Lady Gaga steals the show in 'House of Gucci'

Film review: House of Gucci (15), Seen at The Light Cinema, Wisbech

Starring: Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, Jared Leto and Salma Hayek

Running time: 2h 38m Director: Ridley Scott

An absurd performance by Jared Leto as Paolo Gucci is luckily overshadowed by an acting masterclass by Lady Gaga in this hugely enjoyable biographical crime drama.

Leto portrays the one-time Gucci chief designer and son of founding father Rodolfo as a bumbling idiot, using an offensive accent and acting that leaves the viewer aghast.

Surely a film ‘based on true events’ shouldn’t play so much with someone’s legacy, especially when his daughter is still alive.

But Gaga more than makes up for Leto’s failings in her portrayal of Patrizia Reggiani, an outsider from humble beginnings who marries into the Gucci family in the late 1970s and becomes an integral part of the dynasty.

Sexy and playful in her pursuit of Maurizio Gucci – the son of other founder Aldo – she takes her character from youthful playfulness to hard-nosed ambition, and does it so believably.

And her performance just gets better as, after embedding herself in the heart of the family, her unrestrained ambition spirals the family into deceit, indulgence, revenge and murder.

Adam Driver is effortlessly cool as Maurizio and Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons play business founders Aldo and Rodolfo Gucci with all the realism you’d expect from such seasoned professionals.

Another old stager, Salma Hayek, also stars as medium and Patrizia’s confidante Pina Auriemma.

There’s some very funny moments too, such as a rampant sex scene between Patrizia and Maurizio accompanied by driving operatic music, and a moment when Alfonso is on the phone to the couple while enduring a painful massage.

Add in some great seventies and eighties music too and you’ve got an enjoyable watch.

By Jeremy Ransome

Rating: 8/10