Review of The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989) by Alex B — 21 Sep 2007
My introduction to Greenaway, which has become a rewarding relationship. A practical review in this space is impossible without either resorting to summarizing the thin plot in full or using the words: "amazing" "colors" "cruelty" "art" "food" "tracking" "camera" "sets".
In fact, all I can say is that here Greenaway starts with his simplest narrative principle yet, that is of color guiding the narrative action, rather than the narrative action deciding color. Add on to that a travesty of christian allegory (which Greenaway would mine more intensely in Baby of Macon), and then some of his most richly developed characters (well 2 is a start), and you have his most visceral and emotional film.
It may not fellate the mind as Prospero's Books or Draughtsman's Contract, but it certainly will cause a shudder.
This review of The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989) was written by Alex B on 21 Sep 2007.
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover has generally received very positive reviews.
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