Ridley Scott is a workaholic. Case in point? He has delivered two fantastic films this year in the span of a few months. Obviously, this is mainly because of the delays to the film industry as a result of the impact of the global pandemic, but still, my point stands. He is the master of creating dark and atmospheric worlds where nothing is what it seems, and he’s also great at bringing together talented actors with interesting pieces of source material as evidenced with his latest film House of Gucci.
The Gucci dynasty is a brand that a lot of people have heard of, but are unfamiliar with the business side of the industry. The Gucci family has been involved in a fair few scandals, and one of the most noteworthy ones was the murder of Maurizio Gucci, who is played by Adam Driver within this film. The film takes a sharp and focused look at the life of Maurizio Gucci, and Ridley Scott plays Adam Driver in a role that he has made comfortable in the past few years - that of an outsider. Maurizio marries Patrizia Reggiani, played by Lady Gaga, and from that point onwards a rollercoaster of events happens within the family business. To say more would spoil the film.
House of Gucci excels best when the cast is at each other’s heads, and seeing Jeremy Irons and Al Pacino argue over a family dispute is as watchable as it sounds. Jared Leto transforms himself into the outcast Gucci family member, Paolo Gucci, who wishes to change the way the company is seen. Surprisingly though, in a film with a lot of heavyweight and seasoned actors, it is Lady Gaga who shines the brightest and easily stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the rest of the cast.
The chemistry between the actors is a highlight of the film, but sadly that is the only highlight of the film. The story feels a bit too over-stretched, and the pacing feels off halfway through the film. The cinematography captures the 80’s spirit with elegance and the soundtrack roars to life every now and then with some 80’s classics. Unfortunately, though this distracts the film from the main story and this makes the ending seem a little anti-climatic.
★★★☆☆
3/5
House of Gucci is a solid film, and it is by no means a bad film. It’s an interesting watch and the actors inhabit the characters with ease. Ridley Scott knows how to pick them. Sadly, it just falls flat with not enough substance to keep you invested in the antics of the Gucci family. With all the sex, money, and scandals, House of Gucci does copy similar tropes to other films of this pedigree but in a less flashy way. It might not be remembered as much as Gladiator or Alien, but it is another decent film to have in Mr. Scott’s filmography.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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