FemaleFirst.co.uk: DVD: The Cook Thief, His Wife And Her Lover [DVD] [1989]

The Cook Thief, His Wife And Her Lover [DVD] [1989]
enlarge	Director: Peter Greenaway Actors: Richard Bohringer, Michael Gambon, Helen Mirren, Alan Howard, Tim Roth Studio: Universal Pictures UK Category: DVD List Price: ~~£15.99~~ Buy New: £2.75 as of 25/11/2009 13:31 GMT details You Save: £13.24 (83%) New (23) Used (5) Collectible (1) from £2.75 Seller: selectcheaper Rating: 25 reviews Sales Rank: 7338 Format: PAL Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired), English (Unknown), French (Unknown), Spanish (Unknown), Swedish (Subtitled), Danish (Subtitled), Finnish (Subtitled), Norwegian (Subtitled) Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over Region: 2 Discs: 1 Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Number Of Discs: 1 Running Time: 119 Minutes Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2 Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.2 x 0.6 UPC: 505058211175 EAN: 0505058211175 ASIN: B0000UM0NU Theatrical Release Date: April 6, 1990 Release Date: November 10, 2003 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days


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Editorial Reviews: Amazon.co.uk Review IThe Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover/I is both adored and detested for its combination of sumptuous beauty and revolting decadence. Few directors polarise audiences in the same way as Peter Greenaway, a filmmaker as influenced by Jacobean revenge tragedy and 17th-century painting as by the French New Wave. A vile, gluttonous thief (Michael Gambon) spews hate and abuse at a restaurant run by a stoic French cook (Richard Bohringer), but under the thief's nose his wife (the ever-sensuous Helen Mirren) conducts an affair with a bookish lover (Alan Howard). Clothing (by avant-garde designer Jean-Paul Gaultier) changes colour as the characters move from room to room. Nudity, torture, rotting meat, and Tim Roth at his sleaziest all contribute the atmosphere of decay and excess. Not for everyone, but for some, essential. I--Bret Fetzer/I

