The Cook, the Thief, his Wife and her Lover(on today on Film 4 at 22:50 btw.)
stripedcat
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I am about to watch it in an hour's time. I have heard a lot about. Peter Greenaway is an interesting director. His films are very uncompromising.
I'd like people's thoughts on the film. I'll read them afterwards as I then I won't get any spoilers.
As a sidenote, in the US this film got a NC-17 rating, so it didn't get widely shown.
I'd like people's thoughts on the film. I'll read them afterwards as I then I won't get any spoilers.
As a sidenote, in the US this film got a NC-17 rating, so it didn't get widely shown.
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Comments
The 'action' of CTWL seems much more 'confined' to its unabashed edificial setting and, from what I recall of my viewing many years ago, this became rather tedious once the obligatory 'shock factor' elements were established and bedded in. Drowning is a much more visually dynamic, changeable and thusly (IMHO) consistently engaging work on the whole.
I seem to recall also that CTWL opens with someone being supposedly force-fed shit, but being handed by the politely brusque Gambon what are obviously in reality sandwich beef slices. Although Mirren's climactic line 'Try the cock, Albert - it's a delicacy' will probably be positively imprinted on my mind, for decidedly non-cannibalistic reasons as a burgeoning gayster, forevermore
Although Helen Mirren in the nuddy makes it better.
I can see that it is a film which you are either going to love or hate. No saying it is average.
Mirren and Gambon gave very strong performances.
I suppose there is the anti-Thatcherism and rallying against the "greed is good" of the 1980s in the film's subtext as well.
I seem to remember that this film did quite well in the UK on the video rentals, it seemed to be in the Top 10 for quite a while.
I haven't seen any of Greenaway's other work(e.g. Drowning By Numbers, Baby of Mâcon, Prospero's Books, Pillow Book, etc.). I'll be sure to check them out.
Always preferred A Zed & Two Noughts and The Belly of an Architect to The Cook, The Thief... , think I'll have to invest in some of his films, the only one I own on dvd is The Pillow Book.
Films are not meant to reflect real life.
The scene that really made my skin crawl was the poor k.p/choirboy getting his belly button cut off! Gross!
I'm behind the times as I havent seen anything post Baby Of Macon. The scene where the woman was degraded put me off a bit.
I've had the pleasure of opening the main door to the BFI and Greenaway (+ 4 lackies/friends)walking right thru me, literally pushing me aside! It was at an exhibition/installation (featuring Greenaway & Ridley Scott). They were all dressed head to toe in black, with long black coats and all wearing sunglasses, it all looked very 'highbrow European art'! Needless to say, I didn't ask for an autograph!
Well I never!
I remember that he did a couple of interviews where he said that : "cinema was dead.". He was more into multimedia and so on.
On another note, Barry Norman made 'The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover' his film of the year in 1989. He also put it on to his Top 10 films of the 1980s.
I seem to recall that it did cause a little of controversy back in its day, what with the violence, sex and the final scene.
I watched The Draughtsman's Contract last year and although it is beautifully filmed and has a fantastic score , it left me cold.
The Pillow Book turns up on Film 4 every now and again. I'll check that out some time.
A Zed and Two Noughts.. never knew this was from the same person..havent seen that film for years but remember it well.
Great work from Nyman and cinematographer Sacha Vierny (a Greenaway regular).
Greenaway fell out with Nyman over 'Prospero's Books'. I think he took an instrument track off of one of his song settings. I think they haven't spoken to one another since then.