On the Worst Movie of the Year

Listen, I am a Sorrentino apologist. I am willing and ready to forgive a lot of his sins, because sometimes he will frame a shot so well that I can taste the sea air, or smell the swallow shit in Rome. I like his lush, stupid imagery. I enjoy the painful, elevated monologues. That conversation in The Great Beauty where Jep slices down his friend for her hypocrisy is one of my all-time favourite. I even like Youth! Yes that’s right, I think Paul Dano in the Hitler costume was a masterful flourish. I have admired Sorrentino’s use of Jude Law, Sean Penn, Filippo Scotti, Tony Servillo. I don’t care if it’s sexist, I would think, because at least it is trying to be audacious and beautiful and interesting.