Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Al Pacino, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, Salma Hayek
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Runtime: 158 mins. Reviewed in Jan 2022
Reviewer: Peter W Sheehan

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Rating notes: Strong sex scene

This film is based on the life of Patrizia Reggiani, who was accused, and convicted of orchestrating the assassination of her ex-husband, Maurizio Gucci, the former head of the ‘House of Gucci’ in Italy. It is based loosely on real events, and is a high fashion, crime drama.

This American biographical crime movie is based loosely on the book, The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed published in 2000 by Sarah Gay Forden. It tells the story of Patrizia Reggiani, who was convicted of arranging the assassination of her ex-husband, Maurizio Gucci, the former Head of the Gucci fashion house in Italy, and who was the grandson of the founder of the Gucci brand, Guccio Gucci. Forden’s book was used as inspiration for the film’s script by screenwriter, Roberto Bentivegna. Patrizia Reggiani was released after serving 18 years for her crime.

The film reflects predominantly the corporate goings-on in the empire behind the Italian House of Gucci, and it focuses on the rise and fall of Patrizia Reggiani, who coveted control of the Gucci fashion brand as Maurizio’s chief adviser. Pacino, Leto and Irons play members of the litigious-prone Gucci family. Pacino is especially impressive as a key historical figure in the growth and shifting decline of a global fashion empire.

Maurizio and Patrizia quickly establish the life of a glamorous international jet-setting, power-couple. The Gucci brand depicted in the movie allowed access to Gucci wardrobe archives for costuming used in the film, and Lady Gaga wears Gucci clothes in the movie with enormous style. Patrizia rose to fame as an Italian socialite, and together with Maurizio, was largely instrumental in turning the Gucci brand into a world-famous luxury enterprise. After Patrizia married Maurizio Gucci in 1973, the couple pursued control of the Gucci fashion house, and fought battles along the way with other Gucci family members for control of the Gucci brand.

The relationship between the couple soured when Maurizio leaves her for another woman, and sells Gucci to a rival firm, following a number of bad investment decisions, that angered Patrizia. In 1993, all family control by the Gucci family was effectively gone. Patrizia hired a hitman to murder her husband (compellingly acted by Adam Driver), before he married his mistress. In March 1995, Maurizio (aged 46) was gunned down on the steps of his office in Milan. Patrizia received a 29-year prison sentence for playing a key part in his murder, but was released from prison 11 years early, following an attempt to take her own life.

Driver and Lady Gaga bring heat and passion to their performances on screen. The Gucci fashion label is displayed magnificently in the movie, and Lady Gaga, as expected, adds stunning jewellery to nearly all her fashion dressing (even when skiing) with striking effect. Lady Gaga delivers a powerhouse performance as Patrizia, which reinforces her 2019 Oscar nomination for Best Actress in A Star is Born.

Scott, is well known for his mastery in directing sinister forces and villainous intent (as in Blade Runner, 1982), and was obviously attracted by Patrizia Reggiani being labelled ‘Black Widow’ by the Italian media, which covered her trial.

This drama is concerned intimately, and at times impersonally, with status, high fashion, corporate scheming, and money played out in real time.

Lady Gaga acts Patrizia Reggiani with panache, helped by a witty film script with stand-out one-liners. This is escapist melodrama with luxury clothes thrown in for good measure, and Ridley Scott’s direction conveys malevolence, that links dramatically with the self-centred world of high fashion where fashion glorifies wealth. The film communicates a fascinating story about corporate, empire building of a brand that has been, and still is, instantly recognisable world-wide.