The women are taking over the neighborhood in The Kitchen, the directorial debut of screenwriter Andrea Berloff.
Their move was less a power play and more a necessity; they were happily (maybe) married to gangsters in 1970s New York, but after their husbands were picked up by the cops, no one really looked out for them or their kids. With money running low and their options limited, they decided to take over their husband’s old rackets, and from there the enterprise grew and grew.
Based on the graphic novel of the same name, the film should provide Berloff a chance to flex her genre skills. She’s been a writer on a variety of films including Straight Outta Compton and Blood Father, so a crime movie shouldn’t be too outside her purview. Still, directing is a whole different animal, and this has ballooned into a rather substantial film.
Just look at the trio they got to headline the film: Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish, and Elisabeth Moss. Those aren’t names you pick up for some little indie, but audiences will likely be surprised to see them in a straightforward drama. Yes, McCarthy was nominated for an Oscar for the biopic Can You Ever Forgive Me?, but most people still picture her in broad comedies. The same goes for Haddish, and Moss can go any which way. Looking at the three together, most will expect a comedy, and they’ll have to work to overcome this assumption.
Still, those are three great actresses that should keep the film from getting lost in the summer shuffle. Hopefully it earns their presence.
The Kitchen is directed by Andrea Berloff and stars Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish, and Elisabeth Moss. It will be released in the US on August 9th, 2019 and in the UK on September 20th, 2019. For international release dates, click here.
Are you interested in this film? Let us know in the comments!
Does content like this matter to you?
Become a Member and support film journalism. Unlock access to all of Film Inquiry`s great articles. Join a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about cinema - get access to our private members Network, give back to independent filmmakers, and more.