By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
Lady Gaga, Jared Leto and Al Pacino are three of the biggest reasons why you should see
“House of Gucci,” the scandalous new drama from director
Ridley Scott (“The Last Duel”).
There are others who deliver big, memorable performances too like Salma Hayek who plays an eccentric TV psychic, Adam Driver, and Jeremy Irons. However, Gaga, Leto and Pacino really light up the screen. Lady Gaga has truly come into her own as an actress since her fantastic turn in “A Star is Born” with Bradley Cooper.
“House of Gucci,” from first time feature movie writer Roberto Bentivegna and Becky Johnston (Upcoming, TV movie “Salt”), is based on Sara Gay Forden’s 2001 book “The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed.”
The movie, set in the late 1970s, is a campy, ritzy extravagant spectacle. It centers around the ultra-wealthy Italian Gucci family and the fashion dynasty they created before greed, stupidity and murder nearly destroyed the iconic designer brand.
There is plenty of drama in the bizarro Gucci family, but things kick up several notches when Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga) enters their world. Despite a successful upbringing courtesy of her father’s trucking business, Patrizia has always wanted more and longs to be the center of attention.
She gets the opportunity of a lifetime when she attends a swanky party and meets Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver, “The Last Duel” and “Marriage Story”). A tall, lanky, and shy, yet charming guy. He’s the heir of the Gucci throne. Yeah, she smells the money and boy is she ready to reel him in. Did I mention Patrizia is charming too?
It doesn’t take long for Maurizio to discover her charms. Soon enough, Patrizia is meeting the family: Maurizio’s father, Rodolfo Gucci (Jeremy Irons, “Zack Snyder’s Justice League”). He’s not crazy about her, but his brother Aldo (a sensational Al Pacino, “The Irishman” and “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood”) who heads the Gucci businesses in New York, thinks she’s something special.
Looks are deceiving.
Once Patrizia has her hooks deep in Maurizio, she’s blinded by their fame and fortune. She wears it well. Those Gucci pantsuits, shoes and handbags all look fantastic on her.
Yet, Paolo Gucci (a marvelous Jared Leto, “Untitled Jared Leto/Joker Project”), Aldo’s dim-witted, balding, and fat son, doesn’t like this outsider weaseling her way into the family. He has dreams too. He wants to take the family clothing line to new heights, but no one is on board with his fashion ideas or even appreciates his sense of style. Aldo is disgusted by the ill-fitted, corduroy suits that Paolo designs and wears.
Meanwhile, things are unraveling between Patrizia and Maurizo. He’s moving on to someone else and Patrizia is left in the cold. There is a lot of money being spent too and not enough coming in. The family feuding has reached an all-time high. Greed and revenge are now consuming the Gucci family.
Something has to give, and tragically in the end it does.
“House of Gucci” is an absolute blast. It’s a fascinating, funny, and wildly entertaining crime drama with a killer cast.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays at 6:20 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Watch This Trailer For
"HOUSE OF GUCCI"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
