I was reluctant to see this movie because on paper it looks like an arthouse chore. Luckily it isn't at all.
We follow the cynic and self-proclaimed "it-man" of the high-class nightlife in Rome; Jep, through his episodic encounters in the city. Because of the death of his one true love (who married someone else) he starts to reflect on his life and what the Great Beauty in it is (or was).
The movie showcases beautiful cinematography, editing and score and has a diverse set of actors. There is also plenty of often subtle humor to be found in the scenes and dialogue making it everything but dry.

Sorrentino può non piacere, ma è possibile che la gran parte del pubblico (sopratutto italiano) non possieda i mezzi culturali per capire un'opera come "La grande bellezza"?
"La grande bellezza" è un'esplorazione vivida e brillante del patrimonio nazionale, del concetto di italica beltà, del dolce far niente, degli splendori architettonici e delle vedute più eccitanti, della malinconia del tempo perduto e del potere del cinema risorto davanti ai nostri occhi, dell'eredità di Fellini ben custodita e della moda nazionale.

The film does not fully coincide with my sensitivity, but I respect. Captivated me several individual images and words.

“Travel is very useful, it makes the imagination work, the rest is just delusion and pain. Our journey is entirely imaginary, which is its strength.”

I am completely overwhelmed by the beauty of this film. Without any doubt La Grande Bellezza is one of the most magnificent films of 2013.

We follow Jep Gambardella, a wealthy writer that is part of the high society. In his daily life he goes to a lot of parties and important events. His friends are just like him, bohemians always looking for what they call happiness, which is good parties, drinks, drugs, casual sex but despite all of that they are frustrated and are all trapped pretending to be satisfied with their miserable lives. That's how Jep feels about himself. At the age of 65, Jep doesn't have a family and no one that truly cares about him. Pain is always present while he fakes to live an amazing life. But there is much more about this film than my simple description about Jep's life. There is such an emotional power in this story that you will be completely absorb inside of it!

Toni Servillo's performance is superb, so deep and melancholic! He can make you look into this charming and important man with such vulnerability while he brings to you the most deepest emotions.

The cinematography is absolutely beautiful, every single shot is so elegant and so gorgeous and is always followed by a fantastic soundtrack that suits perfectly every moment that we are appreciating.

This film is one of the greatest modern masterpieces of cinema. La Grande Bellezza surely is a true work of art.

This is just a two and a half hour music video, without so much as a bit of a plot. So boring. Perfect for those who like pretentious cinema.

The original title of the film is La grande bellezza.

Man will rather will nothingness than not will; or will beauty, even.

O filme é construído com personagens fortes e diálogos provocantes. Apesar de simples, o roteiro tem a clara intenção de levar o espectador à reflexão, principalmente sobre a sociedade atual, ao ponto de o protagonista lembrar uma versão italiana de Brás Cubas. Como é imaginável pela comparação, o filme é também embebido em ironia e acidez, criando uma imagem de anti-herói de Gep. Ademais, o filme flerta com o surrealismo e possui metáforas que abordam religião, arte, etc., de maneira sarcástica e crítica.

Apesar de tudo, o filme não é suficientemente linear para causar um impacto. Não há clímax, muito menos um raciocínio a ser seguido, o que dificulta criar uma ligação emocional com os personagens e, consequentemente, com o filme e as questões que ele aborda. Sendo assim, o filme, apesar de bom, pareceu-me apenas uma sequência de boas cenas e diálogos impactantes - sem que houvesse, de verdade, uma história a ser contada.

Wow - i'm late to the party but after watching This Must be the Place and the sublime Youth..The Great Beauty moved to the top of my must see movie list, after all i have had the bluray in my collection since 2014. As with Youth i needed to set the mood and wait for a quiet morning without my wife and kids to fully involve myself in its beauty without distraction, and i am so glad i waited. Not only was it beautiful (it looked wonderful on a 55" 4K TV via a UHD upscaled player) it made me realise that roots are important and i eagerly awaited the return of my family.

Paolo Sorrentino i salute you....and remember people "its all a trick"