The King’s Speech (2010)

Colin Firth’s King George VI and commoner speech therapist Geoffrey Rush form a contentious friendship across social boundaries, humanizing the king and uplifting Rush in a real crowd-pleaser. Ultimately, though, what do kings do besides speak?

d: Tom Hooper | imdb.com | trailer | Charlie Rose
Enemy | Bertie | Exercise | Common man | It’s just a chair.

True Grit (2010)

Based on the Charles Portis novel (not the John Wayne film), the Coen Brothers obey Western genre constructs while deftly adding their own sense of dark irony and violence. Jeff Bridges steals many scenes, but Hailee Steinfeld, 14, is the heart of the story.

d: Ethan Coen and Joel Coen | imdb.com | trailer | “Charlie Rose”
You’re not going. | I’m a Texas Ranger. | Your eye. | No affidavit.

Black Swan (2010)

Director Darren Aronofsky presents “Swan Lake” as a psychological thriller, “Carrie” in a tutu — the sheltered innocent, the creepily overbearing Mommy Dearest and blood. It’s either homage or derivative or something else, but Natalie Portman is quite good.

d: Darren Aronofsky | imdb.com | trailer | Charlie Rose
Black swan | Attack it. | Passerby | Fitting | Hot for teacher

The Fighter (2010)

Mark Wahlberg plays real-life welterweight Micky Ward in “Rocky” meets desperate Lowell, Mass., and he is supported by three super performances — gaunt, funny, crack-addicted Christian Bale, unsunny Amy Adams and overbearing mother Melissa Leo.

d: David O. Russell | imdb.com | trailer | Charlie Rose
What’s the problem? | You can’t be me. | I’m the one fighting.

Blake Edwards (1922-2010)

Blake Edwards directed enduring slapstick farces like the “Pink Panther” movies with Peter Sellers, “10” and “Victor/Victoria” and also excelled in other genres — the iconic “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and the alcoholic drama “Days of Wine and Roses.”

imdb.com | The New York Times | The Washington Post | Time
Honorary Academy Award speech | press conference | “Biography”