Vogue
Will House of Gucci be good? Will it be great? Is it camp? Is murder chic? Ridley Scott’s biographical epic is almost here to answer all our questions about the notorious murder in the family of one of the greatest and most revered fashion houses. But enough about them – our focus, for now, is on the stars bringing such a story to life.
The stakes are high and this cast is wild – if you don’t have time to read the book (or, you know, do a quick Google of the history of the events), here’s a nicely curated watchlist to get you in the right frame of mind to watch House of Gucci, thanks to each key player’s back catalogue.
Lady Gaga
Role in House of Gucci: Patrizia Reggiani
Relevant homework: The ‘Telephone’ music video
Yes she almost (and should have) won an Oscar for her first major film role as Ally in A Star Is Born, but the theatricality on show in the music video for megahit ‘Telephone’ (ft. Beyoncé, no less) is surely Gaga’s crowning jewel when it comes to considering her prep for the role of Patrizia. High fashion, high drama.
Adam Driver
Role in House of Gucci: Maurizio Gucci
Relevant homework: Marriage Story
What is House of Gucci if not the story of a marriage gone terribly wrong? We could have gone for another one of Driver’s more tight-lipped turns in Paterson, but then we take homework seriously. Driver’s performance as Charlie in Noah Baumbach’s portrait of a divorce finds him at his most vulnerable and compelling, something Maurizio could probably learn from. Plus, he punches a wall.
Al Pacino
Role in House of Gucci: Aldo Gucci
Relevant homework: The Godfather: Part II
Chairman of the house, new Don of the family. The connection couldn’t make sense for Aldo Gucci to spiritually nod to Michael Corleone, Pacino’s character - and finest performance of his career - who fully comes into his own in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1974 epic sequel. I’m also pretty sure he probably wears the exact same fits.
Jeremy Irons
Role in House of Gucci: Rodolfo Gucci
Relevant homework: Assassin’s Creed
Someone definitely kills, right?
Jared Leto
Role in House of Gucci: Paolo Gucci
Relevant homework: American Psycho
Look, I don’t know. Any one of Jared Leto’s roles could have worked for this because this performance is simply unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. So we’re staying literal, with something of a concerned question and bold statement. Hopefully we can simply learn from Patrick Bateman’s mistakes instead of taking them as instructions.
Salma Hayek
Role in House of Gucci: Pina Auriemma
Relevant homework: Frida
Pina Auriemma was a “clairvoyant” friend of Patrizia, who was later sentenced to 25 years in prison for allegedly organising the killing of Maurizio. Frida Kahlo was a surrealist, magical realist painter who turned her pain into art. Maurizio’s pain and death, here, sure has provided some art. I’ll let you connect the dots.
Camille Cottin
Role in House of Gucci: Paola Franchi
Relevant homework: Killing Eve
Someone definitely gets killed, right?
House of Gucci is in UK cinemas now.
Ella Kemp is the editor of Storyboard. She also writes for NME, Empire, Letterboxd and more, and her favourite word is “verklempt” because it’s what she often is.
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