House of Gucci Movie Review Exclusive: Lady Gaga-Adam Driver Film Is High On Fashion, Short Of Eloquence
Reviews
oi-Shweta Parande
By Johnson Thomas
Eighty-three-year-old
film
director
Ridley
Scott's
attempt
at
boutique
drama
from
a
real
life
tale
of
dynasty,
greed,
treachery
and
murder
based
on
a
book
by
Sara
Gay
Forden
had
all
the
ingredients
for
a
gripping
dramatic
entertainer.
Unfortunately,
neither
the
elements
put
together
here,
the
A-list
actors
in
the
cast
nor
their
individually
notable
performances
come
together
as
a
compulsive
whole
in
House
of
Gucci
that
released
in
India
on
26
November
2021.
This
is
Magnum
Opus
specialist
Scott's
(after
the
2017
All
the
Money
in
the
World)
most
recent
attempt
at
telling
a
dramatic,
non-heroic
story.
It's
a
sweeping
take
on
the
events
that
led
to
the
extinction
of
dynastic
control
of
a
celebrated
fashion
empire
underlined
by
its
scandalous
history
of
backstabbing,
betrayal,
greed
and
murder.
When
Patrizia
Reggiani
(Lady
Gaga),
an
outsider
from
a
transport
business
background,
marries
into
the
Gucci
family,
Maurizio
Gucci
(Adam
Driver)
to
be
precise,
her
unbridled
ambition
begins
to
tear
down
the
family
legacy,
triggering
deceit,
revenge,
and
murder.
Performances
The
cast
of
A-listers
that
include
the
two
leads
alongside
Jeremy
Irons,
Al
Pacino,
Jared
Leto
turn
in
individualistic
performances
that
fail
to
mesh
into
a
consummate
whole.
Driver
gives
a
subdued,
internalised
and
nuanced
performance
while
Lady
Gaga
amps
it
up
to
the
point
of
camp.
Jared
Leto
appears
to
be
trying
too
hard,
Jeremy
Irons
as
Maurizio's
father
isn't
note
perfect
and
Al
Pacino
makes
flamboyance
his
meter.
Salma
Hayek
and
Camille
Cottin
have
little
to
do
here.
The
narrative
lacks
a
consistent
tone
and
this
causes
the
experience
to
fluctuate
between
two
extremes
-
a
somber-serious
drama
and
over-the-top-excess.
It
feels
as
though
Ridley
Scott
allowed
his
actors
to
have
the
final
say
while
directing
House
of
Gucci.
Technical
Aspects
The
standout
aspects
in
this
film
are
mostly
technical.
Arthur
Max's
meticulous
production
design,
Dariusz
Wolski's
couture
class
period
hugging
cinematography,
Janty
Yates
costumes
for
Lady
Gaga
and
Suiting
for
Driver
by
a
New
York
based
tailor.
Verdict
You
are
likely
to
look
in
awe
at
the
lavishness
of
the
Gucci
lifestyle
on
display
here
but
the
overall
experience
doesn't
quite
hit
the
right
notes.