The Great Beauty (2013)- Movie Review

Federico Fellini just might be my favorite director. He was a man that could handle humanity, emotions, and all-out goofiness into one satisfying movie experience. One of his best films (not saying much or anything) is La Dolce Vita, a film that may display a high life of sex and glamour, but has a heart as bitter as brown tea. To say that Pablo Sorrentino's The Great Beauty owes something to La Dolce Vita is an understatement: This film is a spiritual remake of the film, down to the sex-filled parties and the disillusioned writer.



On the effort of capturing Fellini's spirit, Sorrentino soars like a bird. He has fathered the most Felliniesque movie made in a long time, and I say that as a major compliment. Although this sounds like an odd fit, there are touches of Malick in the film too, down to the natural lighting and the slow shots of natural urbanism.

Star of Sorrentino's Il Divo, Tony Servillo plays the writer Jep Gambardella, an aged writer that has 100% control of his life. He is famous, popular, and respected. One of the film's opening scenes is the birthday party thrown for Jep. It is huge, noisy, modern, and simply dazzling. I say with great admiration to Sorrentino that the film's beginning party scene is one of the great scenes of film history. It fills the mind with anxious blood and yearning to attend such a lavish attend.

Outside of that great, legendary scene, the film explores everything of life: religion, meaning, importance, fulfillment. I say with a sad heart that the film stretches these mysteries for two and a half hours. Most of the time, it works, but this movie ain't flawless.

Still, I highly recommend to seek this film out. With Janus Films distributing, I cannot wait to own the Criterion. Here's hoping that this bad boy gets an Oscar nomination.