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Long after the topicality of the conversations has faded away, this film will be revered as the only cinematic close-up tour of Mont Saint-Michel, one of the most spectacular and intriguing edifices in Europe. That alone is worth the price of the film.

Possibly the finest moment of TV, at least in my memory, as millions could watch Shakespeare's gripping Kings cycle (Richard II - Richard III) play out on prime time TV (I believe it was on Friday nights). No word was left out, and the plays awoke in me (who was then in elementary school) a thirst for history and a hunger for Shakespeare and drama.

Let's see these reissued on DVD. What a set this would be!

Soderburgh here has shown he can still make the little movies that were his stock in trade before ERIN BROKOVICH and TRAFFIC vaulted him to the A-list. This film, a traditional indie flick with grainy video, ensemble cast but no single star, interlocking but separate story lines, has a lot to please the discerning viewer. Although the plot resolution ultimately shows Soderburgh to have a heart of gold (which I would never begrudge him), the film resists sentimentality. All in all, a great flick.

CAVEAT: I think this movie succeeds without the signature plot trick, i.e. the nesting of films within films within films. One level of nesting, or perhaps two, might have been enough.