DVDs

The latest releases reviewed

THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD ****

Directed by Andrew Dominik. Starring Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Mary-Louise Parker, Zooey Deschanel, Michael Parks, Sam Rockwell 15 cert

Dominik's admirably ambitious and expansive picture explores the last seven months in the short life of James, who is depicted as a paranoid, cold-blooded outlaw. Pitt's thoughtful, authoritative performance as James is matched by Casey Affleck's revelatory, subtly detailed portrayal of his sycophantic killer in this magnificently photographed western. MD

LIONS FOR LAMBS **

Directed by Robert Redford. Starring Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise, Michael Pena, Andrew Garfield, Peter Berg. 12A cert

Undeniably well- intended, but staggeringly inert attempt to address various issues relating to the war on terror. Prof Redford tries to convince a lazy student to get motivated. Evil senator Cruise scowls at Streep's conflicted journalist. Blameless DVD fans hammer the fast-forward button in a fruitless search for incident. DC

THE NINES ***

Directed by John August. Starring Ryan Reynolds, Hope Davis, Melissa McCarthy, Elle Fanning 15 cert

In August's film of three subtly connected stories, Reynolds plays different characters who create fictional characters for a living - an actor, a TV writer-producer and a video games designer. The central sequence, addressing the behind the scenes machinations on a TV production, is the most effective, and it scorches with anger. MD

AUGUST RUSH **

Directed by Kirsten Sheridan. Starring Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Terrence Howard, Robin Williams, William Sadler PG cert

Musical prodigy Highmore, the product of a one-night stand between Russell and Rhys-Meyers, potters about New York in this infuriating reworking of Oliver Twist. The picture has some charm, but there is not enough grit to balance the overpowering swathes of glutinous magical realism. DC

SOUTHLAND TALES **

Directed by Richard Kelly. Starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Seann William Scott, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mandy Moore 16 cert

A few months from now, following the detonation of a nuclear bomb, the US finds itself at war with everyone. Hillary Clinton is trailing in the polls, while slavering Republican psychopaths profit from the country's paranoia. Kelly's energetic follow-up to Donnie Darko is certainly ambitious. It is also wildly incoherent, ugly and juvenile. DC

IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON ****

Directed by David Sington G cert

Terrific documentary following the progress of the Apollo space programme. The 10 participating astronauts have wonderful tales to tell and the footage remains breathtaking. Begrudgers might complain that there is nothing innovative here, but few compilations of talking heads and archive material have been quite so entertaining and moving. The DVD comes with another hour of fascinating material. DC

BLOODY SUNDAY ****

Directed by Paul Greengrass. Starring Gerard McSorley, James Nesbitt, Tim Pigott-Smith, Kathy Keira Clarke, Nicholas Farrell 15 cert

OMAGH ****

Directed by Pete Travis. Starring Gerard McSorley, Michele Forbes, Brenda Fricker, Pauline Hutton, Fiona Glascott, Lorcan Cranitch 12 cert

Now released on DVD, these two docudramas told few Irish viewers much they didn't already know, but Greengrass and Travis brought such sensitivity and energy to the film-making that both projects still proved endlessly gripping. Highly influenced by Gillo Pontecorvo's The Battle of Algiers, Bloody Sunday offers guilty excitement in its furious action sequences. Omagh is necessarily a less frenzied affair, but its dissection of inadequacies in the police investigation of the bombing are never less than engaging. DC

DECEMBER BOYS **

Directed by Rod Hardy. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Teresa Palmer, Christian Byers, Lee Cormie, James Fraser, Jack Thompson PG cert

No cliché of the coming of age movie remains unvisited in Radcliffe's fitful attempt to escape the shadow of a certain young wizard. Following four young Australian orphans as they holiday by the sea, the picture features respectable performances, but is fatally wounded by the hilarious superannuation of its awkward leading man. DC