PLOT: A 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain travels to Provincetown and stumbles into the chaotic world of a restaurant kitchen, setting off a summer that will shape the course of his life.
REVIEW: Anthony Bourdain was unlike anyone else in the food industry, writing about what goes on behind the scenes in kitchens to a painfully honest degree. Kitchen Confidential is a must-read for anyone who’s ever been near a professional kitchen. So it’s exciting to finally see someone make a story of the man’s life, even if it’s only a brief, pre-fame period. While Tony follows a key moment in the life of Bourdain, this isn’t your typical biographical film. None of this happened in the way that we’re being shown. It’s more of a spiritual biography, offering a look at how Bourdain could have ended up on his ultimate path.
Whether it’s a film like 2014’s Chef or even something like Ratatouille, I love a movie that takes a romantic approach to food. Eating is something all of us do, and good food can often be taken for granted. Breaking down how these flavors are extracted and combined, and the people who make it all possible. Tony is the story of a man who finds his life’s purpose in food. Dominic Sessa isn’t doing any sort of impression as Bourdain; he’s embodying someone who thinks he has it all figured out while clearly being desperate to be molded by those around him. Even in his effort to replicate their actions, he finds more of himself as he takes on the elements that work for him.
I really enjoyed how much mentorship was a theme throughout. Tony is desperately looking for direction without even realizing it. He’s clearly very motivated, but he doesn’t know how to channel that energy into something productive. Antonio Banderas‘ Chef sees someone who’s lost and gives him a chance. But it’s up to Tony to be able to make the most of it. Conversely, Leo Woodall‘s Sal shows Tony what his life would be like if he followed this directionless path. Every performance here is great, with every actor feeling naturalistic and blending in with this world. But I’ll be truly disappointed if Banderas doesn’t get some kind of Awards Consideration, as he delivers one of the best performances of his career.
There are times when Tony can hit some stereotypical beats. The romance angle with Emilia Jones feels straight out of a romantic comedy with its setup. Or the local sleazebag trying to sleep with every girl he comes across. Yet it’s about how the film subverts any expectations you may set for it. Their presence is merely a tool for character growth. This is a slice of a very complicated man’s life.
Matt Johnson is easily one of the most versatile directors working today, going from serious dramas to mind-bending science fiction comedy and back again. He has a Richard Linklater quality to him with how he’s able to make it feel like we’re simply dropping in on these real people’s lives versus showing us a perfectly crafted Hollywood tale. He really allows us to simply sit in the moment, excising dialogue when he can to just let the characters’ body language speak for itself. He never holds the audience’s hand and has enough faith in them to figure it out on their own. And I loved his framing, with characters sometimes getting blocked in shots, adding to the realism of the world. Everything isn’t always picture perfect.
While the film takes place in the 70s, there’s a timeless nature to the presentation where it could easily fit into the modern era. This was a genius choice because it allows many different generations to easily connect with the story without putting up a barrier for entry. Though I definitely could have used some more absurd 70s hairstyles. There’s also a comfort to both the color palette and the set design. I would live in this world if given the chance.
Tony serves as a wonderful tribute to the man himself. While we can never know what he would have thought of it, it’s a beautiful portrait of a human being discovering his purpose in life. The details may be fluid, but the emotional impact is always present. The performances from Sessa and Banderas are fantastic and help to elevate an otherwise simple story. I’ve always loved Johnson as a filmmaker, and Tony is proof that he’s only getting better with each new movie.
Tony is now playing in limited release and expands August 21st!
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