Today, the acclaimed Italian film The Great Beauty is being released on Blu-ray & DVD through the Criterion Collection. After celebrating his 65th birthday, wealthy journalist Jep Gambardella (Toni Servillo) comes to question the meaning of the affluent life he has built for himself in Rome, having gained fame after publishing his only novel as a young adult.

The recent winner of Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars, director Paolo Sorrentino’s The Great Beauty is a visually beautiful film to watch, as the often leisurely paced story is told through a captivating mix of images and music. Although the style sometimes shines brighter than the real substance, the cinematography is striking throughout every scene, and the film looks gorgeous on Blu-ray.

The Blu-ray includes deleted scenes, a conversation with Paolo Sorrentino and new interviews with the lead actor and screenwriter. There is also a booklet featuring an essay by critic Phillip Lopate.

The Great Beauty is 142 minutes and rated 14A.

-John Corrado