The Kitchen

The Kitchen is a thrilling crime drama set in the urban grit of 1970s Hell’s Kitchen, New York City. Directed by Andrea Berloff and released in 2019, the movie stars a formidable trio of leading ladies: Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish, and Elisabeth Moss. The script is an adaption from the Vertigo comic book series "The Kitchen" by Ollie Masters and Ming Doyle. This film is an unapologetic exploration of power, gender, and crime, enveloped within the grimy canvas of mid-century Manhattan.

The film’s narrative orbits around three housewives – Kathy Brennan (Melissa McCarthy), Ruby O'Carroll (Tiffany Haddish), and Claire Walsh (Elisabeth Moss) – who are married to Irish mobsters. These men, primarily responsible for running the Irish mob operations in Hell’s Kitchen, are arrested by the FBI, leaving their wives in a desperate state of uncertainty and financial despair. As the local criminal underworld fails to ensure their safety and survival, the women are impelled to take matters into their own hands. With nothing but fierce determination and shared desperation, these women navigate the dangerous and complex realm of organized crime, finding in themselves the ruthlessness required to keep their operations running.

McCarthy, Haddish, and Moss each bring layers of nuance and depth to their roles, presenting rounded, multidimensional characters thrust into a world they were previously secluded from. McCarthy’s Kathy is a devoted mother and wife now driven to secure the future of her family. Haddish’s Ruby, an outsider by her marriage to an Irish mobster and facing regular racial discrimination, uses her cunning and survival instinct to rise above her circumstances. Moss’s Claire is a visibly abused woman, who, in her search for independence and her journey into self-discovery, uncovers a sense of power she never realized she possessed before.

The world of The Kitchen, as portrayed by Berloff, is a seedy domain marked by violence and lawlessness, a cruel dog-eat-dog society where survival is dictated by power. Despite this grisly backdrop, the director appears to imbue the narrative with elements of dark comedy, presenting the incongruity of transforming ordinary housewives into formidable mob bosses. The film confronts the viewer with the question of what people, especially women marginalized and left with limited options, might do to ensure their survival.

The film also melds a richly detailed period drama with a gangster-genre narrative, presenting a vivid tableau of the 1970s era Hell’s Kitchen. The gritty streets, the flamboyant fashion of the era, the cultural nuances – all of it adds up to create a throbbing, breathing city that forms the dramatic landscape of the film.

The Kitchen delicately handles certain underlined themes that run throughout the narrative. It speaks of female empowerment – albeit through questionable avenues – of women having to seize control when the men in their lives fail them. It also dives into themes of loyalty, familial bonds, and the constant struggle for power. This gritty crime drama undeniably possesses a subtle social commentary beneath its storyline, dealing with gender, race, and class.

Excellent performances by the main cast, particularly from McCarthy and Haddish, a strong directorial hand from Berloff, and the immersive world-building align to make The Kitchen a compelling and riveting drama. Due to its vivid narration and a remarkably human core, this film stands out within its genre, offering a remarkable blend of potent performances, robust storytelling, and sharp commentary.

However, potential viewers should be alerted that the film contains strong scenes of violence and themes which may not appeal to all viewers. The lawless world of 70s organized crime in NYC and the female-driven reimagining of this narrative, as presented in The Kitchen, makes for an engaging, bold, and unflinching cinematic experience.

In conclusion, The Kitchen builds a tense narrative set in the shadowy underworld of 1970s Hell’s Kitchen, illuminating the lives of three women who break past their societal constraints to secure their survival. It's a heart-thumping journey into the dark corners of organized crime, and into the heart of human strength and survival, all packaged within a 102-minute runtime. It’s a film for those who appreciate intense crime dramas and powerful performances from its lead actors.