The Kitchen

The Kitchen

Starring Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish, Elisabeth Moss, Domhnall Gleeson

Directed by Andrea Berloff

The Story:
In Hell's Kitchen in the late 70s, mobster wives Kathy (Melissa McCarthy), Ruby (Tiffany Haddish) and Claire (Elisabeth Moss) find their lives thrown into turmoil when their husbands are arrested and sentenced to three years in prison.  Although the mob promises to provide for them, they don't give them enough money to live on, but when the women learn of different businesses pay the mafia for protection and get nothing, decide to muscle in on the racket and start an empire of their own.

As their stock begins to rise, the women find themselves under constant threat from rival mobs and the FBI, led by agent Gary Silvers (Common), who was the one that busted their husbands in the first place.  Kathy finds herself at odds against Ruby's more ruthless nature, while Claire finds strength with new lover Gabriel (Domhnall Gleeson) and, after enduring years of abuse, finds the power to fight back.  As the women gain wealth and notoriety, they remain fearful of what will happen when their husbands get out of jail, and as the time gets closer, learn how to rely on one another and their own wits to prove that they're really better than the men.

The Synopsis:
In a time where nearly every classic film is getting remade featuring females instead of men ("Ghostbusters," "Ocean's 8," etc.), "The Kitchen" comes out and centers on three strong women who take on the Irish mafia in Hell's Kitchen in the late 70s, and is actually not a female-centric remake of a male-centric original.  While it's not a Scorsese-level mobster film, it's highly entertaining, thoughtful, and led by three acclaimed actresses at the height of their prime.

Many films this year have been divisive when it comes to critics, and "The Kitchen" is no exception - it currently sits at a terrible 20% rating on Rotten Tomatoes - but I don't consider critics' reviews as golden.  Reading through different reviews I find that the issue many have is that it doesn't compare to the likes of Martin Scorsese, but it's not supposed to - and it's unfair to compare one film by a different director to a plethora of classics by an acclaimed, Oscar-winning director.  There's also comparisons between this and last year's "Widows," which I can see, but again it shouldn't be compared to something totally different.  The film does have its problems - mostly with the editing in my opinion - but I thought the film was overall well-crafted with a solid script and outstanding performances throughout.

Melissa McCarthy hasn't really done much serious work, except for last year's stellar "Can You Ever Forgive Me," and here she proves that she can handle drama as much as comedy.  She serves as the ringleader for the girls, and manages to maintain one step ahead of everyone for the most part, but also plays a mother whose attention is often diverted from the job at hand.  She's the most emotional of the three, and also shows the most fear which is to her character's detriment.

Elisabeth Moss is best known for her award-winning role in the hit series "The Handmaid's Tale," and here she plays Claire Walsh, who's the most abused of the three women.  She's beaten up constantly by her husband, and then after he's put in jail is again assaulted by a random man, and is finally fed up with being a human punching bag.  When the girls bring in Gabriel - a mentally traumatized Vietnam vet - she takes a shine to him as he doesn't hold punches, and desires to learn how to be as tough as he is.  Claire transforms from battered wife to unstoppable killer, and Moss clearly relishes the role.

The actress I was most surprised to see in this film is Tiffany Haddish, who hasn't done anything outside her typical comedic shtick that was refreshing in "Girls Trip" but gradually became more grating as the films churned out.  Here, she totally revolutionizes herself and proves that she can handle some heavily dramatic roles, and really becomes the main focus of the movie.  She plays Ruby O'Carroll, who's tired of living under her husband's thumb and sets out to make a name for herself, and learns from her mother how to be fearless and ruthless, and truly proves to be both.

"The Kitchen" is unique to me in the fact that while it showcases three female leads, it doesn't skimp on the blood.  There's numerous murders throughout that really sets the stage for the huge hostile takeover by the women, and it's a - pun intended - bloody good time.  The danger films like this have is in glamorizing the villains, and manages to really do just that as I found myself rooting for the women against even the FBI, and found myself wholly immersed in the experience.  While it's not a stellar work of mobster art, it's got its unique charms and quips that makes for an enjoyable ride that's unpredictable and well-written.

The Summary:
With three acclaimed actresses holding the reigns, "The Kitchen" centers on three women who take on the mafia and create their own, crafting a powerful tale of redemption, power, and success in the seedy underworld of Hell's Kitchen.

The Score: A