Mary Avalon

It was an engaging film mostly because of the ‘setting’ and ostensible ‘true story’ (somewhat, albeit with a few details omitted) of a famous come ‘fabulous’ family and their eventual fall in the world of fashion and glamour. I loved the main character Adam Driver-Gucci and his matter of fact style of acting where his character is subtle, yet (apparently?) driven/drives…. His acting is understated and one wonders if he is even ‘acting’, at all or is he just an extension of himself, meandering effortlessly through a script? Let’s have another one of those Adam Driver grins, shall we? This is meant as a compliment though because on the other hand; it IS difficult to make ones character believable, though not sure if he covered the complexity of the Gucci character? I still enjoyed watching him. And Lady Gaga was ‘interesting’ in her portrayal of an ambitious heiress-wanna-be who while ‘overdone and exaggerated’ as the archetypical Italian somehow conveys a sense of vulnerability and excessive greed…a bizarre conundrum wrapped up into one personality. She does an OK job of juxtaposing the two extremes albeit again, with predictable stereotype and campy accent! And, hello, I could not for the life of me even fathom (aside from the obvious financial) why the films director did not use Italian actors who actually speak Italian! The film was about an Italian dynasty -maybe Italians (who actually live in Italy)are better at depicting themselves! They didn't mean to ‘dumb it down’ I’m guessing for surely they know we’re all proficient ‘at’ subtitles. But of course it’s SO easy to criticize and review AFTER the fact. Would we/I have had any of these insights WHILE the film was being shot? Maybe, but who am I? I’m just a ‘bum off the street’ no over ever listens to me. Onward, ever onward.

I almost dislike the cliché as much as the actual culprit, but the way violence and aggression are emphasized as appropriate conflict resolution is, well, not appropriate to my way of thinking. Someone, somewhere HAS to start depicting non-violent problem solving in film! I know this is not a popular view! But can some filmmaker somewhere please take a stand: let’s evolve beyond the reptilian brain and what is now known as the “old” brain! And yes the novel has violent themes but Herbert explores many themes -- can those be discussed / provided screen time as well? And like a lot of big budget films, this one was recorded LOUD! If I had known I would have brought ear plugs! I had to plug my ears with my fingers for lack of another remedy (popcorn inadequate; ) and remove them when levels went quiet. I mention this because I have significant hearing loss and hope to save others from such losses. The sets are spectacular but austere, and literally very dark - its almost as though one needs to fill in the blanks with an imaginary script, “where were the barrage of projectiles in the lower corner going anyway”? And like many action packed sci fi films, special effects and violence overwhelms and overshadows whatever subtilty their might be. The lead roles are well cast - we can’t have too many women as leads but the ongoing (extreme) closeups with emphasis on violent problem solving (yes we know this is where civilization has been for x-number of years) once again detracts and does not support some of the novels other topics and are especially disconcerting, especially at this time. I’m not necessarily discouraging anyone from seeing it but do suggest questioning how violence and cruelty are continually romanticized as a way of narrating selfhood. And yes I know violence sells but, it’s OK to have a dissenting view and create the change that we hope to (someday) see in the world (universe).