The Kitchen is a crime thriller released in 2019, directed by Andrea Berloff and produced by Michael De Luca. The movie is based on a comic book series from Vertigo Comics with the same name written by Ollie Masters and Ming Doyle. Starring Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish, and Elisabeth Moss, the movie tells the story of three women who take over the criminal business of their partners in the 1970s.
Set in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of New York City in 1978, the film introduces us to Kathy (Melissa McCarthy), Ruby (Tiffany Haddish), and Claire (Elisabeth Moss), who are the wives of three Irish-American mobsters. The three men are serving their time in prison after being caught in a failed robbery attempt. Kathy, Ruby, and Claire are left alone to fend for themselves as their husbands' associates refuse to give them any part of the control in the mob business.
Frustrated and desperate for money, the three women come up with a plan to take over their husbands' business and run it themselves. With a little help from Claire's enigmatic associate Gabriel (Domhnall Gleeson), the women start running their business with efficiency and introduce new rules and innovations that bring in more profits. They run their empire with ruthless efficiency, winning the respect and fear of the men who had initially underestimated them.
The story is not just about power, money, and revenge. It is about the empowerment of women who are able to break free from the patriarchal bonds of their husbands' criminal organization. They are able to create and operate their own business, set their own rules, and make their own decisions without having to seek approval from anyone. The three characters have different backstories, but they have one thing in common - they are all women who are forced to navigate the male-dominated world around them.
Kathy is a devoted mother of two who is tired of being told to be patient and wait for her husband's return. Ruby, on the other hand, is a woman of ambition who wants to take over her husband's fortune in any way possible. Claire, who has been a victim of domestic abuse, turns to her new-found power to get revenge on her husband.
The Kitchen also portrays the fight for ethnic and racial identity. The three women are looked down upon by both the traditional Irish-American mobsters and the African-American gangsters who run the neighborhoods in Hell's Kitchen. They stand strong in the face of adversity and succeed in creating a business that is free from moral ties.
The movie is set in the late 1970s, and the crew has done an excellent job of portraying the era with accuracy. The clothes, makeup, and hairstyles of the actors are in line with the fashion of the time. The movie's soundtrack, which features songs from the decade, also adds to the authenticity of the portrayal.
The Kitchen is a well-directed movie, with excellent performances by the lead actors. Melissa McCarthy, who is known for her work in comedies, proves that she can play a dramatic role with ease. Tiffany Haddish and Elisabeth Moss also deliver great performances, with Haddish bringing a certain toughness to her role, and Moss portraying a character with a real depth of vulnerability.
Overall, The Kitchen is an engaging movie that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. It is an empowering story of three women that ultimately becomes a story of acceptance and brotherhood. The film's message is clear: women can be as good, if not better, than men when it comes to running a business.
The Kitchen is a 2006 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 12 minutes.
