Ripe with homoerotic undercurrents -- which O'Toole mines with relish in his great hysterical performance, full of cunning, eloquence and mad outbursts.

Becket may seem like a movie of yesteryear, but its timeliness brims over with rousing, meditative discourses between Henry and the church leaders on the separation of church and state.

Everything that Doctor Strangelove is -- daring and inspired, vibrant and brilliantly staged -- Becket is not.

It’s all a touch too simple and uninspiring, despite an undoubtedly wry script.