MOVIES
"Crazy Heart": Sometimes a single performance can be so brilliant it eclipses the rest of the movie. Jeff Bridges accomplishes that dazzling feat in this new release. Bridges becomes fading country music legend Bad Blake, a man who's seen more failed romances, crashed pickups and loyal dogs than a jukebox full of country tunes. Blake's reached the sunset of his career, reduced to playing bowling alleys and gin joints.

DVD
"Zombieland": A group of people try to survive in a world full of zombies. "Shaun of the Dead," the wonderfully witty 2004 British import, is no longer king of zombie comedies. That title now belongs to "Zombieland," where the walking dead have never been funnier. Writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick have created a story that is a shotgun blast of jokes that not only satirizes the genre but finds time to take plenty of shots at pop culture.

TELEVISION
"Super Bowl XLIV," 3:25 p.m. KGPE (47.1): As if the clash between the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints wasn't enough of a draw, there will be all of those cool commercials to watch.

DVD
"Whiteout": Police officer Carrie Stetko (Kate Beckinsale) has only a few hours to solve a murder in the frozen world of Antarctica. The film is a murder mystery throwback that builds suspense more through its claustrophobic setting and interesting characters than an overly complicated plot.

MOVIES
"Extraordinary Measures": The film looks at the efforts of John and Aileen Crowley (Brendan Fraser, Keri Russell) to find a cure for a rare genetic disorder that two of their children have. Dr. Robert Stonehill (Harrison Ford) has come up -- in theory -- with a solution, but it will take lots of money to go from paper to practical. could have fallen apart numerous times. But tight direction -- combined with some top-notch acting -- makes the film as powerful as it is personal.

TELEVISION
"NFL Playoffs": The New York Jets and the Indianapolis Colts square off at noon Sunday on KGPE (Channel 47.1) for the AFC Championship. The Minnesota Vikings and the New Orleans Saints battle for the NFC title at 3:30 p.m. Sunday on KMPH (26.1)

TELEVISION
New Mexico Bowl, 1:30 p.m. Saturday ESPN: The Fresno State Bulldogs take on Wyoming in Albuquerque, N.M. to help kickoff the long college bowl schedule.

MOVIES
"The Road": The film, based on Cormac McCarthy's book, takes place after an unexplained event leaves the world a cold and uninhabitable place. Food and the last splinters of humanity are running out. Even hope seems to have gone extinct. Director John Hillcoat takes the larger story of how to measure humanity and distills it to the simplest element: a father's love. Each step of their journey is a teaching opportunity for the father, which ranges from how to survive to how to die, if that's the only option left.

DVD
"Taking Woodstock": A behind-the-scenes look at the efforts to hold the legendary music festival. Director Ang Lee's film is nowhere near as good as his "Brokeback Mountain" or "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." Even with its flaws, the new DVD release offers a nostalgic look at a critical part of Woodstock.

TELEVISION
"Dexter," 9 p.m. Showtime: This is the season finale of what has been one of the best seasons for the cable series. The addition of John Lithgow as a serial killer gave this season a real boost.

MOVIES
"The Princess and the Frog": The Disney Studio's return to traditional animation is a winner because of clever writing, great characters and dazzling animation. The unique spin on the story of a frog that needs a kiss to become a prince is fun for young and old.

DVD
"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince": This sixth installment in the popular franchise works because director David Yates manages to service the continuing story while taking time to remind viewers this is still a story about a group of teenagers.

TELEVISION
"I'm in the Band," 6:45 p.m., Disney XD: This is a very funny comedy series that tells the story of an '80s rock band, Iron Weasel, that turns to teenager Tripp Campbell for help. He provides the band with a place to stay and in return gets a spot in the band and coaching on how to be a rock star. Steve Valentine, Greg Baker and Stephen Full play members of Iron Weasel, a mix of "Spinal Tap" and the Three Stooges.

MOVIES
"Fantastic Mr. Fox": With the fanciful, fantastic, funny and furry director Wes Anderson can take his place among the top stop-motion animation moviemakers. The film, based on the mind-twisting writings of Roald Dahl, has the animation charm of "Wallace & Gromit," the quirky humor of an early Woody Allen movie and the twisted tone of a good Quentin Tarantino production.

DVD
"Shorts": A rainbow-colored rock grants wishes to the person holding it. It takes more than an inspired idea to make a good movie. It takes execution, and that's where "Shorts"comes up ... well, short. But it is still amusing enough to keep youngsters entertained for a short while.

TELEVISION
"2009 American Music Awards," 8 p.m. KFSN (Channel 30.1): Janet Jackson kicks off this awards show that honors artists in Pop/Rock, Country, Rap/Hip-Hop, Soul/R&B, Alternative, Adult Contemporary, Latin and Contemporary Inspirational. Winners are determined by online voting.

