This film takes place in modern, (for most parts) elitist Rome, and tells about an aged man, who, being on top of the top, realises that the world around him doesn't have no true, great beauty in it to himself, and so he seeks to find it. To be honest, this comes out a bit dry, but I really cannot put it any better to sum it up. The greatness of this picture is not in the genius general idea, however it is in the beauty of the film itself, as well as all the wonderful smaller (but not small) ideas in those well portrayed scenes. This movie changed my view of the world, or, to be more precise, changed the way I want to look at it, at the world around me. All those beautiful, contrasting scenes from peaceful enjoyment of kids playing in the morning sun, to body and soul tangling parties and magic giraffes. Ah, a great beauty indeed, this movie. Wonderful, and I am bitterly jealous of you, if you haven't seen it yet, because the great beauty still awaits you. Great actors, wonderful sound editing, and exceptional directing. Just mesmerizing. P.S. After watching, I recommend just getting up, putting your hands behind your back, and going for a walk, wherever you are, it'll be magical, I promise.

Sorrentino's La Grande Bellezza is often compared with Fellini's La Dolce Vita. This is easy enough to see, both films being set in the Eternal City and peopled with an assortment of odd and/or striking characters; yet, the comparison to Fellini applies to the first 30 minutes only, during the first of three parties. After, in the early morning light, the mood changes as we begin to learn about the previous night's Birthday Boy who has turned sixty-five. From this point, unhurriedly, the film diverges from Fellini. Why, because Sorrentino's subject is different. In a way, Le Grande Bellezza becomes a polemic that makes use of satire, irony, gut feelings, touches of magic realism, and one rather good inside joke (not a spoiler: the 'aging' 42-year old stripper – an object of parental concern - was played by someone ten years older; but, for the punchline, you must see the movie.) La Grande Bellezza is about memory, loss, self-assessment, regret, and renewal; the flashes of beauty too often missed; everything that is buried beneath quotidian existence and "the incessant blah, blah, blah" (end quote). Finally, some viewers say there is too much water under the bridge in the final five minutes – but it is a matter of sensibility and the balance between frenzy and tranquility

Greetings from Lithuania."La grande bellezza" (2013) is without a doubt the best movie Paolo Sorrentino has made yet. Not only this is his best film to date, this is a one great movie on every account. I was captivated by it from the first frame, which opens on a pretty long party sequence till the very last frame. Yet, this movie isn't for everyone. Those who like clear and plot based movie might find this gem to difficult and even boring. Nevertheless, this is one of the very best Italian movies i have ever seen. Every scene in this movie is done very skilfully and it's just interesting to watch and to listen to characters, especially to our hero Jep Gambardella (superbly played by Toni Servillo), a "party lion", who at 65 starts to have some thought about life and starts to find and see beauty in everything, even the most bizarre things. Overall, "La grande bellezza" (or "The Great Beauty") was a huge surprise to me. Saw it first time just now, i would like to recommend this near masterpiece to everyone who liked great movie simply about life - it's not about plot, it's about moments here and now, the people, culture, even nightlife of some Bohemia of Rome. Great movie.

This was such a serene experience for me. There were lots of flashy images, but core theme was stunningly soothing and peaceful. It oozed love, beauty and life !! I haven't seen any other Paolo Sorrentino's movies; but his style has definitely intrigued me to check out his other feature films. He seemed to have influenced from new wave in French Cinema. My eyes are immune or rather untrained to see any nuances or creative cinematography techniques. So only criteria which I can dissect is theme, story, characters where The Great Beauty excels and viewers are presented with such mesmerizing experience !