Chrisy
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 | Subject: The Cook the Thief His Wife & Her Lover (1989)  Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:09 am | |
| The Cook the Thief His Wife & Her Lover (1989) From Peter Greenaway Imdb - Quote :
- The wife of an oafish restaurant owner becomes bored with her husband and considers an affair with a regular patron
Great movie  Very artistic movie with a very particular and original atmosphere, loved it  The way it is filmed with the characters going from a room to another, the details, the dialogues... Everything is really nice - Spoiler:
And actually if you look good, you will notice that the color of the custumes from the wife change when she changes room
A delicious dark comedy    Contains Spoiler - Quote :
- One of the most controversial directors working today, Peter Greenaway made a huge splash in the U.S. with this 1989 offering. A virtual feast for the eyes - many of the scenes look like they were copied directly out of Art 101 textbooks - this films suffers greatly in its television presentation. Greenaway's canvas, removed from the big screen, becomes condensed and one is unable to appreciate the scope and beauty of the images as they would in the theater. Greenaway has gone on record as saying, "If you want to tell stories, be a writer, not a filmmaker," so with that attitude what can one expect watching this on the telly where story has to compensate for diminished picture? Well, how about a revenge fantasy?
Albert Spica (Michael Gambon, TOYS) is the worst sort of fella, a loud, violent, nasty-tempered ass of a criminal. He gets his way through force and nothing short of force. The film opens with an unfortunate chef, though not the Cook, being stripped naked, his body smeared with dog feces and being forced to ingest the foul matter. Stripping the man of his dignity while simultaneously verbally abusing his chain-smoking wife, Georgina (Helen Mirren, O LUCKY MAN!), Mr. Spica is at the top of his game. From his initial triumph of brutality over the small man he makes his way into the restaurant where his favorite cook, Richard Borst (Richard Bohringer, TANGO), is preparing an entr�e. Mr. Spica makes his intention of extortion well known to Mr. Borst, but the Cook seems less then intimidated by the suggestion.
Inside the restaurant Mr. Spica and his wife dine on fine food, all the while Mr. Spica making off-color references, loudly, about anything that comes to mind. Unbeknownst to this Thief, his wife is making eyes with another patron, her soon to be lover (Alan Howard, OXFORD BLUES). The two start sneaking off to engage in love making right under Mr. Spica's nose, a love affair that's doomed from the start.
Truly a treat for the eyes, THE COOK, THE THIEF, HIS WIFE, AND HER LOVER, if nothing else, is a visual masterpiece. Greenaway handles his images like a Renaissance painter one can almost see the crack of oil paint on the screen. There is a clever device of having Helen Mirren's clothes change color as she moves from room to room emphasizing the tone of the moment. Every frame is carefully planned down to continuity errors. (Greenaway finds continuity boring.)
The actors are practically dancing in the highly choreographed scenes, placing their bodies in intriguing positions that recall gothic artwork. The acting is topnotch. Helen Mirren, always a delight, subtly conveys the actions of a women falling in love and eventually being pushed over the edge. Michael Gambon's Thief is an extraordinary example of pure malice.
As a writer Greenaway's story is a delight. Small screen or large, his revenge fantasy delivers plenty of punch, its suitably grim finale is one that will have viewers talking long after the film is over. Particularly notable elements are the foul Thief's barrage of hostility and Helen Mirren's horrifying recollection of the inhumane treatment she's received from her husband. Though not for all tastes, particularly the squeamish, those who appreciate dark essays on actions and their consequences will be delighted by the proceedings.
A contemporary masterpiece that assaults the eyes, ears and taste, THE COOK, THE THIEF, HIS WIFE, AND HER LOVER is an ode to excess that both delights and challenges the audience. Like a beautiful painting, the movie transcends its time to remain relevant in an ever-changing world. | |
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