Lucinda, Bob, Jack, and I loved this creative movie about an Italian writer looking backward and forward after a most fabulous 65th birthday party. There isn't a lot of plot but we were still enthralled for almost two ½ hours, with the beautiful shots of Rome, the imaginative goings-on, more parties, and our hero's cynicism still leading to hope and happiness. Toni Servillo plays Jep Gambardella, a handsome, always well-dressed playboy who can go from jaded to sincere in the blink of an eye. Shockingly, the actor will be 55 in August. Kind of seems like cheating, but he is awfully good and we (slightly south of 65 ourselves) never doubted his age for a moment.
Nominated for the Best Foreign Film Oscar (as well as the Palme d'Or at Cannes, Best International Film of the Independent Spirit Awards, and many more) it won the Golden Globe, four European Film Awards, just to name a few.
Yes, it's long (the first cut was 190 minutes!) but we didn't mind one bit. It felt like we got to pay a little visit to Rome, with Jep's apartment patio overlooking the Coliseum (!), scenes at the Piazza Navona, and so many more.
The music is outstanding. This youtube playlist has some of the music from the movie, with classical and house music. Here is my favorite, I Lie performed by Torino Vocalensemble, in footage straight from the movie's credits. I think the same song is played at the beginning, in which we can see the women singing it in between camera moves around various tourist attractions in Rome. Watching the video will give you an idea of the beautiful cinematography. My readers and friends know of my love for vocals and this one is lovely.
Go to the bathroom first, sip your beverage sparingly, and settle in for crazy stuff, pretty pictures, humor, nudity, sightseeing, and philosophy. Love of Fellini films is a plus but not required.
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