Is 'Hurt Locker' in?

The Online Film Critics Society just named it best picture of 2009, another in a growing list of accolades. Earlier this week, the Iraq war thriller picked up the top prize by the National Society of Film Critics - before that it was the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the NY Film Critics Circle. Not that these organizations have stellar track records in foreshadowing the Oscar picks, but 2009 could be an exception to the rule. What's remarkable about this movie is that it came out in the middle of June (Oscar winners are often crowded onto the holiday schedule), and its box office total to date is a whopping $12.7 million, according to Box Office Mojo "Avatar" is up to $367.5 million. Academy honchos, desperate for better TV ratings, have been dying to see a top-grosser pick up the top prize - or at least be in strong contention. But it's hard to believe that Pandora is going to trump Iraq.