CRITIC’S CORNER
THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS HBO, SATURDAY, 8 ET/PT Oprah Winfrey gives a beautiful, powerful performance in this true story of a woman searching for justice for her late mother, whose harvested cells led to multiple medical discoveries. It’s a good thing Winfrey is so mesmerizing, because nothing else in George C. Wolfe’s adaptation of Rebecca Skloot’s bestseller keeps pace — and that includes the confused screenplay, scattered direction, and a wide-eyed turn from Rose Byrne as Skloot. Still, don’t let the flaws deter you: Winfrey and the story Skloot’s book tells are enough to make the film worth watching. THE LOST TAPES: L.A. RIOTS/L.A. BURNING: THE RIOTS 25 YEARS LATER SMITHSONIAN, SUNDAY, 8 ET/PT/HISTORY, SUNDAY, 9 ET/PT Twenty-five years ago, the acquittal of four LAPD officers in the Rodney King case sparked six days of riots in Los Angeles. Sunday, two specials look back on those terrible days. Smithsonian offers The Lost Tapes, a one-hour film that uses radio, TV and home videos to recreate the events. History follows with L.A. Burn
ing, a repeat of the film from John Singleton that premiered on A&E Tuesday. SILICON VALLEY HBO, SUNDAY, 10 ET/PT One of TV’s best comedies returns as Richard (Thomas Middleditch) struggles to adjust to his company’s latest turn. Which may mean it’s time for Richard to invent himself yet again.