She’s Bad, But Understandably So

Wall Street Journal snippet: “Gaga explained that she took into account how her long-time friend Tony Bennett ‘feels about Italians being represented in film in terms of crime’, and aspired to ‘make a real person out of Patrizia, not a caricature.'”

What’s left is a carefully measured ensemble piece that isn’t especially emotional or crazy or anything in that realm. House of Gucci isn’t a bad film — I was engrossed as far as it went — but right now only the whores are calling it a hoot. A Best Actress nomination for Lady Gaga, okay, but I wouldn’t bet on a Best Picture nomination. It might get there, but it’s a little too modest and carefully measured to qualify as any kind of envelope-pushing romp.