'House of Gucci' review: Lady Gaga, Jared Leto deliver Oscar-worthy performances

MANILA, Philippines — After directing back-to-back films in 2017, director Ridley Scott returned in 2021 with another pair of features — medieval "Rashomon"-inspired "The Last Duel" and crime-drama "House of Gucci," which was released in Philippine theaters last week.

"House of Gucci" mainly follows Lady Gaga's Patrizia Reggiani in a doomed romance with Adam Driver's Maurizio Gucci that intertwines with gaining control of the famous Italian fashion brand Gucci. Beyond the tumultuous relationship of Patrizia and Maurizio, the film also dives into the bickering among members of the Gucci family and the resurgence of the Gucci brand.

The film struggles to juggle all these storylines in a well-paced manner, even with a runtime exceeding two-and-a-half hours, becoming instead a story that is larger than life because of melodramatic confrontations and exquisite clothing (as you would expect from a film with Gucci in its name).

Related: 'House of Gucci' now open for bookings

A portrayal that demands such ambition but still with a degree of esteem plays well into Lady Gaga's repertoire, who will definitely be eyed as gunning for the Best Actress Oscar that eluded her some time ago. She really leans into her vision of Patrizia and rattles anyone who views or comes across her.

The same cannot be said however for most of the star ensemble cast as they appear to be acting within the confines of their own story; an example of this is Al Pacino in a comical version of haughty past performances, and a very subdued Jeremy Irons.

Also subdued was Driver, who also appeared in "The Last Duel" as well as "Annette" earlier in 2021 (the latter being his best outing of the year), very timid in the presence of his fellow actors despite being very capable of matching their capacity when necessary.

The one who stands out apart from Gaga is Jared Leto, almost unrecognizable in his makeup for Paolo Gucci, as he commits to the ludicrousness of his portrayal and further provide for the film's outlandish identity for better or for worse.

But because of these inconsistent performances, it becomes enjoyable seeing Gaga and Leto (and at some points Pacino) revel in their displays of absurdity.

The film can take pride in such eye-catching costume design thanks in part to Janty Yates, especially in dressing up Gaga and Driver, as well as to Gucci itself for providing their vast wardrobe.

In general, "House of Gucci" overemphasizes a tragic and resurgent tale that could have piqued the interests of many, but thanks to experts in the sensational like Gaga and Leto, it did not lose touch of flair and fashion.

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