The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover

A film review by Christopher Null - Copyright © 2002 Filmcritic.com

Helen Mirren's had enough of boorish husband/restaurateur Michael Gambon in this creepy and foul yet eminently watchable melodrama -- in fact, it remains Peter Greenaway's one and only great film. To be honest, it's his only good film at all, a shock considering its no more grotesque than some of his other work. The film's simple story has Mirren having an affair with a regular (Alan Howard) at hubby's restaurant -- at least until he catches wind of it (which is inevitable, since they never leave the restaurant to do the deed). I won't spoil what happens after that point, but the getting there (in which Greenaway concocts a color- and symbolism-feuled fantasy where costumes change as actors walk between rooms) is just as much fun.

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Rating

4.0 out of 5 Stars

Cast and Crew

  • Director: Peter Greenaway
  • Producer: Kees Kasander
  • Screenwriter: Peter Greenaway
  • Stars: Richard Bohringer, Michael Gambon, Helen Mirren, Alan Howard, Tim Roth
  • MPAA Rating: NC-17