THE COOK, THE THIEF, HIS WIFE & HER LOVER (1989)
I didn't know what to expect from this movie beyond a superficial description of the plot. Nor was I aware of the tone it would have. However, it managed to keep me glued to the screen for 2 hours, which automatically places it in the category of 'they don't make them like they used to'. And rightfully so.
Firstly, Greenaway does incredible things with great inspiration from theater and opera, with the set design reaching unparalleled heights. The setup is such that the viewer's eye never tires of the meticulously detailed sets that exhaust the existing color palette. If you wonder how this movie was made, then we are searching for the same answer.
It's not just the set that elevates the movie, but also the performances. I was unaware that Michael Gambon has the ability to dominate the entire scene and trample it with his boot, while simultaneously chewing on something from a French recipe. He's loud, he's a thief, he's brash, and he controls everyone, and if he wants, he sets them on fire too. A pure product of unbridled Thatcherite nouveau riche. Both Helen Mirren (I'll say it: excessively hot in the movie) and Alan Howard comfortably play the more subdued characters, in direct contrast to Gambon.
I'm generally trying to find if anything is missing from the movie and I can't see a single element that isn't there. This movie also makes me think about how rare it is today to see such an expression of creative freedom that Greenaway uses to the fullest here. What a movie.
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