominees Emily Blunt ("The Young Victoria), Helen Mirren ("The Last Station"), Carey Mulligan, ("An Education") and Gabourey Sidibe ("Precious").</p><p>Bullock's career is at an all-time high after a string of recent box-office hits which included "The Proposal," which also earned her a nomination in the best comedy actress category.</p><p>Other wins Sunday included a best supporting actor Golden Globes award for Austria's Christoph Waltz for his role in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds." Hollywood icon Meryl Streep scooped a record seventh win for her portrayal of television chef Julia Child in "Julie & Julia" and Robert Downey Jr. won a Globe for best comedy performance for his lead role in "Sherlock Holmes".</p><p>Pixar's heartwarming "Up" scooped the best animated picture prize as Mo'Nique scooped the opening award, taking thebest supporting actress prize for her performance as an abusive parent in the gritty drama "Precious."</p><p>An emotional Mo'Nique told the VIP audience: "Thank you God for this amazing ride that you're allowing me to go on. I tell y'all -- I'm shaking. I'm in the midst of my dream."</p><p>The 42-year-old accepted the award from Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman, who began the star-studded show at Los Angeles's Beverly Hilton Hotel with an appeal for donations to the Haiti earthquake relief effort.</p><p>Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese was awarded the Golden Globes Cecil B. DeMille Award for his "outstanding contribution to the entertainment field."</p><p>Chosen by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the Golden Globes are seen as an indicator of likely contenders at the Oscars, which take place on March 7 in Hollywood this year.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=67153933&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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