House of Versace

2013 "Every Empire has a Fall and Rise"
5.7| 1h25m| en
Details

Based on Wall Street Journal reporter Deborah Ball’s widely-read book "House of Versace: The Untold Story of Genius, Murder, and Survival", the movie brings to light the story of Donatella, who, following the brazen murder of her brother, world-renowned designer Gianni Versace (Colantoni) at the height of his success, is suddenly thrust into the spotlight as head designer of his fashion empire. At first ridiculed by critics worldwide, Donatella falls victim to drug addiction and nearly bankrupts the company. With the help of her family, including daughter Allegra, Aunt Lucia (Welch) and brother Santo (Feore), she enters rehab to confront her demons and soon comes back stronger than ever to re-ignite the beloved Versace brand with her own vision and builds one of the most powerful and influential fashion houses ever known.

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Reviews

Lawbolisted Powerful
Contentar Best movie of this year hands down!
Baseshment I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.
Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.
evgenidilov I've always wanted the watch this movie, but I never got the chance... until HBO decided to air it. Well, it turns out that it was worth the wait. The movie is just incredible and it tells a breath-taking personal story that amazes the viewers. The cast is well chosen. Gina Gershon is flawless in her role as Donatella. She's got the look and all the gestures the leading lady of Versace always does. The thing that definitely got me speechless was the voice and the accent of Gina who imitated Donatella's strong voice unbelievably good. The scene of her passing out after she found out Gianni is dead was one of the moments when I asked myself if it really is possible to have that much talent. The fashion, the lush life of the celebrities, the paparazzi... everything is done in the right away. I absolutely recommend the movie to anyone who thinks that can appreciate it and get acquainted with the heartbreaking story of the Versace family.
temps_perdu ...that it shows how the mind of a deluded, dumb narcissist works. Every second of this ludicrous "movie" screamed "Donatella was here and controlled everything from the script to the acting and most of all made sure that everything was about HER". The result of this obvious intervention is a complete and utter failure. A script that would've been written better by a mentally impaired child, horrendous acting, homely "models" who couldn't walk or pose, badly, badly recreated clothes and, worst of all, the amateurish direction of Sara Sugarman."House of Versace" is a two-hour masturbation of a stupid and narcissistic woman who has hired (and controlled - badly) a team to make a film about HER (nothing to do with Versace or reality at all). It is a sordid fantasy of a self-absorbed débile, in which she is this perfect creature even in her faults and where everyone exists as an extension of herself, performing the function of adoring her, admiring her and forgiving her when she needs it. Sounds ridiculous? That's because it was. My words fail me to express how ridiculously bad it all was. Cliché after cliché. I give it the lowest rating I can.
kosmasp This TV movie based on the Versaces and their "relationship(s)" is nicely told. Of course there is an inciting incident with the husband (you might know what will happen, but it's about the reactions from others, especially his wife that drives this movie along). But we get a lot of other people who are somehow involved in all this.Gina Gershon goes all in with this. And she's not afraid to show darker sides and vulnerability. Actually at times it is hard to feel any sympathy for her Versace (portrayal). But then again, do not forget, she's a human being fighting against adversary. That's not an easy thing to do. It's almost as difficult as a leopard trying to change his spots. A TV movie/drama of the week, based on and around a tragic event
cinemaniac2002 I have a confession to make. I think that fashion is basically banal. I mean, how much of fashion just isn't recycled over and over again. Not that anyone cares, but I also watch Fashion Police on E! – but only to hear Joan Rivers rip all those celebrities to shreds – that only she can do. h Is there ever really any originality in fashion? I suppose fashionistas would argue otherwise. But all of that is really beside the point. So the main reason I even watched this film was to see how Gina Gershon handled the role of the woman who basically took over the "creative vision" of one of the most edgy designers of our time – perhaps any time.Given the lack of complexity of fashion itself and what it stands for – the shear shallowness of it all – I thought the writers and actors did a very good job of rendering an interesting film. Gershon captured that cartoonish quality that women like Donatella have – that ridiculous way of taking herself way too seriously. I mean, it's only clothes. I suppose all these high priced designers hinge upon the latest celebrities wearing their stuff - but given that they already had the connections – seems like a bit of a slam dunk. So why on earth they act like they are performing heart surgery is beyond me. Oh, wait! That's what a large portion of anyone who works in entertainment does. Been a long time since I lived in LaLaland – so it's easy to forget. Especially when that is what you are trying to do.Many designers and creatives have a jerky side, and neither the Gianni nor the Donatella characters disappoint in that regard. The sniping between them is believable --- especially given how big their egos must have been at the time.However, the one thing that surprised me was how callous Gianni turned out to be – leaving everything to Donatella's daughter, Allegra – rather than to his sister. All in all – campy, vapid good fun and a great source of guilty pleasure. Thanks, Lifetime!