Culture

This crazy trend to make 3D movies these days only pays off if… let me think… it has really cool freakin' 3D looking things popping out at you. The only thing popping out during Jack Black's insipid new movie Gulliver's Travels were my eyes in astonishment at how bland, generic and totally sluggish the entire flick was on every level.

Don't hate Colin Firth just because he's playing a real person who overcomes an obstacle in The King's Speech. But don't love him just for that reason, either.
Longtime observers of movie awards know that there's a formula for the acting categories, and that one of the surest ways to stand at the podium with a statuette is to play a real-life character, or someone with a handicap – and preferably both. It's too easy to laud Firth for his performance here, when he's been better in other films. And it's too easy to fold your arms defiantly against the high-toned look of The King's Speech, thus missing its considerable charms.

True Grit version 2.0 opens on a dead body, with snow drizzling and a quote from the Old Testament dangling, “The wicked flee when none pursueth.” It's immediately clear that this film is more than just a remake of the 1969 John Wayne Western of the same name. This time around directors Joel and Ethan Coen were reverent to Charles Portis’ novel, telling the story from the young girl’s perspective. To do so, they re-teamed with No Country for Old Men producer Scott Rudin. The narrative centers on young Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) who enlists the services of “Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to help her capture her father's killer. Accompanied by Texas Ranger Le Beouf (Matt Damon), the unlikely trio ventures forth hoping to either bring her father’s murderer to justice or kill him, whichever comes first.

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.

The list can go on and on. Considering the onslaught of duds there really wasn't a lot of flicks vying for best movie category this year, which is why I compiled a list of the ten films I just absolutely hated.

1. Babies
Goo-goo dada. This is just a garbled batch of poorly made home movies in which only cuteness is documented. One can only take so much crying, peeing, grinning and crawling no matter what country they're from. For those of you smitten by babies, cuddle onward. But if you are one who is immune to the charms of, or perhaps even afraid of, babies – avoid this at all costs.