Review of The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989) by Steve J — 30 Aug 2014

There aren't many films like this one. At its heart it's a simple Jacobean revenge melodrama in ostensibly modern dress. The principal characters are like figures in a painting (the film's visual design is based on Banquet of the Officers of the St George Civic Guard by Dutch painter Franz Hals); in fact Greenaway makes them little more than archetypes.

Albert (Michael Gambon), the Thief, is a vile Cockney criminal. Every night he brings his degenerate entourage into exquisite gourmet restaurant La Hollandaise to eat and cavort. A numbers runner, he uses threats and intimidation to manipulate the restaurant's owner and head chef Richard (Richard Bohringer), the Cook.

Albert goes on and on about food, about sex, about money, and whatever other subject crosses his mind, to the irritation (and often the injury) of the restaurant's other diners. Meanwhile his broken, brutalized wife Georgina (Helen Mirren), the Wife, begins an affair with unassuming bookshop owner Michael (Alan Howard), the Lover.

The two first consummate their passion in the bathroom, then use the kitchen, with Richard's blessing. Trouble brews when Albert learns of the dalliance and vows to kill Michael. This leads to one of the most revolting conclusions ever conceived for a feature film.

This is not a film for everyone. In fact, many will find it offensive, while still others will dismiss it as mere pretension. Master cinematographer Sacha Vierny and composer Michael Nyman bring Greenaway's curious world, somewhere between contemporary Britain and medieval Europe to extravagant, nauseating life.

Greenaway's world is tactile in a way that few films ever manage. I'd say this film comes close to being a British Blue Velvet, but some have called it a political allegory, a feminist tract, or a simple homage to classical theatre.

Whatever it is, it's brilliant. Ignore the weaklings who review it negatively; this is REAL cinema here, folks. Bon appétit!!!