House of Gucci (2021)

This sparkling pot-boiler, based on the true story of the plot to murder an heir to the fashion company, is good fun, with amazing costumes and over-the-top performances, set to disco music.

Lady Gaga, as the scheming Patrizia Reggiani Gucci, and Jared Leto, as her crazy cousin-in-law Paolo Gucci, may have been snubbed by the Oscars, but they plus the entire ensemble have been nominated by their peers in the Screen Actors Guild. And Adam Driver as Patrizia's husband Maurizio, Jeremy Irons as his father Rodolfo, Al Pacino as Rodolfo's brother Aldo (Paolo's father), and Salma Hayek as the psychic Pina, all contribute. Those who watched the Netflix series Call My Agent might recognize Camille Cottin, who here plays blonde Paola, first introduced on the ski slopes.

Ridley Scott directs from the screenplay by Becky Johnston and Roberto Bentivegna, based on the 2004 book House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed by Sara Gay Forden. Various members of the Gucci family have published memoirs, some of which are quoted in this spoiler-laden article.

Composer Harry Gregson-Williams' music is given short shrift on the Apple Music soundtrack album, which contains lots of the pop and disco songs. If you like Donna Summer, etc., you'll be happy with it. I also got a kick out the Italian language cover of the Monkees' I'm a Believer. The album's last track is Gregson-Williams' instrumental "Score Suite." 

Cinematographer Dariusz Wolski brings us gorgeous locations and interiors, all shot in Italy.

The costume department, headed by Janty Yates, is nominated by their peers in the Costume Designers Guild and elsewhere, and the hair and makeup staff has the movie's only Oscar nomination (here's an article about it) which goes to, I believe Jana Carboni. I also enjoyed the production design, led by Arthur Max.

Gaga was last blogged for A Star Is Born, Driver for Annette, Irons for Their Finest, Pacino for The Irishman, Leto for Blade Runner 2049, Hayek for Beatriz at Dinner, Scott for All the Money in the World, Gregson-Williams for Penguins, and Wolski for News of the World.

Rotten Tomatoes' critics aren't very stylish with a 63% average, while its audiences, at 83, are more trendy.

I was excited to see it, so I bought it on iTunes on February 4. Buyers get a few extras. It will be available to rent on the 22nd.