THE COOK, THE THIEF, THE WIFE AND HER LOVER (1989, GREAT BRITAIN)

MOVIES I WATCHED BECAUSE I GOT A SUBSCRIPTION TO NETFLIX AND THEY WERE IN THE 1001 MOVIES YOU MUST SEE BEFORE YOU DIE BOOK MONTH

(Post 5 of 10)

The way Peter Greenway's camera flows from room to room of the restaurant managed by the evil Albert (Michael Gambon) where all of the action of this film takes place is pretty breathtaking. The way we go from parking lot to kitchen to dining room where the interacting characters interact reminded me a lot of Alexander Sukorov's Russian Ark. 

But is what we see in this restaurant at all enticing? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Gambon's Albert is one of the most reprehensible and unlikable characters to ever hit the screen and he really plays him to the hilt. Helen Mirren's Georgina is sexy but sad as his put-upon wife and it's no wonder she finds comfort with her bookkeeper lover. The cook really comes into play later as he makes a delicacy for Albert that he will never forget. We also have memorable supporting characters such as a soprano singing waif and Tim Roth as one of Albert's punkish associates. Rarely has such a beautiful film been so ugly. Or is it an ugly film with great beauty? Probably should be on the 1001 list just for its bravado.