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The Cook, The Thief, His Wife And Her Lover Reviews

1989

60
from 6276 members

This is probably Peter Greenaway's most famous (or infamous) film, which first shocked audiences at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival and then on both sides of the Atlantic. A gang leader (Michael Gambon), accompanied by his wife (Helen Mirren) and his associates, entertains himself every night in a fancy French restaurant that he .. Read more

Starring	Michael Gambon, Helen Mirren, Richard Bohringer, Alan Howard
Director	Peter Greenaway
Genres	Comedy, Drama

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Critic's review of The Cook, The Thief, His Wife And Her Lover
View all critics' reviews (2)
- Elegant, stylized, painterly and extremely brutal variation on a Jacobean revenge tragedy, though some have seen it as a political satire on our materialistic times.
- 32906
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:43
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Most helpful member's review of The Cook, The Thief, His Wife And Her Lover
View all members' reviews (64)
- - 33
  - 1
  A Unique Vision
  
  Peter Greenaway is a unique filmmaker and this is one of his most accessible works. He creates films which exist in worlds organised by strange systems: ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 298880
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - blunderwood
  - East Sussex
  - 02 Feb 2004 at 21:49
Most recent members' reviews of The Cook, The Thief, His Wife And Her Lover
View all members' reviews (64)
- - 0
  - 0
  'Amidst Life we are in Death'
  
  To Mr. Greenaway,the world is just a shiny surface which covers all the rottonness; food,once live, goes through the system and ends up as filth or decaying ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1116835
- - droog
  - 25 reviews
  - Lingfield,Surrey
  - 05 May 2012 at 19:02
- - 0
  - 0
  food and rot and ... death
  
  Peter Greenaway made one brilliant film and you can guess which one. Helen Mirren shows off unashamedly and Tim Roth is preparing for Reservoir Dogs. Other than... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1092268
- - juradino
  - 703 reviews
  - London
  - 14 Feb 2012 at 12:25
- - 0
  - 0
  Stunning on every level
  
  This is extraordinarily good. Beautifully shot, acting from one of the very best casts I've seen in a film for a long time, and wonderful music. As a fan of... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1091635
- - a customer
  - 12 Feb 2012 at 19:12
- - 0
  - 4
  The Cook etc etc
  
  Absolute drivle. Michael Gambon and Helen Mirren should be ashamed to be part of this. The only bright bit was Helen's revealing part. The script writers, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1075188
- - NICKJOJO
  - 230 reviews
  - Surrey
  - 21 Dec 2011 at 14:41
- - 1
  - 2
  Excessive and completely unforgetable
  
  This film was pure cinematic gold.
  
  Vulgar, excessive, sexy and raw. Outstanding acting and a dialogue that was both real and compelling.
  
  ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1017970
- - DirtyIngenue
  - 24 reviews
  - London
  - 16 Jul 2011 at 16:24
- - 1
  - 2
  OMG English black humor wrapped in Continental decadence
  
  WOW what was that an English film?!
  
  ABSOLUTE decadence in the continental fashion, English gangsterism, DROP-DEAD late-Eighties costumes by none ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1002034
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - movie_maverick
  - 10 reviews
  - London
  - 08 Jun 2011 at 09:49
- - 1
  - 8
  oh dear
  
  really really weird film. presumably supposed to be arty, but just rambling indulgence. tedious and slow moving. couldn't watch it all.
  
  Report this review
- 985422
- - el_cid
  - 8 reviews
  - 23 Apr 2011 at 14:30
- - 1
  - 7
  The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover
  
  A waste of talent. I kept watching to see if it would improve but couldn't take it after the first half.
  
  Report this review
- 863337
- - a customer
  - Barnard Castle, England
  - 18 Feb 2010 at 18:24
- - 1
  - 3
  'The Cook, The Thief, His Wife And Her Lover' (1989)
  
  Couldn't cope with this rubbish - the sound and the picture were so poor that regardless of the script but clearly the idea of watching this came from Mr ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 836775
- - Flocoyle
  - 16 reviews
  - Reigate
  - 03 Dec 2009 at 16:49
- - 0
  - 0
  NOT PLEASANT BUT WORTH A LOOK
  
  Saw this film when it originally came out years ago. There are times when you watch it when you can't quite actually believe what you are seeing...Michael ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 834150
- - a customer
  - Reading
  - 24 Nov 2009 at 17:00
View all members' reviews (64)

- - 33
  - 1
  A Unique Vision
  
  Peter Greenaway is a unique filmmaker and this is one of his most accessible works. He creates films which exist in worlds organised by strange systems: ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 298880
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - blunderwood
  - East Sussex
  - 02 Feb 2004 at 21:49
- - 12
  - 1
  A cinematic feast for all senses
  
  Greenaways masterpiece is not an easy film by any standards but perhaps more accessible than some of his other work. Unlike conventional films this is more like... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1103
- - ThomasKus
  - 143 reviews
  - Gloucester
  - 22 Jan 2004 at 00:30
- - 6
  - 3
  Odd
  
  I found this movie very very strange indeed - in parts quite gruesome, just weird.
  
  Report this review
- 139023
- - a customer
  - London
  - 11 Aug 2005 at 16:11
- - 4
  - 1
  A Jacobean Tragedy???
  
  The film is a kind of sawn off Jacobean tragedy of revenge. A loutish gangster, (Michael Gambon) and his wife (Helen Mirren) eat every night at Le Hollandais, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 14492
- - a customer
  - Leamington
  - 12 Aug 2004 at 18:04
- - 4
  - 1
  Cinematic feasting
  
  Michael Gambon (the Thief) is terrific as the brutal, bile filled husband of battered, bruised and defeated wife played by Helen Mirren. Few characters ever ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 307492
- - Brock
  - The United Kingdom
  - 10 Aug 2004 at 13:41
- - 4
  - 2
  A sauce of confusion.
  
  The title lists the main characters that interact in the surreal and lavish setting of a grandiose French restaurant.
  
  The film is a catalogue of good... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 313393
- - Cityboy3
  - Herts
  - 07 Nov 2004 at 22:16
- - 3
  - 0
  Excessive
  
  As much attention was paid by the director to the set and choreography of this film as was paid to the dark tale of a brutally unequal and destructive ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 615162
- - KOF
  - 1 review
  - London
  - 17 Aug 2008 at 20:52
- - 3
  - 2
  Mis Recommended
  
  I was recommended this film by 4 seperate people. This was the first film that I have not watched all the way through in many years. The film is full of too ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 393742
- - Chris Horrill
  - Exeter, Devon
  - 11 Dec 2006 at 13:33
- - 2
  - 0
  Should come with a warning...
  
  ....not to watch after eating a Sunday roast!...do not make my mistake, I think I have been put off pork crackling for life! However amazing acting, great set... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 656601
- - a customer
  - Brighton
  - 09 Nov 2008 at 22:15
- - 2
  - 1
  Hard Work
  
  As the title of this review suggests this film was hard work . Not only due to it's perpetual use of violence and all things disgusting, but the use of ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 124146
- - Maximus
  - East Anglia
  - 15 Jul 2005 at 23:36

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- The Cook, The Thief, His Wife And Her Lover
  
  This is probably Peter Greenaway's most famous (or infamous) film, which first shocked audiences at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival and then on both sides of the Atlantic. A gang leader (Michael Gambon), accompanied by his wife (Helen Mirren) and his associates, entertains himself every night in a ...