Donald Clarkeand Michael Dwyerreview the latest releases

THERE WILL BE BLOOD
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Ciaran Hinds 15 cert
*****
Day-Lewis deservedly won an Oscar for his towering portrayal of an avaricious, unscrupulous oil prospector, and Dano is revelatory as his nemesis, an ambitious young preacher, in Anderson's powerful moral drama set in the early decades of the 20th century. This bold, fascinating film is a modern masterpiece. MD

DIARY OF THE DEAD
Directed by George A Romero. Starring Michelle Morgan 16 cert
****
Romero offers us an intriguing rebooting of his own classic Night of the Living Dead. This time round, students record the walking dead on digital video cameras. The musings on citizen journalism are a little clunky, but the film still features more than enough decapitations to satisfy gorehounds. The smashing two-disc edition comes with a fine documentary on the great man and is duly awarded an extra star. DC

VANTAGE POINT
Directed by Pete Travis. Starring Dennis Quaid, Matthew Fox, Forest Whitaker, Sigourney Weaver, William Hurt 12 cert
**
The first Hollywood feature from the director of Omaghbegins as an attempt to tell the story of a presidential assassination from several conflicting perspectives. But, after spreading confusion for the first hour, it soon settles own into a routine, linear narrative. By that stage the story is so muddled few viewers will give a hoot what happens. DC

THE BOOK OF REVELATION
Directed by Ana Kokkinos. Starring Tom Long, Greta Scacchi, Colin Friels, Anna Torv 18 cert
***
In this challenging, unsettling Australian drama (going directly to DVD here), a ballet dancer is subjected to rape and sexual humiliation for two weeks. The twist is that the dancer is male and his abductors are women. Played by Long, he is incapable of expressing the details of his traumatic experience in a film that's as boldly provocative - and often as overwrought - as Head On, also by writer-director Kokkinos. MD

WATER LILIES/NAISSANCE DES PIEUVRES
Directed by Céline Sciamma. Starring Pauline Acquart, Louise Blachère, Adèle Haenel 15 cert
**
Sciamma's debut feature is set in a Paris suburb, where three teenage girls (convincingly played by newcomers) struggle with the angst and post-pubescent confusion of the transition years between childhood and adulthood. Not a lot happens in a film that's most acute in catching the casual cruelty and unthinking fickleness of young people. MD

READER OFFER
Ten copies each of There Will Be Blood, Diary of the Deadand Vantage Pointare available to readers upon release, courtesy of The Ticketand HMV. Text it8, film title, your name an address to 53307. One copy per person only. Texts cost 60c (network charges vary). Service by Phonovation Ltd (01-2844060). Full terms and conditions from the Promotions Department, The Irish Times (01-6758000)