Controversies hurting 'The Hurt Locker'

A pair of unrelated controversies are brewing this week over "The Hurt Locker," the movie that many people predict will be named Best Picture at the Oscars on Sunday night.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has banned the film's producer, Nicolas Chartier, from the awards ceremony -- meaning that if the movie wins the best picture Oscar, Chartier won't be at the Kodak Theatre to accept it with the three other producers. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the academy says Chartier was penalized because of an "ethical lapse." Seems Chartier disparaged another film in an e-mail to voters, in violation of academy rules. The Hollywood Reporter says Chartier encouraged voters to pick his movie over "the $500 million film," an obvious reference to James Cameron's "Avatar."

Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports that a bomb disposal expert from Michigan says he plans to sue the makers of "The Hurt Locker." Master Sargeant Jeffrey Sarver, who served in Iraq, claims the lead character is based on him and that he was cheated out of "financial participation in the film," according to his lawyer. Sarver claims the film's screenwriter, Mark Boal, was embedded in Sarver's unit and that the main character, Will James, is based on him.