A few months ago, I saw the first trailer for House of Gucci. Upon hearing Lady Gaga’s fabulous Italian accent, coupled with the 80s soundtrack, I vowed that I would see it in theatres as soon as it opened. Thankfully, it was well worth the wait. House of Gucci keeps viewers on the edge of their seat and features phenomenal performances from every cast member.  

House of Gucci follows the Gucci fashion dynasty during the 1980s and 1990s, built on shaky family ties and at risk of financial ruin. Whilst studying to be a lawyer and falling in love with Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga), Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver) suddenly comes into the Gucci fortune after his father Rodolfo Gucci (Jeremy Irons) passes away. Now, faced with partial ownership of a fashion legacy, Maurizio and Patrizia begin to grow hungry for more control and power, threatening to tear the family apart. Featuring incredible direction by Ridley Scott, the film is an excellent representation of how money and power can cause people to manipulate and deceive to maintain it.  

Firstly, the production design portrays the time period very well. The sets, decorated by Letizia Santucci, beautifully contrast scenes set in Milan and New York City. The hair, makeup, and costuming (especially for Lady Gaga) do a great job hinting at the years passing as well. Costume designer Janty Yates hints at Patrizia’s changing character through her style. Her outfits get increasingly more expensive and feature more designer pieces as she jockeys for more power within the Gucci dynasty. In fact, the costumes are such an integral part of the film that they are currently on display in the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising Museum in Los Angeles.  

Besides the amazing work from the behind-the-scenes crew, Ridley Scott’s direction in this film is incredible. However, the direction would mean nothing without the phenomenal cast. Each cast member adds a new element to the film, and their performances are incredible, capturing each character’s descent into corruption. For instance, Driver portrays Maurizio Gucci’s development in a very subtle, understated manner without losing its emotional impact. Furthermore, Al Pacino (Aldo Gucci) and Jared Leto (Paolo Gucci) add some great charisma and a few light-hearted gags to the film.  

On the other hand, Lady Gaga approached her character of Patrizia Reggiani using a completely different approach from her co-stars. Gaga immersed herself in her character, going so far as to speak in Patrizia Reggiani’s heavy Italian accent even when she was off the movie’s set. This additional character development allows Gaga to expertly portray Patrizia’s thirst for power and gift for manipulation. Lady Gaga’s artistic abilities span far past her music, as her acting performance in this film is even stronger than her film acting debut in 2018’s A Star is Born. She is a gem in the already incredible cast, and her artistry is fascinating to watch. 

Overall, the movie is great, but my one criticism is its run time. House of Gucci sits at a little over two and a half hours long, making it a beast of a movie to watch. However, since it is based on a true story, it would have been difficult to shave off time without skipping over relevant details to the story.  

Despite its long run time, House of Gucci is an incredible film that is well worth a watch. The actors are phenomenal, and all the minute details come together to make a great movie. I would recommend this movie to anyone who is interested in fashion, crime, or to anyone who, like myself, simply worships the ground that Lady Gaga walks on. I give this movie 4.5/5 stars, and I promise on the Father, Son, and House of Gucci that you are going to love this film.