From Netflix:

As charming 65-year-old journalist Jep Gambardella writes about Rome’s culture and social life, he reflects with bitterness on the passions of his lost youth, even as he paints a complex portrait of the lovely and ancient city.

IS THIS FILM A TOTAL PUT-ON ?

If you can believe Wikipedia, this film is much acclaimed and has made a profit from worldwide screening. But then critics a paid to say something.

Supposedly this film is a metaphor about the current decline of Italian civilization, especially in the sad era of Berlusconi.

Kathy and I went expecting to see beautiful Rome and follow the life of an aging Italian journalist. We kept waiting for the good part to start, and waiting and waiting … Instead as far as we can tell we got the following:

• Conversations that were superficial at best.
• Social gatherings of strange, ugly, oddly dressed people dancing in circular conga lines that went nowhere.
• Rather a lot of female strippers.
• Overly long shots of the aging actor’s face (Toni Servillo as Jep Gambardella).
• Mother Teresa’s 105 year old twin crawling up a long set of stairs on her hands and knees.
• Customers of all ages lined up to pay large sums for a BOTOX shot.
• Impoverished nobles charging money to attend dinners while pretending to be someone important or royal.
• Some aged cardinal that talked of nothing but cooking recipes.
• And the list goes on.

Someone should tell the writer and directory Paolo Sorrentino that it is nearly impossible to out-Fellini Fellini.

If anyone out there sees and enjoys this film, please tell me why you enjoyed the film.

At least you have been warned.