House of Gucci

Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga) has done it: she has won the heart of Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver). With the marriage, she manages to climb the social ladder and becomes part of the famous fashion dynasty. While Maurizio's father Rodolfo (Jeremy Irons)is hostile to the union, Patrizia manages to get his business-minded brother Aldo (Al Pacino) on her side. And so she soon plays an important role in the Guccis' business, which Maurizio, of all people, increasingly views with suspicion...

With "House of Gucci", Ridley Scott has staged a drama full of intrigue and secrets based on true events, which is carried by a great ensemble. In front of picturesque backdrops, as well as supported by great equipment and a great soundtrack, stars like Lady Gaga, Adam Driver and Al Pacino perform at their best. Watching them is simply fun, even if the film in itself is not without its weaknesses. The biggest problem I had was with the sound of the film. I often couldn't tell if the whole thing was supposed to be a satire or a serious drama. Especially Jared Leto, who is unrecognizable behind his makeup, plays so over the top that it simply can't be serious. On the other hand, there are many moments that have a serious, almost somber tone. This may not quite fit together at times, making the production seem a bit indecisive.

Despite this, even if the film is far from perfect, "House of Gucci" is at least one thing: damn entertaining. The film draws its audience into the whole family drama, so that you are simply riveted and hardly notice the nearly three hour running time. Yes, there are parts that seem repetitive and yes, here and there Scott - who has spoken in an interview of the possibility of a longer director's cut - could well have applied the scissors without detracting from the story itself. On the contrary. But even if there are minor lengths, these - like the other weaknesses - are skillfully made up for by the visual language and the great ensemble. I admit: The fashion world does not interest me so at all and yet this excursion into the world of the Gucci empire was never really boring for me.

With "House of Gucci", Ridley Scott once again proves his versatility as a filmmaker and his talent for getting absolute best performances out of an already top-notch cast (even if, in my opinion, Jared Leto would have done well with a little more subtlety in his acting). The film is a wild mix of soap, satire and drama, for which I can give a "Absolutely Worth Seeing" with conviction, despite many criticisms.

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp