‘Kitchen’ stars find humility in mob wives

‘Kitchen’ stars find humility in mob wives

By KATIE CAMPIONE

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES

Ever seen a female-led mob movie? Neither had “The Kitchen” writer and director Andrea Berloff, and that’s why she says she jumped at the chance to adapt DC Vertigo’s comic series of the same name.

“The Kitchen,” which opens in theaters today, tells the story of three mob wives in 1970s Hell’s Kitchen who are forced to take over the family business when their husbands are sent to prison. Elisabeth Moss, Tiffany Haddish, and Melissa McCarthy play women who, despite a common goal, are motivated by different experiences.

McCarthy’s Kathy is a mother of two who loves her husband and is worried for her family while he’s away. Moss’ Claire, who suffered through an abusive relationship, feels liberated by her husband’s arrest. Haddish’s Ruby is the only black woman associated with the Irish mob and has a unique perspective because of it.

In order to embrace their characters’ journeys, the three actresses had to think about what happened to the wives up until the day the cameras started rolling.

“I always thought about Kathy as just always being smart, always being capable and no one ever asking for her opinion and knowing that she wasn’t able to even offer it,” McCarthy said. “And I thought, ‘What is that resentment and frustration?’ And then when you mix that with the panic of not being able to take care of your children and keep a roof over their head. What is that person willing to do?”

Treating each woman with humility was key to embodying them, Moss said.

While audiences may wince at some scenes, they may also feel a sense of empowerment watching these women take control of their lives.