DVD
"Star Trek": This look at how the crew of the Enterprise came together plays off the early days of the characters from the original television series against an evil plot that will rip the fabric of the universe apart. Director J.J. Abrams accomplished what many thought was impossible: He created a tribute to the past while bringing the franchise into the future.

MOVIES
"Precious": Comedian Mo'Nique's portrayal of a physically and emotionally abusive mother is as surprising as it is stunning. This kind of acting transformation -- a complete metamorphosis to turn into a sadistic and vile creature -- is why there are the Oscars. It's a performance you won't soon forget.

Movies
"Pirate Radio": The film has the energetic pop of a Mick Jagger dance move, the infectious nature of a Jimi Hendrix guitar riff and the entertainment value equal to the entire Beach Boys catalogue. In other words: The film rocks.

DVD
"Up": A grumpy old man and a young boy sail away to an animated adventure. The computer-generated film features the voice of Ed Asner. This offering is a long way from the light entertainment of a "Toy Story" or "Monsters, Inc." It features the same first-rate animation, but the movie often has a very emotional side that goes a long way toward making this effort remarkably touching.

Television
"Sunday Night Football," 5:20 p.m. Sunday, KSEE (Channel 24.1): The scoring should be high as the Indianapolis Colts play host the New England Patriots in this NFL showdown.

DVD
My Life in Ruins": A Greek tour guide (Nia Vardalos) must deal with an odd collection of tourists while trying to find love. Most of the energy comes from the star, Vardalos. She brings the same self-deprecating humor, vulnerability and spunk that made her a sensation in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." This is a film about falling in love. It's easy to do that with the characters and the country. Vardalos turns in a performance with so much energy against such a magnificent backdrop.

MOVIES
"Zombieland": A group of people try to survive in a world full of zombies. "Shaun of the Dead," the wonderfully witty 2004 British import, is no longer king of zombie comedies. That title now belongs to "Zombieland," where the walking dead have never been funnier. Writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick have created a story that is a shotgun blast of jokes that not only satirizes the genre but finds time to take plenty of shots at pop culture.

TELEVISION
"Sanctuary," 10 p.m. Oct. 9, Syfy: This is the second season opener for the series that follows Dr. Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping) a scientist who provides a place to stay for a group of strange beings that must hide among humans. She gets help from forensic psychiatrist Dr. Will Zimmerman (Robin Dunne) and her daughter Ashley (Emilie Ullerup). The series works because of Tapping who has found a role as good as her work on "Stargate, SG-1."

DVD
"Monsters vs. Aliens": A ragtag crew of monsters must save the world in this animated film featuring the voices of Reese Witherspoon and Kiefer Sutherland. The mad animation scientists behind the film have built a cartoon creation that will shake the giggles right out of you. The eye-popping computer-generated project is made up of the best parts of cheesy sci-fi and quirky creature-feature films.

Movies
"Whip It": The film about a young girl's new passion for roller derby, directed by Drew Barrymore, solidifies Ellen Page as the leader among the current young generation of actors. She's a strong actress who is equally believable as an emotionally confused woman and as the teen terror of roller derby known as Babe Ruthless. As with a winning roller derby team, Page gets support from Kristen Wiig, Juliette Lewis and Daniel Stern.

Television
"Stargate Universe," 9 p.m. tonight, Syfy: his third series in the "Stargate" franchise is taking a very different approach. It starts with a new twist on the intergalactic gate travels when scientists, soldiers, politicians and civilians find themselves on an ancient spaceship headed at faster-than-light speed away from Earth. The group must repair the ancient vessel, which is their only hope of survival. This is the darkest of the three "Stargate" series bringing it more in line with the much-heralded upgraded "Battlestar Galactica." The approach opens the way for more character studies which is a good idea but the action element should not be forgotten.

Film
"Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs": The catalyst of chaos is Flint Lockwood (voiced by Bill Hader). He's spent his entire life trying to invent something to help the world. Spray-on shoes seemed like a good idea until he discovered there was no way to remove them. The film is like the perfect gourmet meal. It is visually stunning and only gets better once you sample it. "Cloudy" is so good, it will leave you wanting seconds.

DVD
"Ghosts of Girlfriends Past": A committed bachelor (Matthew McConaughey) faces his past dating practices. This is the movie's biggest problem. The Charles Dickens structure has been used in numerous TV and film projects by characters played by everyone from Bill Murray to Mr. Magoo. "Ghost of Girlfriends Past" ends up being a pale spectre of a romantic comedy because of the movie's too-familiar structure and McConaughey's casting. It gets just enough jolt of comedy from a solid supporting cast to give it some life.

TV
"Mad Men": Followiing the show's second consecutive Emmy Award win for Outstanding Drama Series, AMC will broadcast a Season 3 marathon starting at 10 a.m. Sunday. The marathon will feature the first six episodes of the series including: "Out of Town," "Love Among the Ruins," "My Old Kentucky Home," "The Arrangements," "The Fog," and "Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency."