Dvds Out Tomorrow

Jul 6 2008 Mickey Mcmonagle

Reviews

THERE WILL BE BLOOD (15) ***** A powerhouse performance from Daniel Day-Lewis rightly won awards for this rousing drama about a silver miner striking oil and building an empire.

Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson - of Boogie Nights and Magnolia fame - it has his usual introspective feel but with an element of action and tension.

Day-Lewis plays Daniel Plainview, a rich miner tipped off about a vast, untapped oil field in New Boston by Paul Sunday (an excellent Paul Dano, who also plays Sunday's twin brother Eli).

Eli, the town pastor, agrees to greedy Plainview's plans on condition that he channels money back into the town.

Naturally the oil man's evil nature shows itself and things go awry as the uneasy allies are pitted against each other. Fans of affecting cinema won't find better than this stark, powerful film. It's no wonder Day-Lewis landed an Oscar.

THE BUCKET LIST (12) **** Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman) is a penniless mechanic who meets ruthless corporate billionaire Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) in a hospital cancer ward. They become friends and are each given six months to live so draw up a bucket list - the goals they want to achieve before they kick the proverbial.

Using Cole's cash, they set off on a dramatic, often hilarious road trip, living out their final dreams and coming to the obligatory realisations along the way. A welcome change of pace from the usual youth-based comedy and action fodder we see so much of, with great performances from the leads.

ALADDIN (U) **** Are-issue of the 1992 Disney cartoon famed for Robin Williams' showstealing turn as the genie. If you don't have this, it's worth getting.