Customer Reviews: Showing reviews 1-5 of 25 1 2 3 4 5 Next » Lush, surreal and disturbing film masterpiece January 20, 2004 Touring Mars (London, UK) 29 out of 31 found this review helpful Peter Greenaway's "The Cook, The Thief..." is part black comedy and part surreal drama starring the brilliant Michael Gambon and Helen Mirren. As lush and darkly beautiful as some of his other work (Prospero's Books, Drowning By Numbers), "The Cook, The Thief..." has the huge advantage of being a highly watchable film because Greenaway creates a dramatic story that engages you with characters alot more than in some of his other work. The film looks and sounds great throughout, with the keen eye of Sacha Vierny and the surreal touches from Greenaway that bring each scene to life.pOnce again, Greenaway has used the music of Michael Nyman to add a whole new dimension to the film. Indeed, Nyman never 'scored' any Greenaway films... the process was infact the other way around, with Greenaway choreographing his scenes to fit with Nyman's music. This film is by far and away the best example of this, and the result is superb. Incorporating some of Nyman's best music, the musical centrepiece of the film is Nyman's 'Memorial', and epic funeral march-like piece, originally composed as a memorial to the victims of the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985.pAs well as some great costumes (by Jean Paul Gaultier), set designs and brilliant acting (esp. by Gambon), this film boasts some great dark humour, as well as it's fair share of geniune nastiness. Gambon plays the abominable Albert Spica, a grotesque and vulgar man who abuses and humiliates his wife (Mirren), who seeks refuge with another man, only for Spica to turn his wretched attentions to him, with terrible consequences (can't say any more without giving the end away!)pAs a piece of film-making, it's a masterpiece. As a nice cosy film you can sit down to watch on a rainy weekend over and over again, forget it! But for Greenaway's talent, Gambon's acting, Nyman's music, Gaultier's costumes and Sacha Vierny's cinematographic excellence, how many more reasons do you need to go out and buy this film? Great stuff!! A transcendental synthesis of the decadent February 10, 2006 Cartimand (Hampshire, UK.) 28 out of 32 found this review helpful some spoilers br / br /Greenaway's astonishing masterpiece is packed so full of sumptuously profound imagery and metaphor that it can be enjoyed on several levels. Just go with the flow and enjoy this grotesquely compelling tale of sadism, decadence, illicit love, and jaw-droppingly gruesome retribution, or feel free to explore Greenaway's deeper intentions in giving us such cleverly colour-coded debauchery and stunning juxtaposition. br / br /The hideous Spica (Gambon) - an unholy cross between a Falstaffian trencherman and a vicious gangland thug, wields absolute power in the crimson opulence of the dining area. Like some sacrilegious parody of Christ's last supper, Spica sits centre-table surrounded by a host of well-loved British characters. Look! Isn't that Trigger from Only Fools and Horses (Roger Lloyd-Pack) and there's grandma Royle (Liz Park). Even the late great Ian Dury is in there trying to do wicked things with his rhythm stick, and Gary Olsen, sadly lamented by his 2.4 children. But oh boy, is that /really/ (Dame!) Helen Mirren doing all those naughty things virtually under her abusive husband's nose? br / br /Leaving the blood-red velvet of the dining room, we are swept to the pristine white, almost paradisiacal appearance of the lavatories. Here, the earthiest and most explicit sex acts take place between the furtive lovers (Mirren and Alan Howard), reminding us of one of Spica's diatribes, when he comments on the proximity of the organs of defecation and reproduction. A brutal flash of crimson intrudes upon the white, when Spica bursts in. Seeking refuge elsewhere, the lovers enjoy moments of passion in rooms surrounding the astonishing kitchen, making love amongst hanging game birds and pigs' heads, whilst the albino choir-boy's innocently beautiful voice soars above all. When forced to flee, still naked, the lovers take refuge in a truck full of rotting meat and fish, in a scene strangely reminiscent of the work of Hieronymus Bosch. Freud would have a field day! br / br /As the atmosphere of menace builds, the inevitability of the lovers' exposure becomes apparent. Spica's revenge is utterly horrific, in one of the most unsettling torture scenes I have ever witnessed. But in a cautionary tale such as this, how will the villain get his just "desserts"? br / br /Well, no more spoilers. Just watch it and see. We can probably all guess what's going to happen, but the denouement, when it comes, is still satisfyingly hideous. This is a delicacy, and you know where it's been! br / br /The crimson curtain finally drops after almost 2 hours have simply flown past, and you can finally breathe out, mouthing the word "wow!" br / br /Nyman's stunning score (partly reprised from Greenaway's earlier "A Zed and Two Noughts") complements the film perfectly and will be stuck in your head for days afterwards. br / br /Sadly, no extras on the DVD and, with no 5.1 sound, this appears to be a straight port-over from VHS. The sheer magnificence of this movie, though, almost every scene from which could be hung in the Tate, precludes me from giving anything less than five stars. An essential purchase. Its timeless and essential to your movie collection. February 6, 2007 L. W (England) 12 out of 15 found this review helpful Please watch this film. br / br /If you dont you are missing out on a life changing experience (in film anyway). This film is a masterpiece and is actually one of my all time favourites! br / br /Just consider for a moment what makes you like or enjoy a film. Its usually the narrative, the story of whats happening with the characters. The music and costume and lighting and sets usually dont get marked up as being 'my favourite part'. In this Greenaway creation, however, everything, is purely divine. From the costuming, to the music, every element can be veiwed and enjoyed seperately. Each bit tells the chilling story of The Cook, The Theif, His Wife and Her Lover. Nothing is overlooked or dropped in without meaning. Everything is a clue to the next unfolding bit of information. br / br /The characters are superb. The vulgarity of 'the theif' is perverse and haunting. You will be offended. The vulnerability of his wife is touching, and the passion she shares with her lover is intense... almost familiar. The way the emotions have been broken down and enhanced through this film is nothing ive ever seen before. br / br /Even if you watch it and dont like it you will have witnessed something everyone should see before they die. A moving painting. br / br /Gorgeous! A Dish To Be Savoured April 22, 2009 G. R. Donaldson (Great Britain) 2 out of 2 found this review helpful The CTTHWAHL is probably Peter Greenaway's most accessible film to date.From the outrageous Jean Paul Gaultierre costumes to Michael Nyman's at times piercing soundtrack this film will remain with you for a very long time. At times gruesomely violent to darkly amusing I would rate this as probably Michael Gambons finest screen performance as the trully monstrous Albert. Helen Mirren is excellent as the most tortured screen wife I can recall seeing. Alberts revolting henchman notably Tim Roth are a comic delight. I first saw this film in the cinema and the opening scene where Albert gives a business associate the snack from hell had people walking out in disgust. It did look horribly real on the big screen. Barry Norman voted this his film of the year in 89 and it deserved the accolade. I would rank it in my all time top ten. The transfer to DVD isn't the best. I wouldn't view it on a full stomach however as some scenes are a bit hard to take. Great film December 17, 2003 7 out of 12 found this review helpful This is, although it might sound strange, a film for aesthetes - Greenaway plays with colour, light and still life. The presentation of food ist great - well, at least in the most part... The story is thrilling, and although there is physical and mental violence, I enjoyed watching the film. It is a film that stays with you for a while, not easy to consume. But it's worth watching it! Showing reviews 1-5 of 25 1 2 3 4 5 Next »

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