Anne Pick

From psychotic ballerinas to stammering kings to a dude who cuts his own arm off, 2010 made quite the impression on moviegoers. The Source film columnists Morgan P. Salvo and Anne Pick spent the year watching as many movies as possible, liking some, hating others and always soaking in the joys (and occasional woes) of going to the theater. Here's a rundown of which filmmakers and actors they think should take home Oscar gold this weekend
ANNE PICK
Best Picture
Should Win: The Social Network. Contemporary, beautifully done and win or lose, you'll still be updating your Facebook status about it on Oscar night.
Will Win: The King's Speech. Honestly, I fell asleep toward the end and didn't get to see the king's actual speech.
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Should Win: Natalie Portman. Her stunning yet haunting performance in Black Swan makes Portman unbeatable.
Will Win: Natalie Portman. Sorry, Annette Bening, it's still not your year.

One of the only guarantees in life is that it ends and throughout our lives we must find ways to cope with loss. Oftentimes, when we lose someone close to us, many questions remain in their absence, and for those that affect us the deepest we wonder what happens now? In Rabbit Hole, everyone deals with grief in different ways, and no one has the same answer to that question.
Rabbit Hole tells the story of Becca and Howie Corbett (Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart), who eight months previous lost their four-year-old son, Danny, in a car accident in front of their house. Now, Becca and Howie each must return to their everyday lives and each of them copes with the loss in different ways. Becca reaches out to Jason (Miles Teller), the teenager who hit and killed her son. Howie finds solace in a support group and then later smokes pot and hangs out with Gabby (Sandra Oh), a woman he met at the group. Becca and Howie must learn how to reconnect with each other and how to go on with their lives.

When viewers first see the trailer or hear the plot for The Roommate, the new psychological thriller starring Leighton Meester and Minka Kelly, the first thing to come to mind is the 1992 film Single White Female. The films feature similar plots, leading some to wonder if The Roommate is actually a remake of Single White Female. But no, it's not… but it probably would have been better if it actually was a rehash.
When Sarah (Kelly) starts her freshman year at the fictional University of Los Angeles, she's assigned Rebecca (Meester) as a roommate. The two become fast friends, going to gallery openings together and even bringing in a stray cat named Cuddles to join them in their dorm room. Little does Sarah know, Rebecca tends to lean toward the obsessive, psychotic side and by the end of the first semester Sarah will be begging for a normal roomie with faults like forgetting to take out the trash.

As someone who appreciates well-done romantic comedies, as well as any film with Natalie Portman and – gasp! – laughing out loud in movie theaters, I was eagerly anticipating No Strings Attached. After having seen Portman make out with Mila Kunis and dance her crazy heart out in Black Swan last month, we know she can do absolutely anything. No Strings Attached marks the actress' first foray into the romantic comedy genre while raising the question: Can this multi-dimensional actress get laughs?

Made in Dagenham is the kind of movie that makes most, if not all, women feel some degree of gratitude. Additionally, anyone who has ever had to, or wanted to, stand up for what they believe in will walk out of the theater inspired by this film, which is based on a true story.

Several months ago when I first saw the trailer for Country Strong, I could take it or leave it. I don't like country music and haven't been impressed with Gwyneth Paltrow since The Royal Tenenbaums. My interest piqued, however, when I saw Paltrow perform on an episode of Glee this fall. Her voice was surprisingly good, and her performance on the show was refreshing. After a newly sparked interest in Country Strong, I knew Paltrow had the vocal chops, but how would she do playing an addict?

Choosing the top ten movies of the year is tough, especially in Bend when we haven't gotten the chance to see some of the most raved-about flicks, but at least it leaves room on the list for some awesome movies.
1. THE SOCIAL NETWORK:
Yes, it's on the top of every other list, too, but for good reason. The acting is superb, the content topical and relevant, and the cinematography sublime.
2. BLACK SWAN:
Natalie Portman amazes in this mind-bending psychological thriller.
3. INCEPTION:
We couldn't dream of something this fantastic.