THE KITCHEN REVIEW

In life you should always understand what you’re getting yourself into before you get yourself into it. Case and point from my POV; some of you are about to read the whole review, some are going to stop after the second picture and some of you have already stopped reading by now.

The way things are advertised are so important, so let me give you the synopsis of The Kitchen. “Set in dystopian future London where all social housing has been eliminated, Izi and Benji fight to navigate the world as residents of The Kitchen, a community that refuses to abandon their home”

Now I’m lucky I didn’t read the synopsis or watch the trailer, I just saw a quick trailer on NETFLIX and who was attached to the movie. Daniel Kaluuya directing (I love that guy), Kano starring (I love that guy, I genuinely believe he is one of the most underrated actors of our generation) and I knew it was set in a dystopian future – sign me up!

I watched the movie, and I really liked it, it wasn’t what I was expecting but I love all types of films. It is brilliantly acted and beautifully shot (both of which I will get onto later), but my first thought was I wish they had gone for it.

What’s it? I wish the writers had given the movie more depth. Distinguish the harsh reality between living in the kitchen and not living there, the social unjustness of it all. Really go for it.

So, I thought I would see what other people thought of the movie, to which I saw people complaining about the lack of action, but I thought to myself that the movie is clearly not an action film – it’s a character drama.

But then I went and researched the film and remembered the ten second trailer I saw and I fear that the audience may have misconstrued what this movie was about and thus, it has deteriorated their enjoyment of it.

This is not a sci-fi film, nor an action film or coming of age film, this is a character drama. And when it is that, the movie really works.

The funniest thing is that the film is at its weakest when it attempts to be anything other than a character drama. The dystopia setting is beautifully shot but only works when it aids the character drama.

The movie is really beautiful, in its cinematography to its acting to its writing – how nuanced and subtle it is. Case and point, establishing Izi’s understanding that after working so hard to get the Buena Vista flat its not what he wanted. Now that he’s experienced his son, the life he thought he wanted is nothing because he’s got to experience something better than that.

I love how at the beginning of the film, Izi is the one that dismisses this idea of the kitchen being a team when talking to Jase being really numb to the idea of community, whereas Jase insists that the Kitchen is a community.

And then in the death scene, that is flipped as it is Jase that is the one that is numb to the idea of community, whereas Izi breaks down. It is honestly brilliantly written and an incredible moment in the movie that is performed beautifully by Kano.

The performances are amazing in this film, Kano who plays Izi is really good in this film, and I really hope we get to see him in more things but I also hope that is he takes more varied roles. He’s able to convey so much emotion so subtly, like I said before I really believe he is one of our generations best actors!

It’s also a brilliant performance by Jedaiah Bannerman who plays Benji, as he honestly matches Kano. And, its very hard to be a young actor in a character drama without falling into certain tropes but Jedaiah doesn’t do any of that.

The entire case brings their A game, with Hope Ikpoku Jnr who plays Staples being really good in the movie, and creating a really good dynamic with Jedaiah. And, a special mention to the one and only Ian Wright who plays Lord Kitchener was honestly so good I couldn’t believe it was him.

So, as is usual with character dramas – they are never going to be for everyone. I really loved how the movie didn’t tell you what to think, but I understand how audiences may not.

For example, I loved the ambiguity of Izi being Benji’s father, and Izi’s final words being “do you want me to be”, that’s the most vulnerable he’s allowed himself to be. And even though I liked it, I completely understand how the lack of certainty would anger audiences.

My only wish was that the creators weren’t afraid to take more risks and add more depth to the film, nonetheless, I really liked the Kitchen. And I think audiences will enjoy it only if they understand what they are getting themselves into before they watch it.

AZ