Movie Review

MOVIE REVIEW House of Gucci

By Gregory Gilston, Esq.

What do you get when you mix estate administration, corporate transactions, intellectual property, criminal tax evasion, divorce, child custody, and murder together with Al Pacino, Lady Gaga, and Adam Driver? You guessed it… the Gucci family legacy.

House of Gucci, released on November 24, 2021, was inspired by the shocking true story of the family behind the Italian fashion empire. This true-crime story is brought to life by director Ridley Scott. The plot of this film details the budding romantic relationship between Patrizia Reggiani (played by Lady Gaga) and Maurizio Gucci (played by Adam Driver). It goes on to shine a controversial light on the rise of the Gucci empire, and the failure of a marriage premised on greed and distrust.

The main character himself, Maurizio Gucci, is an aspiring lawyer in Italy at the beginning of the film. He falls in love with the film’s antagonist, Patrizia Reggiani, the daughter of a middle-class business owner with humble beginnings. Reggiani eventually marries into the Gucci family, and to the House of Gucci itself. At that point, the drama begins.

Throughout the film, there are quite a few twists and turns within the plot itself, all harkening back to Reggiani’s greed and thirst for good fortune. Along the way, Patrizia and Maurizio encounter a multitude of legal quandaries. At one point in the film, the married couple must work out kinks in the administration of the estate of Maurizio’s deceased father, Rodolfo Gucci (played by Jeremy Irons), after they find out that he never signed his shares of the company over to his son, despite bequeathing them to his son in his last will and testament. At another point in the film, the leader of the house of Gucci, Aldo Gucci (played by Al Pacino), is arrested in New York for criminal tax evasion. Later, the authorities end up putting a stop to a primetime fashion show put on by Maurizio’s cousin Paolo (played by Jared Leto) due to alleged copyright infringement and unauthorized use of the Gucci brand name. During the tumultuous breakup between Maurizio and Patrizia, we see the divorce play out in full, from the separation of the parties to the service of the pleadings, and eventually to arrangements being made for custody of their young daughter. Along the way we also witness attempts at corporate transactions, acquisitions, and attempted takeovers. And as with every good true-crime story, the film culminates in the murder of the main character, Maurizio Gucci, on March 27, 1995.

Throughout the entirety of the film, the characters truly endure a laundry list of legal issues stemming from deceit, chaos, and greed. With that in mind, these events, while intriguing, are overshadowed by the drawnout overindulgence of the film’s developing storyline.

For those seeking a thrill, House of Gucci is not for you. At times, the movie itself can seem extremely sluggish. Nevertheless, House of Gucci adds up to a captivating story – and Lady Gaga’s performance is elite to say the least. For those who like their soap operas, this film may hold its weight. And for all those who have dreamed of owning a belt with the double-G’s plated on the front in gold or silver, I recommend you watch this film, if not for pleasure and nostalgia, then to understand the fall from grace endured by the Gucci family.

Overall, my recommendation is as follows – if you have two and a half hours to spare on a rainy Sunday afternoon (which most lawyers do not), then give House of Gucci a chance.