The Great Beauty

The film directed by Italian director Paolo Sorrentino in 2013. Jep Gambardella(Toni Servillo) is journalist for a literature publication. He wanted to be a man living in the upper class. When he was young, he published a novella and got a prize. Moreover, he do not publish any book.

Plot

Jep  live in Roma, he just have his 65 birthday party. His life is very simple, sleep during the day , in the night he go to parties. Sometimes, he as a life's observer to watch surrounding his life, friends and things. Although, the film have not a clear storyline, but the content has structure to some extent. The film is shot two years that is a long term. 

I have to say it is a beautiful movie, I ever seen it in the before. No matter from the scenes, mise-en-scine and soundtrack, it is a fabulous movie, I really love it. Firstly, we seen a series of beautiful scenery. To some extent, Paolo want audience to follow Jep's life, audience taste local conditions and customs of Roma. Giving me deeply impression is birthday party scene. A scream rapidly improve the atmosphere. Via techno crane to shoot the high angle shot and close-up to catch characters' emotion, the atmosphere reach a climax by music. Via the protagonist look at the sky, a bold inversion shot gives me breathtaking moment. In addition, the two shots are linked up cleverly. When Jep appear to middle of people, he slowly light a cigarette. The light makes the party spectacular visual effect, according to Luca Bigazzi(Cinematographer), shot over two days on a seventh-floor terrace over Roma, the place was not hang lights, but had to chase the characters with moving lights very quick to achieve continuity(Ariston, 2014). The film use multiple-shot and every shot afford for thought.

About the film storyline is not very clear, but I want to make my documentary more storytelling. Every sequence need to management more logical. I do not have too much opinions about the film editing. The scenery of Roma, I was impressed by the landscapes of Roma, e.g. using techno crane to express the spectacular visual effects. Film editing can make the film more storytelling, whether using flashback or narration, a good structure need to be designed by screenplay.

Reference:

Ariston A. (2014). Sorrentino Cinematographer Calls Film School "Absurd," Touts Digital. Available: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sorrentino-cinematographer-calls-film-school-725220. Last accessed 21st Oct 2015.