MusicBruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s “Working on a Dream” already made its debut on the NPR Web site, and now the album hits stores this week. After hearing the first two songs, the New York Times declared Springsteen “more hopeful” than in the past. Perhaps that’s because Springsteen, who performed at last week's concert honoring the inauguration, first played the title song during one of President Barack Obama’s campaign stops. (On sale Jan. 27)
Scottish rockers Franz Ferdinand return with their latest album, “Tonight: Franz Ferdinand.” Frontman Alex Kapranos told Rolling Stone, “It’s more of a dance record than a rock record,” adding, “Dr. Dre or Timbaland or the Neptunes are making the songs you’ve never heard before, not the indie kids strumming their f---ing guitars.” Sounds like fun. (On sale Jan. 27)
MoviesFrench director Laurent Cantet’s “The Class” already won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and was just nominated for the best foreign film Oscar. The film, about an open-minded teacher in charge of a multi-ethnic classroom, currently has a 95 percent positive approval rating on RottenTomatoes.com. Slate.com’s Dana Stevens’ wrote of the film that you’ll feel like “you just spent two hours in the best class you ever took.” (Opens Jan. 30)
Liam Neeson stars as an ex-CIA agent who hunts for his kidnapped teenage daughter in “Taken.” It’s taken a while for this film to be released in the States, and it only has a 50 percent approval rating on RottenTomatoes.com. But when your other big choices for the week are the horror film “The Uninvited” and the chick flick “New In Town,” this movie may indeed be your best bet. (Opens Jan. 30)
TVThere's a new Doctor. If those words don't mean anything to you, you won't care about this either, but if you know exactly what we mean, you should know that there's a "Doctor Who" marathon airing this week. Ten actors have played the time-traveling Doctor, and Matt Smith was just named #11. You'll be able to see what he brings to the famous role beginning in 2010. (Marathon runs for five hours beginning at 3 p.m. ET/PT on Feb. 1, BBCA.)
Trust me, I'm a doctor. Trust me, I'm an ... ad man? "Trust Me" is more than a catchphrase this week, it's a new series about the ad world (hey, it worked for a little show called "Mad Men"). Eric McCormack ("Will & Grace") and Tom Cavanagh ("Ed") star. (Premieres Jan. 26, 9 p.m., TNT.)
Ready to get cooking? Screaming chef Gordon Ramsay returns with the fifth season of "Hell's Kitchen." The Brit may be crabby, but he gets results. (Premieres Jan. 29, 9 p.m., Fox)
DVDWoody Allen's latest, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," took home the Golden Globe for best picture (musical or comedy). Didn't get to see it? Pick up or rent the DVD this week. Wikipedia notes that the film was Allen's best-reviewed film since "Match Point" back in 2005, and if you know Woody, you know he's probably come out with a dozen films since then, so that's saying something. (Out on DVD Jan. 27)
Filmmaker Roman Polanski is as famous for his personal life as for his work. His mother was murdered in Auschwitz, his pregnant wife, Sharon Tate, was killed by the Mansons, and in 1977, Polanski pled guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl. He then fled to France, which denied a U.S. extradition request, and he has never returned to the States. That crime and its aftermath is examined in the acclaimed documentary "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired," which hits DVD this week. (Out on DVD Jan. 27)