The Arthurian legend of a maimed warrior healed by the innocence of "a perfect fool" is given a magical update by director Terry Gilliam, tripping the light fantastic in his highly individual manner in this fantasy drama. Gilliam has an eerie knack of wringing visionary heart-tugging power from unsentimental if bizarre material, and Jeff Bridges's mythical search for redemption in the enchanted kingdom of New York fits the bill exactly. A magnificent perusal of what fires and feeds the soul, with super-tramp Robin Williams keeping his trademark zaniness in check until it really counts. But it's Oscar winner Mercedes Ruehl's electrifying portrayal of moral betrayal that you'll remember long after the fade-out.

Two troubled men face their terrible destinies and events of their past as they join together on a mission to find the Holy Grail and thus to save themselves.