Cheap Drowning by Numbers (Video) (Joan Plowright, Bernard Hill) (Peter Greenaway) Price

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Customer Reviews of Drowning by Numbers

Interesting, but not for everyone
SYNOPSIS: A woman, Cassie, decides to rid herself of her husband after she catches him cheating on her. Her two daughters, also named Cassie, follow suit by drowning their own husbands. All three of these women think they can get away with the crimes because they're friends with the local coroner, Madgett. Madgett, with plans of his own, rules all the deaths 'natural,' but blackmails the three women: trading his silence for their sexual favors. The three Cassie's, however, have a different idea. . .

VERDICT: Peter Greenaway is certainly one of the more decadent filmmakers and he spares no expense in getting even the smallest of things to work. More concerned with 'art' than narrative, Greenaway always comes up with very interesting characters and somehow creates films that seem to defy critique (because of this, he is not for everyone.) His masterpiece, The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, And Her Lover, is a better place to start if you haven't seen any of his films, but Drowning by Numbers isn't bad either ( I found it to be more entertaining than Cook/Thief/Wife/Lover.)

This film is shot and designed beautifully with meticulous sets that take the viewer someplace else -- where this 'someplace else' is exactly, I can't really say. The film is also quite funny (the closer you pay attention, the more humorous it is.) On top of this is a great score by composer Michael Nyman.

If you are a Greenaway fan, pick this one up. If you haven't seen any Greenaway films you probably shouldn't buy this; rent it first instead (or perhaps Cook/Thief/Wife/Lover.) But Greenaway is someone every serious cinephile should explore, and if you come out a fan, your exploration will be worthwhile and Greenaway's vision hard to equal.

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Exquisite funny and intelligent
Drowning by numbers is one of Peter Greenaway's best films. It is eloquent in the language of cinema while being entertaining, interesting and visually stunning. An intelligent delivery of an original story line, combining excellent character rendition by the actors' team, interesting cinematographic work and a wink of an eye while doing so. Greenaway is palying with the elements of story, image, and scene design to leave an impact that's fully appreciated only upon second, third and fourth viewing of the movie. Each time one observes this work of art - one discovers hidden layers to it. You need to watch it time and time again to fully appreciate its greatness. Another excellent reason to own the DVD.

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Most profound of Greenway's films, (thats saying something!)
Greenway's most excellent portrayal of the battle of the sexes is one of his most thoroughly enjoyable movies. Drawing heavily on Greek myth, and the archetypes of Air as masculine element and Water as feminine, Greenway weaves a lush tapestry of cerebral and visual stimuli that overwhelms the senses.

Three women, a Hecate-like trinity with the same name and reflecting the classical three "ages" of Crone, Mother and (granted, sexually wanton) Maiden, find the men in their lives disappointing. Women, being emotional beings of primal water, seek fulfillment in that element, whereas men, being intellectual beings of primal air, spend their days quantifying things, typing memoranda or investigating plots. The three (four?) husbands are shown the error of their ways, literally being immersed in the watery primal element, and deprived of their more familiar air. The first is a philanderer, the second cold and insensitive, the third a threat to the sisterhood of the three, and the final consort one who attempts to control the trinity through blackmail, and ultimately finds himself the pawn of their sex.

The imagery, while lacking the lavish costumes of other Greenway productions, is still tremendously lavish. The scene from the bath, involving no more than fruit, insects and the foam on a bar of soap, creates a primal, evocative image of the natural feminine power of control while working through nature, the very power which threatens men to their core. It's beautiful, and while the plot may be straightforward, the underlying messages conveyed are sufficiently profound to keep one busy discussing the film for weeks after every viewing.