The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.0

The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 10, 2021

Peter Greenaway's "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover" (1989) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment. The only bonus feature on the disc is a an archival documentary. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

You are my property. And I decide what to do with my property.

Had Peter Greenaway directed The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover sometime during the late ‘70s, perhaps now it could have been easy to make a case that his film was meant to be the British answer to Marco Ferreri’s La Grande Bouffe. But this is a scenario that ignores a number of crucial realities that actually instantly would have made it improbable. One of these crucial realities is that during the specified period Greenaway was very active as a documentarian, so he would have had to approach what would have been his first feature film in a completely different state of mind. Another reality is that Greenaway would have had to rely on an entirely new group of actors that would have given his film a brand new personality as well.

In its current form The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover is very much a product of the decade it emerged from, and makes sense only if the zeitgeist of this decade is seen as a key element of its identity. What does this mean exactly? It means that everything it does, from the satirizing to the scandalizing, becomes quite problematic once it is removed from its period context. On top of this, The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover dons an arty personality that seems appropriate only in the same period context as well. In other words, Greenaway had conceived his film to leave a very particular trail at a time when the practice was met with a very specific type of appreciation.

But isn’t this what all scandalous films do? Many do precisely that, yes. But some don’t, and they are usually the ones that become timeless classics.

The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover is certainly a curious project, but is very difficult to describe as a meaningful film with the potential that is needed to be placed next to mavericks like La Grande Bouffe. The main problem with it is its inability to stay coherent in a manner that can actually engage the mind, which is why all of the excess that is chronicled in it very quickly becomes repulsive and pointless. Indeed, it is essentially an endurance test without that famous old trick that could have legitimized its existence. (The old trick is knowing how to give the scandalous some intellectual value. Despite many claims to the contrary, the film is completely devoid of that kind of thought-provoking material).

All of the action and virtually all of the excess take place inside a fancy restaurant owned by the obnoxious brute Albert (Michael Gambon). A talented French chef named Richard (Richard Bohringer) runs the place like a museum and creates masterpieces that often rival the work of the legendary François Vatel. Albert, his mistress, Georgina (Helen Mirren), and his thugs are always greeted as dignitaries, but instead of enjoying Richard’s masterpieces they usually end up causing massive scandals that temporarily transform the restaurant into a surreal circus. During one such visit, the frustrated Georgina begins an affair with a customer (Alan Howard), and when later on Albert discovers her infidelity, all hell breaks loose.

The sets and decors are excellent. The lighting is outstanding as well. Together they create a distinct ‘80s ambience that could have been perfect for a completely different type of film about eccentric gangsters on the loose. (Very similar stylish ‘80s visuals can be spotted in Mona Lisa and Stormy Monday, though both films have drastically different personalities).

The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment.

The release is sourced from an older master that was supplied by Universal Pictures. It is a good master that does not have convey any traces of problematic digital corrections. Delineation and depth range from good to very good, plus clarity is usually very pleasing. Virtually the entire film is quite dark and shadow definition isn't optimal. However, despite some unusually thicker blacks in most darker areas there are still decent ranges of nuances. Color balance is very good, but in a couple of brighter sequences it is easy to see that highlights could have been a tad more convincing. I noticed some very minor image instability that popped up at some unexpected places, but I did not find it distracting. I mention it because if in the future the film is redone in 4K this is an area that will be addressed. A few rather large blemishes can be spotted, but there isn't any significant damage, warped or torn frames to report in our review. All in all, even though there is some room for meaningful improvements, this release offers a fine organic presentation of the film. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

The audio is clear and stable. Michael Nyman's score sounds quite nice as well. However, even if the volume is turned up quite a bit, the audio does sound a tad 'thin' to me. Can a brand new remastering job introduce a significant improvement? A small improvement? Yes. A significant improvement? No. The reason behind my speculation is the chamber quality of the production, which welcomes plenty of random sounds and noises during the mass scenes. So, I think that the lossless track is actually quite good.

The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Peter Greenaway: A Documentary - this archival documentary focuses on Peter Greenaway's career and working methods. In English, not subtitled. In English, not subtitled. (63 min).

The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Peter Greenaway's The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover might be the quintessential unbearably pretentious art film. I remember well the time when the critics swooned over it and tried to explain to the masses how they should properly deconstruct its kitsch because it was a brilliant satire of their socio-political environment. Geenaway used some very beautiful sets and decors, but his film is one seriously repulsive dud. If you wish to see a brilliant button-pusher that will outrage you with a terrific sense of humor and engage your mind, pick up a copy of Marco Ferreri's La Grande Bouffe. Umbrella Entertainment's recent release is sourced from an older but quite nice master that was supplied by Universal Pictures. It is Region-Free.