I’m breaking with the usual traditions on this website by running a second piece on Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci, which finally appears on DVD this week from Feb 22nd onwards. Why? Initial reviews can only say so much; part of what makes this film so interesting is that the protagonist, Patricia Reggiani, turns out to be a murderer, so this isn’t the usual virtue-signalling awards fare, and that’s a spoiler that wasn’t ripe for discussion back in November. So a think piece is in order, if only to harness some of my continued enthusiasm for this film; I’d reviewed it as a four star film, but it really should have been a five, and I’m happy to take the opportunity to correct myself.
House of Gucci was probably the only adult-orientated hit movie of 2021; selective audiences generally stayed away from everything but Bond and Spiderman, yet the mercurial presence of Lady Gaga seemed to be lure enough to make this a worldwide hit ($150 million+ wordwide), albeit not on the scale that it would without the restraints of pandemic restrictions. Gaga may have shocked her little monster fans by playing a role so different from her A Star is Born breakout, but her ambition should be applauded; while her character here is less likable, it’s an absolute powerhouse performance that netted her everything but the Oscar nomination it fully deserved. The sunglasses, the furry hats, the accessories are all on point, and Scott’s film does wonders by showing that hell really has no fury like a woman scorned. Adam Driver excels in a skilfully underplayed role as the taciturn Maurizio Gucci, but it’s the gallery of support that supercharge this. Al Pacino raises the roof as an old-school hustler Aldo, and Jared Leto’s widely disparaged turn as the hapless Paulo is exactly as it should be; a deliberate call-back to Italian clowning traditions. Seen doing a classic music-hall knock-kneed dance in the DVD extras, he’s the diametric opposite of Gaga’s stealthy shark. Patricia Gucci’s head is turned by the cut-throat world of designer clothes, but her moral descent from a little light signature-forging to full-blown murder makes for a fascinating two and a half hours; this is the ‘alchemy of the actor’ that Gaga describes.
This DVD release comes with copious extras; behind the scenes content The Rise of the House of Gucci, The Lady of The House looks specifically at Gaga’s ‘engine of creativity’, and Styling The House of Gucci looks into the film’s remarkable visual aesthetic created by costumer Janty Yates amongst others. That Oscar snub is a massive missed opportunity for the Academy to platform the best female performance of the year, although with Jennifer Hudson’s work in Respect also missing, she’s in good company. Awards are meant to highlight excellence in cinema rather than streaming, and despite the Gucci’s family’s unhappiness about the film’s content, Lady Gaga was surely the victim of a genuine crime here; she’s a shining light in a witty, vicious, intelligent film about the corrosive meeting of past and present; this DVD is 2022’s must-have fashion accessory.
They should insist Oscar-nominated movies need a minimum gross to qualify. Power of the Dog worldwide gross to date $54,000.
The gross is one way to do it, although your point is well-made. 45 days in cinemas without streaming would be my yard-stick…
The old deal was one week in one cinema in LA before the end of the year. But the assumption always was it would get a wider release later or if crushed by critic and ignored by the public quietly disappear. Various people tried to dupe the system. For a start you need a cinema willing to play ball and one important movie – I forget which – failed because the cinema it played was just outside the LA boundary.
But when you allow streaming companies to four-wall their product, that system/rule really doesn’t apply. I’d say after the Oscar this year, they really should revise the guidelines…
Forgot about the four-walling aspect although it’s worth remembering that WB initially four-walled The Exorcist and UA Last Tango in Paris.
Hooray for the five-star movie.
Correctamundo.
I picked up a copy of the book. Think I’ll read that first.
The book is interesting but not as as good as the film.
I can imagine that; Scott brings a lot to the table.
You can also see where he was a bit liberal with the truth. Turned out Maurizio also used the services of a Pina.
That’s interesting, no hint of that in the film…
Quite a lot that’s different from the book but from a dramatic perspective you can see why the film is the way it is.
5 Stars? Sold! I missed this when it got a very limited release in Japan. Need to remedy that, it seems. Cheers for the heads up!
And I’ve watched it several times, repeated viewing= worthwhile purchase. Money back if not satisfied.
Seen it four times at the cinema so agree it is extremely worthwhile.
Is the correct answer.
So who did get the Oscar that should have been Gaga’s? Think I’ll have to see this at some point.
Penelope Cruz? Olivia Coleman? Great actresses, sure, but carrying a massive film like this is something else.
I didn’t see their movies either.
My point exactly. Olivia Coleman was in The Lost Daughter, which has a minimal cinema release and went straight to Netflix; it’s no more a cinema film than Match of the Day. Cinema awards should be for films that run for 45 days in cinema. Fact!
Extra’s on disc are so important. I was extremely disappointed by the paltry selection on the new Dune bluray 🙁
So while I am not interested in this movie, I am intrigued why this got extas and a movie like Dune really didn’t.
Do you know, you’re right. I’ve had access to Dune via the BAFTA player for the last four months, but that grinds to a halt in a few weeks. I’ll get a blu-ray, watch the extras, and publish a review of what I find. To be honest, I was hanging back for one of these triple play ones, although I do note there’s a rare 3D version which sounds interesting…bagpipes and space mice in 3D!
3d space bagpipes. What more could one ask for?
A box of 3D caramels, that’s what!
😉
Aren’t they always 3D?
Not the ones you showed in that old cadbury ad…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ4Cktg4fFY
Oh man, cadbury’s fruit and nut chocolate bars are the best! Mrs B gets me one every Easter…
I knew that YOU would be a fruit and nut case.
One of the many reasons I still wonder about me 😀
Correctamundo.
Cowabunga dude. I think a 3D space pizza would make everything better for you today. Here you go:
https://craves.everybodyshops.com/wp-content/uploads/spacepizzafeature-1024×683.jpg
Are these the only toppings you have?
If this was my blog there would be other toppings. but it’s pretty dark humor, especially for this light and fluffy post.
Anchovies?
That’s not dark, that’s just gross!
Seriously, where are these people who like anchovies on their space pizzas? I’ve yet to meet one…