House of Gucci
United Artists ReleasingWhile filmmaker Ridley Scott might be best known for his efforts dealing with large scale both in historical period pieces and science fiction thrillers, Scott has also shown a key backbone throughout his career of more grounded characters and political dramas. Just a handful of months after the release of The Last Duel, Scott is already back with the highly anticipated House of Gucci, which effectively blends these two identities. Taking the true story of the tactical Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga) who married into the successful Gucci family and forever changed their fates with a power-hungry eye for control, Scott elaborates onto a web of lies and ego to create a feature that, while messy, is ultimately thrilling.
Quickly becoming one of the most anticipated films of the year, there is no denying that House of Gucci owes many thanks to its ensemble cast both in appearance and realisation. When a cast includes the likes of Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Al Pacino, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons and Salma Hayek there are two almost guaranteed results: the first is that audiences around the world will have their eyes set on the project, the second is that the performances within the film are going to be great. Coming off her stellar coming out party in A Star is Born, Gaga is back with a vengeance in House of Gucci with an almost sadistic edge that is as captivating as it is genuinely terrifying. Precise in her small details while having the ability to emotionally blow up when needed, Gaga is fierce as Patrizia Reggiani and builds a captivating character that feels clear and layered.
From the first time Patrizia is introduced to Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver), there is a spark of potential seen within Gaga's eyes that speaks to the desperation her character has for power and control. While ultimately vile, it is hard not to see the tragedy of her character as she overplays her cards and sentences both herself and all those around her to a life of pain and sorrow. Words struggle to express the range and power Gaga has shown even in just the two feature performances she has taken on in recent years, and it is clear that if Gaga stays in the world of acting, she could prove to be one of the most talented performers working today.
Her evil plays incredibly well both against and with the already toxic establishment around her in the Gucci family. While Patrizia might master the system and ultimately expose its flaws, the world she walks into is one already defined by dysfunction and politics. Al Pacino gives one of the strongest performances seen from the actor in recent memory as he plays chess with the family below him. From the mysterious Jeremy Irons who lurks in the shadows to the foolish Jared Leto who is never given the love or respect he deserves, this family and their dynamics are complex yet captivating. While one might judge each individual for certain actions, the film carries the nuance to allow the audience to also empathise with them and feel for them as they slowly lose everything they have. Leto especially becomes one of the largest tragedies of the film, as his version of Paolo Gucci gets laughed at for his ideas and when pushed to do something morally questionable, gets hit with grief and regret.
Even more so than Paolo, the ultimate victim is that of Maurizio Gucci. Not just is the film framed around the build towards his eventual murder but he also is the largest fall from grace. Before Patrizia, Maurizio has found distance from the politics of his family and seems to be on the path to happiness, yet any of those emotions and aspirations are treated as jokes by Patrizia, eventually getting pushed into the very situation he so desperately was trying to avoid. He is charmingly innocent and doesn't understand the game he is part of until the very last moments before he is killed. While some might find these characters and their moral impurity difficult, they undeniably define the film – which becomes a tragedy in every regard.
No one survives or walks away from House of Gucci unscathed, including the brand itself. For anyone even somewhat familiar with the modern Gucci brand, a unique weight holds itself over the film. Now seen as charismatic and bright while offering a sort of modern revolution against gender norms and what fashion can be, there is a noticeable dichotomy between the Gucci brand seen within the film and its modern identity, which almost feels in line with Paolo's vision. This in of itself becomes a character of its own, as the Gucci brand – which was once known as a family company – becomes subject to Patrizia's games and eventually morphs into something new. In a way almost similar to Martin Scorsese's The Irishman, House of Gucci becomes a story defined by the weight of time and specifically the process of saying goodbye to the past and moving into the modern. Things once respected and safe are lost and damaged, for better or for worse. Patrizia didn't just commit a crime but caused massive waves if diastrophism to the world around her which still are being felt to this day.
While thematically it feels clear that House of Gucci has plenty to say, it is somewhat unfortunate that, at times, it struggles to manage its own voice. With countless characters, relationships, lies and time periods, House of Gucci threatens to bite off more than it can chew and even at a whopping 158-minutes feels under-baked in certain areas. The film can be messy and hard to fully follow, specifically when it comes to certain character motivations and how they grow over time. One has to wonder if a story of this size and magnitude would have benefited more from a mini-series layout, as it feels like a feature-length simply doesn't give it enough time to fully flesh itself out.
While the editing might be inconsistent, the film does feature other areas of technical achievement – mainly within its production and costume design. Even if the story isn't taking place in a medieval setting, it still is a period piece, and the film blends the elegance of this luxury family with the grittiness of the time it takes place in well. The costumes are stunning while the makeup and hairstyling work is second to none. These actors transform into their characters and it would be a shame not to see this side of the film not rewarded in the upcoming awards season.
While many might struggle with House of Gucci for its size and messy nature, the project still ultimately feels like a major success for Ridley Scott, who continues to prove that he is at the top of his game. The performances are incredible and it is hard not to feel a deep emotion as a result of the tragedy featured throughout the film's runtime. The film might be overall unrelenting and far from nice, but it still feels worthwhile and captivating for fans of more grounded family dramas who are willing to give effort to following the film and engaging with its more complex narrative.
