Thursday, April 28, 2022

GOOD NEW MOVIE -- HOUSE OF GUCCI:

The cast of House of Gucci
HOUSE OF GUCCI (2021). Director: Ridley Scott.

Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver) is smitten with the outgoing and ambitious Patrizia (Lady Gaga), and soon afterward they are married. Maurizio's father, Rodolfo (Jeremy Irons) isn't entirely taken with the union, but his brother, Aldo (Al Pacino) welcomes Patrizia and his nephew to New York. Then there's Aldo's son, Paolo (Jared Leto of Urban Legend), who is treated like a moron by his father, and who wants to design his own line. There are behind-the-scenes battles for control of the Gucci company, and then Maurizio has the temerity to have an affair and ask for a divorce. Patrizia is not going to take this lying down ... 

Lady Gaga was a determined Patrizia
House of Gucci is an entertaining and well-acted biopic and suspense story (even if you know the outcome) that holds the attention throughout its length. Lady Gaga is good, but I suspect there are other actresses who could have made more of the part. Driver and Leto (although he's initially over the top) are also quite good, but the pic is nearly stolen by a wonderful Pacino and especially Jeremy Irons as the father. If you're hoping to see some courtroom dynamics, be warned that the film ends rather abruptly with the arrest of certain parties -- you'll have to watch details of the murder trial on Dateline, which covered the story more than once.  

Verdict: Well, you may not rush out to buy a Gucci bag, but all the skullduggery in this is fascinating. ***1/4.  

at

2 comments:

  1. angelman66April 30, 2022 at 12:30 PM

    Interesting, Bill, yours is the first good review of this I have read or heard. I was interested initially then heard it wasn’t good. Now I will go with my instincts and see it, thanks to you. I love all the actors in it.
    - Chris

    ReplyDelete
  2. WilliamApril 30, 2022 at 12:52 PM

    I think you'll find that it has enough good acting and moves fast enough that it's entertaining, even if not a masterpiece. See it for Irons and Pacino, if nothing else.

    ReplyDelete