Rating: 
Summary: The Draughtsman's Contract
Review: "The Draughtsman's Contract" is a precise, almost mathematical dissection of human motivation, desire, envy and retribution. The wonder is that it is delivered by a painterly director at the height of his powers. A rare mix. Cunning and subtle, yet in love with the subject...usually doesn't work - but while you're being beguiled by the visuals, the story sneaks up on you from behind, and leaves you with a puzzle which rewards the solving. Michael Nyman's memorable score perfectly complements the gorgeous cinematography, while providing a constant reminder of the enormous underlying tension of the story. If all of this sounds a little earnest, let me put it another way - it's all about..., and it looks and sounds beautiful - what's not to like?
Rating:
Summary: The Draughtsman's Contract
Review: "The Draughtsman's Contract" is a precise, almost mathematical dissection of human motivation, desire, envy and retribution. The wonder is that it is delivered by a painterly director at the height of his powers. A rare mix. Cunning and subtle, yet in love with the subject...usually doesn't work - but while you're being beguiled by the visuals, the story sneaks up on you from behind, and leaves you with a puzzle which rewards the solving. Michael Nyman's memorable score perfectly complements the gorgeous cinematography, while providing a constant reminder of the enormous underlying tension of the story. If all of this sounds a little earnest, let me put it another way - it's all about..., and it looks and sounds beautiful - what's not to like?
Rating:
Summary: "You must forgive my curiosity, Madam....
Review: , ...and open your knees!" So says the dastardly Mr Neville, the epitome of the self-made 17th Century Englishman in Peter Greenaway's sumptious 'Draughtman's Contract', the contract in question being one of a sexual nature; Mr Neville agrees to sketch the financially embarrassed Mrs Herbert's house and gardens in return for twelve sexual favours from his reluctant employer. Yet what begins as a simple story of a sado masochistic relationship unravels into a perlexing jigsaw puzzle of a film where nothing is as it first appears, our affections switching from one character to another as we (as well as THEY) try to figure out exactly what is afoot in Mrs Herbert's beautiful garden. A film about perception, art, sex, age, gender, 17th Century British politics, murder, love (and pineapples!), 'The Draughtman's Contract' is as cerebrally challenging as it is visually beautiful, with Michael Nyman's sensational mock-Baroque score the perfect icing on this multi-layered cake. Anthony Higgins is worryingly sexy as the autocratic Mr Neville, and Janet Suzman is wonderfully womanly as the much older Mrs Herbert, their strange relationship confusing us as much as them until the shocking final scene. An absolute delight.
Rating:
Summary: a masterpiece
Review: A film that everyone should experience more than once...I think I could watch it everyday. Greenaway has constructed a brilliant mystery using every facet of film-making as his clues. This movie was made for DVD viewing.
Rating: 
Summary: A DVD delight for the senses
Review: Greenaway is in fine form in this early film, oh so clever in construction. A bold, crackling delight for the eye, ear and mind. I only saw it once, in an art house theatre, and the experience in DVD on a good widescreen TV will be the best viewing this film will ever have for most.How surprising for this unusual film to make it to DVD in front of thousands of others. It must have been someone's favorite. Good show!
Rating:
Summary: Cool, murky, intelligent
Review: Greenaway's work is not something I can be objective about. I either love his films or loathe them. "The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover" made me want to toss my television set out the window, but I spent years trying to track down a copy of "The Draughtsman's Contract" because I loved it so much. Surely one of the strangest films in my collection, TDC requires a lot of attention. You need your eyes and ears open and your wits about you in every sense of the word, because a sense of humor is critical here. The characters are unlikeable, but compelling, the action artificial and the storyline murky. The clues you need to solve the mystery of what has happened to Mr. Herbert, and who is responsible are there, but you have to work with them. Nothing is obvious here. The performances are wonderful, cool and formal as the drawings around which the story revolves. The scenes are set pieces, remarkably lit and costumed to give a very visceral sense of time and place. Greenaway's background in art comes through very strongly here as it does in "Pillow Book" (another of my favorites) giving the film a lot of depth and beauty. So that's it, my wholly subjective opinion, presented for what it's worth.
Rating:
Summary: Cool, murky, intelligent
Review: Greenaway's work is not something I can be objective about. I either love his films or loathe them. "The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover" made me want to toss my television set out the window, but I spent years trying to track down a copy of "The Draughtsman's Contract" because I loved it so much. Surely one of the strangest films in my collection, TDC requires a lot of attention. You need your eyes and ears open and your wits about you in every sense of the word, because a sense of humor is critical here. The characters are unlikeable, but compelling, the action artificial and the storyline murky. The clues you need to solve the mystery of what has happened to Mr. Herbert, and who is responsible are there, but you have to work with them. Nothing is obvious here. The performances are wonderful, cool and formal as the drawings around which the story revolves. The scenes are set pieces, remarkably lit and costumed to give a very visceral sense of time and place. Greenaway's background in art comes through very strongly here as it does in "Pillow Book" (another of my favorites) giving the film a lot of depth and beauty. So that's it, my wholly subjective opinion, presented for what it's worth.
Rating:
Summary: Whigs in Wigs
Review: I don't know if there has ever been a more stylish film thtan this masterpiece from Peter Greenaway. Much of our politics and culture stem from the Seventeenth Century. The Revolutions in Britain of 1642 and 1688 are of vital importance in understanding our modern world, and yet they have been mostly ignored by filmakers. Greenaway takes the themes of social and poltical revolt and blends them perfectly with a murder mystery and an esssay on the place of art in our lives. The Music is not based on Mozart at all, but on the far more interesting and talented Henry Purcell.
Rating:
Summary: Lovely & Amazing
Review: I first saw "the Draughtsman's Contract" in the movies when it first came out. I was rivited by the wholeness of every detail in the film. For example, the filmmakers eye for accurate detail, even down to the orange ribbions the men & women wore on their clothes!
The story is a real mind bender as well. Everything seems so matter-of-fact, but it's not that way at all. I also love how the tables turn for the obnoxious, know it all draughtsman, and how the clothes colors were reversed when that happened(black/white).
The scenes filmed by candelight were wonderful, not as pretty as those in Barry Lyndon, but with a starker authenticity, making them appear more real.
Another great thing about this movie is how it was scored. Greenaway uses Purcell, but with a twist, it's so clever & very appropriate to this film. Also, Janette Suzmann is terrific as Mrs. Herbert.
Like all of Peter Greenaway's films, this does not have mass appeal, but it's truly a masterpiece & worth a watch especially for those who enjoy period peices, mysteries & stories about the human condition.
Rating:
Summary: Lovely & Amazing
Review: I first saw "the Draughtsman's Contract" in the movies when it first came out. I was rivited by the wholeness of every detail in the film. For example, the filmmakers eye for accurate detail, even down to the orange ribbions the men & women wore on their clothes!
The story is a real mind bender as well. Everything seems so matter-of-fact, but it's not that way at all. I also love how the tables turn for the obnoxious, know it all draughtsman, and how the clothes colors were reversed when that happened(black/white).
The scenes filmed by candelight were wonderful, not as pretty as those in Barry Lyndon, but with a starker authenticity, making them appear more real.
Another great thing about this movie is how it was scored. Greenaway uses Purcell, but with a twist, it's so clever & very appropriate to this film. Also, Janette Suzmann is terrific as Mrs. Herbert.
Like all of Peter Greenaway's films, this does not have mass appeal, but it's truly a masterpiece & worth a watch especially for those who enjoy period peices, mysteries & stories about the human condition.
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