House of Gucci

In advance of this year's Academy Award nominations, I'd like to compare two films, and share with you a new policy that I'm considering. The two films that I'd like to compare are Marriage Story (2019), and House of Gucci (2021). The first film stars Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson as an unhappily married couple who selfishly navigate their way through a messy divorce. The film was awkward, upsetting, and lacked any entertainment value. The only reason that I watched the entire film is because it was nominated for Best Picture, and I was holding out hope that maybe, just maybe it would end with some virtuoso closing sequence that would make it all worth while. The least the filmmakers could have done is give the film a truly dark ending, something memorable. Instead, if I can remember, we were given some sort of everything will be ok, even if no one's really happy ending.  The other film, House of Gucci has a similar premise; this time it's Adam Driver and Lady Gaga who are unhappily married and are heading towards divorce.  The difference is that this film was truly entertaining, and even though every single character was despicable, the presentation was compelling, and I wanted to see more.  I won't be surprised if House of Gucci is nominated for multiple Academy Awards, specifically in the acting categories, but I'd like to focus on my favorite three elements from the film:  1) The cinematography was rich, in the vein of The Godfather Part II, where somehow the blacks are deeper, the reds are all burgundy, and the forests are lush and foreboding.  2) I don't know Lady Gaga, so I don't know what her personality is really like, but I can tell you that it wasn't her in this film; somehow she embodied her character, and it was quite amazing.  3) Jared Leto made me laugh harder than I've laughed in a long time, and his character was the most tragic of the bunch.  

The policy I'd like to enact is no more Marriage Storys...  only House of Guccis.