Because Robert Downey Jr. stars in the new film “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,”

Because Robert Downey Jr. stars in the new film “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,” it’s a good time to look at five of his best performances:

v “Iron Man” (2008): Downey turns Tony Stark into a riveting personality, both in his initial arrogance and through his process of struggle, self-discovery and reinvention.

v “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang” (2005): Writer- director Shane Black’s rat-a-tat neo-noir is a perfect fit for Downey’s deadpan verbal prowess. As Harry, a thief-turned-actor who’s up for a part as a detective, Downey bounces beautifully off Val Kilmer as the private eye who trains him for his screen test.

v “Tropic Thunder” (2008): He’s the dude playin’ the dude disguised as another dude — and in the process, he earned an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor. Downey demonstrated huge amounts of chutzpah and managed the tricky feat of finding just the right tone as Kirk Lazarus, a super-serious Australian method actor who’s so dedicated to his craft, he undergoes skin-pigmentation surgery to play a black soldier in a Vietnam War drama.

v “Zodiac” (2007): David Fincher’s sprawling serial-killer drama is intense, dense and detailed in its obsession with procedure. That’s why Downey’s presence here is so crucial. He significantly lightens things up and brings a much-needed sense of comic relief.

v “Two Girls and a Guy” (1997): Most of the action takes place in just a few rooms in Downey’s Manhattan apartment. That’s where the two women he’s been dating simultaneously — unbeknownst to each other — confront him over a long, tense and funny afternoon.

“Who’s Still Standing” (8 p.m., NBC): The new trivia game show “Who’s Still Standing?” drops losing contestants through a trap door and out of the competition. Apparently, it’s no longer enough to send folks home with a pat on the back and some car wax.

“VH1 Divas Celebrates SouL” (9 p.m., VH1): “VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul” is a two-hour special packed with rousing performances from powerhouse female artists. Among those taking the stage at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York are Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan and Florence and the Machine.

TV listings, b6

DVD RELEASES

Movies that will become available Tuesday on DVD and through digital providers include:

“Dolphin Tale” (PG): Strangers band together to save an ailing dolphin’s life. Starring Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick Jr. and Ashley Judd.

“Midnight in Paris” (PG-13): Family members have their lives transformed while in Paris. Starring Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams and Marion Cotillard.

“Colombiana” (PG-13): A young woman becomes an assassin to avenge her parents’ deaths. Starring Zoe Saldana, Michael Vartan and Jordi Molla.

“Warrior” (PG-13): The youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returns home, where he’s trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial-arts tournament. Starring Nick Nolte and Tom Hardy.