Robbins's ambitious celebration of the Federal Theatre Project in the thirties is an exuberant, high-minded dazzler, with plenty of laughs, flaws, cameos, caricatures, intercuts, and delightful ensemble work. Perhaps the most priceless juxtaposition is Nelson Rockefeller (John Cusack) hiring Diego Rivera (Rub�n Blades) to paint a mural in "his" lobby. Bill Murray as a washed up ventriloquist makes everybody laugh. Too bad Orson Welles wasn't around to play himself...

Havi Hoffman