We have ourselves a strange mix of entries this week as we complement the release of Pixar's "Brave," delve into love letters to cinema, explore some history, creepy serial killers and the rather heartwarming story of a mutilated dolphin. As always, be sure to verify with your local listings and cable or satellite providers.

'Spartacus' (Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. on TCM)

Stanley Kubrick (working on one of his very first films) was the film's director, but it was really producer and star, Kirk Douglas, who was calling the shots. This bold sword-and-sandals epic is a must-see for any film buff. It's also noteworthy for the way Douglas challenged both the Hollywood system and a government on the heels of the Red Scare by hiring and crediting blacklisted talent like screenwriter Dalton Trumbo and character actor Peter Brocco.

'Tangled' (Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. on ENC)

"Tangled" is so much better than it has any right to be. It's Disney, but it's not Pixar. It's animated, but it isn't the sort of computer animation we've fallen in love with ever since Andy introduced us to Buzz and Woody. So why was this film so successful? Because they kept it simple, focusing on story and character. If you’re looking forward to Pixar's "Brave" this weekend, this might be just the Disney fix you need to keep you sane in the interim.

'While the City Sleeps' (Thursday at 6:15 p.m. on TCM)

Fritz Lang's strange, but effective mix of film noir and social commentary features a disturbed serial killer and a whole lot of scrambling over a late media mogul's empire. It stars Dana Andrews, Rhonda Fleming and the great Vincent Price.

'Cinema Paradiso’ (Friday at 1:00 p.m. on Showtime 2)

If you haven’t seen Giuseppe Tornatore's Oscar-winning love letter to the movies, set your DVR right now. Don't even read the next paragraph. We'll just wait here. We want this for you.

'Tabloid' (Friday at 1:30 p.m. on TMC)

The less you know about Errol Morris' highly entertaining documentary the better. It's one of those great trips down the rabbit hole at which Morris excels. At its most basic, the film takes a look at the scandalous relationship between a Mormon man and a notorious woman. From there, it gets a whole lot trippier and more complicated. And after all that, it just gets bananas.

'Dolphin Tale' (Saturday at 8:00 p.m. on HBO)

One of 2011's gentle surprises was this entertaining family film about a boy and a tail-less dolphin. Ashley Judd, Morgan Freeman and Harry Connick Jr. star. Word of advice: Invest heavily in tissues or handkerchiefs before sitting down to watch.