GREAT BEAUTY THE PAOLO SORRENTINO

A one-and-done literary triumph in his youth has allowed aging journalist Jep (Toni Servillo) to enjoy a bon vivant's life among Rome's social elite for years. When confronted by stunning news from his past, however, the sobered writer must take stock of his circle, his city, and his very existence. Winner of the Best Foreign Film Academy Award, Paolo Sorrentino's lyrical tale co-stars Carlo Verdone, Sabrina Ferilli. 141 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: Italian Dolby Digital 5.1; Subtitles: English; featurette: interviews; deleted scenes; theatrical trailer. In Italian with English subtitles. Three-disc set.

Jep Gambardella, a 65-year-old journalist and one-time promising novelist, drifts through Rome's decadent high society decades after the success of his only book. When he learns his first love had secretly loved him for 35 years until her recent death, Jep is prompted into a melancholic reassessment of his glamorous but hollow life.