Saturday, May 22, 2010

My Sister S Keeper


The finals of Europe's most prestigious annual club soccer competition air from Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Formerly known as the European Cup, the UEFA Champions League was first staged in 1955 and features the reigning champion and other top finishers from each of Europe's domestic competitions, historically including elite clubs such as Liverpool, FC Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus and Bayern Munich. (2:30 p.m., Fox)

FROM HELL — The filmmaking Hughes brothers put their spin on the saga of Jack the Ripper in this 2001 adaptation of a graphic novel — and "graphic" is the key word. Johnny Depp plays a Victorian sleuth searching for a killer of prostitutes, especially since he has a personal interest in a potential victim (Heather Graham). The weak of stomach should know the gore factor is high here. Ian Holm ("Alien") co-stars. (7:45 p.m., Cinemax)

TROY — The Trojan War story is retold without the gods and goddesses of Homer's original in this 2004 adventure. Brad Pitt stars as Achilles, the great Greek warrior who fights more for his ego than for his king (Brian Cox) — to the latter's dismay. Orlando Bloom plays Paris, the Trojan prince whose affair with the lovely Helen (Diane Kruger) sets the war in motion. (8 p.m., AMC)

MY SISTER'S KEEPER — Jodi Picoult's novel about a youngster conceived to help cure her sister's leukemia becomes a sincerely acted film with an especially fine performance by Abigail Breslin as the younger sibling. The girl develops second thoughts about her intended role, prompting her to hire a lawyer and pursue emancipation. Sofia Vassilieva plays the ill sister, and Cameron Diaz the girls' mother in director Nick Cassavetes' ("The Notebook") cast. (8 p.m., HBO)

THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME — As Quasimodo, Charles Laughton has the clock-stopping looks in this 1939 adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic, but Cedric Hardwicke gives an equally brilliant performance as hideous-on-the-inside Jean Frollo, the royal adviser whose lust for a beautiful Gypsy (Maureen O'Hara) drives him to murder. (8 p.m., TCM)