Writer-director Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Oceans 11) takes on the illusions and artificialities of contemporary Hollywood in this complicated ensemble drama that works well on so many levels one viewing may not be enough. Shot both on 35mm and digital video, it ostensibly tells the story of a fictional movie shoot. Julia Roberts plays an actress playing a magazine reporter and Blair Underwood plays an actor playing an actor. But we also get to see how their off-screen characters lives intertwine with those of other stars, the producer, the screenwriter, the screenwriters wife, the screenwriters wifes sister and the screenwriters dog, among others. The film was made in 18 days with most of the castwhich includes David Hyde Pierce, Catherine Keener, David Duchovny, Mary McCormack, Brad Pitt, Nicky Katttaking drastic pay cuts just to work with Soderbergh. If you love such movies-about-moviemaking as Day For Night, State and Main, Time Code and Shadow of the Vampire, this films for you. Its a gem in which the flaws are just as beautiful as the facets.