Anthony's Film Review - House of Gucci (2021)

An engaging epic family drama, brought to life by fine cast performances...

If you've ever been to shopping malls, high-end department stores, or luxury shopping districts, you'll recall plenty of designer brand names for clothes, fashion accessories, fragrances, jewelry, and other items that supposedly boost one's social status and class. Now here's an interesting question to consider: have you ever been curious about the people behind those brand names? Take, for example, the designer brand name Gucci. When you hear that name, you may think of signature handbags, shoes, and clothes with the Gucci label. But have you ever stopped to think about who Gucci, the person, is? Well, if you do some research, you'll know that Gucci is the name of an Italian family that ran this luxury business for decades.

The 2021 film House of Gucci is a cinematic drama that focuses on a specific period of the Gucci dynasty, from the late 1970s to the late 1990s. This was essentially the heyday of the Gucci empire, when great successes already achieved before paved the way for even greater opportunities for wealth. However, it was also the time of the business's decline. When I say "decline," I don't mean collapse into bankruptcy. Rather, I am referring to how bitter conflicts within the Gucci family ultimately spelled the demise of their holding of the business. The Gucci brand still exists today, but with no members of the Gucci family left in its ownership. It's a business success story that still conceals a darker tale.

Naturally, let's start talking about the principal young member of the Gucci family: Maurizio Gucci. As portrayed by Adam Driver in a fine immersive performance, Maurizio is a seemingly quiet and reserved businessperson, taking business matters seriously. But he is also a human being with feelings. He doesn't wish to have his life and career be so restricted to what the Gucci family achieved previously. This is especially true when he falls in love with and marries Patrizia Reggiani, played by Lady Gaga in a memorable performance. Patrizia may not come from a rich family like the Guccis, but she does love Maurizio the moment she sets her eyes on him.

The film also centers on three other members of the Gucci family. Rodolfo Gucci, Maurizio's father played by Jeremy Irons, has grown old after a successful career as an actor in Italian cinema, but he also warns of possible danger with having Patrizia marry into the family. Aldo Gucci, the brother of Rodolfo played by Al Pacino in another fine career performance, is essentially the brains of the Gucci empire at this point in time. Paolo Gucci, the son of Rodolfo played by Jared Leto in a rather good performance, is talented in fashion design, but whether his ideas will help or hurt the Gucci name remains in question.

I'm sure you noticed that I mentioned positive cast performances multiple times. Well, it's true. The cast members really do deliver solid performances. It's amazing how the costumes and makeup, plus the actors' accents, make the cast members be convincing on screen as native Italians. This is true even for the stars who are not of Italian descent at all. Yes, it's rather easy to forget that Jeremy Irons is English, not Italian, when he is playing Rodolfo Gucci. Same goes for Adam Driver, who doesn't have Italian blood as far as my cursory research could tell. in fact, I forgot to mention one other key supporting cast member: Salma Hayek as Pina Auriemma, a psychic whom Patrizia seeks advice from and befriends. Yes, an actress of Mexican descent playing an Italian woman.

Even though the whole cast is great, I still reserve my biggest praise for Lady Gaga. It is her performance and the character she plays that drive the whole movie. Patrizia Reggiani seems so beautiful and innocent in the beginning, but once she gets involved in Gucci's business affairs, she takes control. Her stubbornness with ensuring the business doesn't fail only results in needless conflict among members of the Gucci family. As problems mount, she gradually gets crazier, without ever stopping to realize that all of this is her doing. There are plenty of intense emotions with this character, and Lady Gaga excels at portraying them strongly. In the months following this film's release, she will likely earn some acting award nominations.

This isn't to say that the story in House of Gucci is sensationalized. If anything, the whole presentation feels down to earth. The drama is straightforward without any hint of embellishment. The dialogue is often on the quieter side, but it tells so much about what is happening and what the characters are feeling and thinking. Even in the more dramatic moments, it never feels overdone. Everything from beginning to end is presented just right.

House of Gucci is directed by Ridley Scott, a talented director attached to many notable films over several decades. This is another fine movie in a list of good Ridley Scott movies. Under his direction, this film tells a fascinating story about a dramatic period of the Gucci empire's history. It's done in a way that anyone interested in drama will surely enjoy this one. It doesn't matter if anyone in the audience is a fan of Gucci products, has ever bought a Gucci item, or has never heard of the brand name Gucci. All you need to do is relax and enjoy the ride of this family drama. The House of Gucci has quite a story to tell.

Anthony's Rating:

For more information about House of Gucci, visit the Internet Movie Database.