Dan in Real LifeSteve Carell surprises fans with his sentimental side in “Dan in Real Life.” The funny man goes mushy on the big screen as he plays the pathetically sweet father striving to be a great dad after the death of his wife. Between Carell and Dane Cook, the film contains great one-liners bringing both tears of laughter and sadness. A-L. GALLMANN
SAW IVJigsaw is dead, but his games will not end. This time, he draws the entire police force into his game to choose life or death. Intricate twists and turns, blood and knives will keep viewers’ hearts racing and their hands over their eyes, making him more likable. The gore is equal to all other “Saw” movies, but this has the most solid plot line.B+A. NORSWORTHY
We Own the NightThis crime/drama follows the distanced relationship between brothers Bobby Green and Joseph Grusinsky. When the family is threatened by the Russian mob, the brothers are forced to put their differences aside to protect each other. Although this movie has a good emotional quality, there was nothing really refreshing about this film.C-L. GALLMANN
Backstreet Boys, UnbreakableBackstreet’s back all right, and they’re everything you would expect 30-something, former mega pop stars to be: boring. Unless you are a die-hard fan, their homogenized R&B crooning will likely put you sleep. Now a quartet, the boys have matured only so far that the album sounds vaguely like adult pop, with the heart of their sound remaining right where it was in 1997. D-L. WALCK
Britney Spears, BlackoutAfter a hectic year complete with a divorce, a head shaving and plenty of baby drama, Louisiana’s favorite pop star has released her fifth album. Listeners will be surprised to find that it’s not completely horrible. This heavily electronic album fits perfectly inside a club, much like Britney herself. This album is great for a night out, but it’s not Britney’s best.C+S. AYCOCK
Saves the Day, Under the BoardsSaves the Day returns with its sixth album, the second in a three-part series. If 2006’s “Sound the Alarm” was bitter and gritty, “Under the Boards” shows Saves the Day melding its old fan favorite sound with its bitter new Lifetime-esque one. Chris Conley’s voice is older, and it shows on “Woe” and the title track. BA. PFLEIDER
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Raising SandFormer Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant teams up with bluegrass singer-songwriter Alison Krauss in this melodic album of blues and folk rock. The hauntingly beautiful vocals of Plant and Krauss complement each other perfectly in what is sure to go down as one of the year’s top collaborations.Editor’s PickM. MIMS