November 27, 2021 – Wonderful performances by top Hollywood actors highlight this over-the-top drama with comic overtones. It is loosely based on the history of the tumultuous, rich, Guccis and the Gucci family fashion business that remains influential.

I did not know much about the Gucci family before seeing this film, but I did some research afterward, and it really is quite an outlandish story, featuring some outrageous characters. The movie, based on the 2001 book “The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed” by Sara Gay Forden, is even more outrageous than real life. It is a real soap opera, featuring bigger than life, loud, quarrelsome characters.

The central characters in this busy drama are Patrizia Reggiani (played by Lady Gaga) and Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver of “Marriage Story”). Patrizia, a social climber, pursues and catches Maurizio, who marries her, despite warnings from his father, Rodolfo Gucci (Jeremy Irons of “Red Sparrow”) that he will be disowned from the family for doing so.

Maurizio is disowned by his father, but seems happy working for Reggiani's father, Fernando (Vincent Riotta). He tells his wife that he is happier in this more simple life than he ever was in the House of Gucci. His wife, however, is not satisfied being the wife of a Gucci without all the luxuries she expects from that title.

Patrizia schemes with Maurizio's uncle, Aldo Gucci (Al Pacino of “The Irishman”) to maneuver Maurizio back into the good graces of the Guccis. Aldo knows that his own son, Paolo Gucci (Jared Leto of “Suicide Squad”) is ill equipped to take over the reins of the business, but Maurizio is. Eventually, Maurizio's father takes his son back, and he inherits half of the Gucci business empire.

Tax troubles haunt both Maurizio and Aldo, who are both angling to take over the Gucci business. After some illegal practices and back-stabbing, Maurizio, with Patrizia's help, manages to wrest control of the Gucci business away from Aldo and his easily manipulated son, Paolo. These schemes result in Aldo being sentenced to prison and Maurizio fleeing to Switzerland to escape prosecution.

This dark tale gets even darker when Maurizio divorces Patrizia. She vows to get even. She plots her revenge with her friend, Pina Auriemma (Salma Hayek of “Eternals”) a fortune teller she first sees reading Tarot cards on a TV call-in show.

Meanwhile Maurizio, in financial trouble again, takes actions which result in most of the shares in the Gucci businesses going to a Bahrain-based investment group. He also begins an affair with Paola Franchi (Camille Cottin of “Stillwater”) which further infuriates his ex-wife, Patrizia. The story gets even darker after that.

Although there is tragedy in this story of greed, rivalries, betrayals, jealousy and anger, it is all so exaggerated as to be comical at times. Paolo and Patrizia, two people whose ambitions far exceed their talents, become comic characters in this tale. The same could have been said of Maurizio, but he was smart enough, and not blinded enough by ambition, to know that what he was doing to his own family was wrong.

This outlandish story is powered by some great performances by Lady Gaga, Al Pacino and Jared Leto (who literally disappears into his character as Paolo). Lady Gaga was nominated for an Oscar in “A Star Is Born” (2018) and she is even better in this movie.

Jared Leto might win another acting Oscar for this performance (with a boost from the kind of transformative makeup that sometimes leads to acting awards). The part of the larger-than-life Aldo Gucci is tailor-made for the iconic Pacino, and he nails it, just like he always does. Adam Driver gives a low-key performance as the enigmatic Maurizio Gucci.

Director Ridley Scott, of “All the Money in the World,” makes movies that look good, with good costume designs and sets. This film, about a fashion-conscious family, taking place in high-end homes and business board rooms, is no exception. Backed by a fine cast and a can't-miss story, Scott has what looks to be winner this awards season. This film rates a B.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in digital formats, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff (no extra charges apply). I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

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