2013 Cannes Critics’ Panel Day 7: Sorrentino’s La Grande Bellezza

One week into the fest and the double bill appears to be a strong one – we find Steven Soderbergh’s last feature film (I’m betting we won’t wait as long as Alejandro Jodorowsky to pull one out of the rabbit) and Paolo Sorrentino’s stroke of genius La Grande Bellezza which many have compared to some of Fellini’s best works in the baroque La Dolce Vita and 8 1/2. A Valentine’s card to Rome, and at times a touching, almost fantasy-like salute to a life well lived, Sorrentino’s muse Toni Servillo camps out in different planes of the city and at just about every minute in a 24 hour cycle is represented in what is essential a recap of one’s romantic life and how professionally he moves from writer’s block to being reinvigorated. Running just over the two hour mark, this was well-received by the critics on our rid, but didn’t win over all. Click on the image below for the most current update.