Robert Altman's masterpiece is a testimony to the power of cinema to expose the unexamined life and to reveal us to ourselves. Nashville is not only the film's setting but a metaphoric microcosm of the American dream with all of its attendant illusions and problems. But the film also manages to convey deep sympathy toward the 20 plus characters, each of whom is likely to become inscribed in the perceptive viewer's memory.

Some characters are odious while others are sympathetic, but every last one manages to provide contrast and depth to Altman's view of an America in which the boundaries between politics and entertainment are all but nonexistent.

Possibly my all-time favorite film. With 24 main characters and a lot of overlapping dialogue, it can be a bit daunting on first viewing. You really see it all come together on a repeat viewing. The "I'm Easy" scene in the club is masterful.

It's rare that film with the level of ambition and audaciousness that Nashville has comes together so seamlessly. It's a near-perfect film, casting a wide net in terms of style and tone and somehow gelling together perfectly. It's the rare film that dances from heartbreaking drama to goofy comedy and works because of the way it aims to encompass anything and everything about life. It aims to represent us all, and does so thrillingly and humanely.

Quit watching after 15minutes. Sound track mushy - colours weird. It must be really old.

DVD flaw at 1hour 37 minutes: gets stuck so you lose about 30 seconds, then continues OK.