Looks like last week had a lot of Television releases. Perfect time to catch up on the shows you missed. From what I’ve heard Friday Night Lights is worth catching and Life Unexpected is surprisingly good. I am looking forward to seeing Tron: Legacy, although it would have been so much better in the theater! That’s one regret I have, not seeing that one in the theater.
FOREIGN
Come Undone 2010 NR 121 minutes
Successful in her stable job and comfortable relationship with her boyfriend, Alessio (Giuseppe Battiston), Anna (Alba Rohrwacher) lives a peaceful and balanced life — until an office flirtation with a married man (Pierfrancesco Favino) turns into a wildly passionate affair. As she begins to want more from her lover than weekly trysts, Anna’s clingy attitude threatens to shake everything up in this thoughtful drama from filmmaker Silvio Soldini.
TELEVISION
Tyler Perry’s House of Payne: Vol. 7 2009 NR 3 discs
The big, happy Payne family is back with a seventh volume of episodes from this Tyler Perry comedy creation about multiple generations of a large Southern brood living together in the Atlanta suburbs. As the Image Award-winning show’s fifth season comes to a close, there are several big surprises on the horizon, including talk of transporting part of the family to Chicago. Meanwhile, Curtis (LaVan Davis) is forced to consider early retirement.
Sarah Palin’s Alaska: Season 1 2010 NR 2 discs
Former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin takes on the role of tour guide in this TLC documentary series that reveals what it’s really like to live in the northernmost state in America. Executive produced by Mark Burnett (“Survivor”), the informative program takes viewers on a fascinating journey through Alaska’s history while shedding light on its best-kept natural secrets.
Life Unexpected: Season 1 2010 NR 3 discs
Brittany Robertson stars as teenager Lux, a spirited ward of the state who leaves her latest foster family only to have the courts place her in the custody of her estranged parents — Cate (Shiri Appleby), a local radio personality, and Baze (Kristoffer Polaha), a barkeep. Newly reunited, the unlikely trio makes a go at forming the family unit they abandoned more than a decade ago. Kerr Smith co-stars in this television drama.
Life Unexpected: Season 2 2010 NR 3 discs
This compelling drama returns as teenager Lux (Brittany Robertson) continues to struggle with complex emotions after being reunited with her parents, Cate (Shiri Appleby) and Baze (Kristoffer Polaha), years after they gave her up for adoption. To add to the confusion, Cate is now married to Ryan (Kerr Smith). While Baze desperately searches for a new romance, Lux becomes involved with Eric (Shaun Sipos), a handsome young teacher at her school.
Lark Rise to Candleford: Season 4 2011 NR 2 discs
The fourth season of this lushly adapted British drama (based on a series of semiautobiographical novels by Flora Thompson) finds the residents of Candleford courting a newcomer when grieving widower Gabriel Cochrane (Richard Harrington) arrives in town. Later on, Daniel Parish (Ben Aldridge) announces that the newspaper is having a poetry contest, which pushes some residents to extreme measures in pursuit of the prize.
Friday Night Lights: Season 5 2010 NR 3 discs
In the fifth season of this critically acclaimed drama, coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) struggles to motivate the talented but stressed-out stars of his East Dillon football team while balancing his responsibilities to his wife, Tami (Connie Britton), and children. As star quarterback Vince (Michael B. Jordan) tries to steer clear of trouble, his teammate Luke (Matt Lauria) considers whether to transfer to a prestigious private school.
DOCUMENTARY
King James Bible: The Book That Changed The World 2011 NR 94 minutes
Actor John Rhys-Davies narrates this illuminating look at the King James Bible — the most widely sold version of the most important book in Christianity. It effectively changed the way the English-speaking world would interpret Holy scripture. This program’s highlights include elaborate live-action reenactments of how the version came to be, along with on-location footage of important biblical landmarks.
SCI-FI & FANTASY
Tron: Legacy 2010 PG 125 minutes
While investigating the mysterious disappearance of his father, Kevin (Jeff Bridges), techie Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) lands in a beguiling computerized world of enslaved gladiators, where his dad has been living for more than 20 years. Joined by Kevin’s trusted friend (Olivia Wilde), the father and son must journey across a breathtaking — and perilous — cyberscape in this 21st-century update to the beloved 1982 sci-fi classic.
DRAMA
The Taqwacores 2010 NR 83 minutes
When Yusef (Bobby Naderi), an engineering student of Pakistani descent, moves in with a group of Muslim punks in Buffalo, N.Y., his new pals introduce him to the hardcore punk values of the Taqwacores — young Muslims questioning their roles in American society. Based on a novel that was a huge hit with Muslim youth, the film spotlights the paradox of disaffected youth still trying to maintain a connection with traditional forms of faith.
The 19th Wife 2010 NR 86 minutes
Based on David Ebershoff’s best-selling novel, this intense drama follows Jordan (Matt Czuchry), a member of a polygamist Mormon sect who was ejected from his community. Years later, Jordan must return to help his mother (Patricia Wettig), who’s accused of murdering her husband. While Jordan struggles to overcome his past, he and friend Queenie (Chyler Leigh) investigate the crime — but some members of the close-knit community respond with violence.
Masterpiece Classic: Any Human Heart 2011 NR 2 discs / 4 episodes
Riding the waves of the 20th century to two continents, Logan Mountstuart tries his hand at writing, the art trade and espionage, brushing shoulders along the way with a stunning assortment of iconic personalities. Jim Broadbent, Matthew Macfadyen and Sam Claflin pool their acting talents to portray one multifaceted man through three different seasons of his life in this sweeping British drama based on William Boyd’s best-selling novel.
COMEDY
I Love You Phillip Morris 2009 R 98 minutes
When upstanding Texas cop Steven Russell (Jim Carrey) realizes he’s gay, he changes his entire life and pulls a series of bold con jobs that lands him jail — where he meets his one true love, cellmate Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor). When Morris is transferred to another prison, lovesick Russell mounts a series of jailbreaks just to be with his beloved soul mate. Glenn Ficarra and John Requa direct this comedy based on a true story.
CHILDREN & FAMILY
iCarly: Season 2: Vol. 3 2009 NR 3 discs
It’s nothing but more adventures, as the gang’s all aglow when the show broadcasts the first-ever iCarly Awards and Sam reveals she used to compete in beauty pageants. Later on, Freddie risks his own skin to save Carly’s.
