MovieChat Forums > The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1990) Discussion > Damn this is good

Damn this is good

posted 12 years ago by nephihaha
2 replies | jump to latest

Got to see this for the first time today. Couldn't stand Drowning By Numbers so was apprehensive.

It took me about ten minutes to get Into it. It can be borderline pretentious, but it never feels like a Hollywood film.

Acting superb. Gambon as a disgusting nouveau riche thug, he really carries it. Mirren gives a more understated performance.

Visually impressive - note the triptych motif with the vans and cars, palette etc.

Score is fantastic too. Ditto set design and costumes.

Great ending.

I'd love to see this on the big screen.
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It's not "sci-fi", it's SF!

[–] boogles 12 years ago

It's quite an innovative film. I only saw it a couple of weeks ago on Film 4. I haven't seen any of Greenaway's work.

Some of the imagery reminds me of Michael Powell's work. It definitely is a film that you will either love or hate. No middle ground with it.

[–] nephihaha 12 years ago

I agree, but I think you need to watch it for a while (someone on another thread switched off after ten minutes!) Thing is I hated Drowning by Numbers but this worked for me. Even Gaultier kept himself in check.

Gambon's performance carries it IMHO.

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It's not "sci-fi", it's SF!