Writer/Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Jon Favreau, Bobby Cannavale and Sofia Vergara
‘A Captivating Classic’
Not many actors In Hollywood have abilities to enthral audiences like Bobby Cannavale. Since his rise to recognition in the 1990’s, Cannavale has made unforgettable movies. Whether it is gangsters, frustrated fathers or spies enduring dangers, Cannavale has portrayed countless compelling characters. Arguably, Cannavale’s finest strength as an actor has always been a powerful screen presence. He is one of those rare actors that has often had an aptitude for stealing the show in supporting roles in movies with limited screen-time. Even when he is not the centre of attention in his films, Cannavale has always left a lasting impression. Through his abilities to create characters that are easy to relate to, Cannavale has become an actor which audiences value. Throughout his strong career, Cannavale has made many memorable movies which are definitely worth talking about without a doubt.
I’m a huge fan of Cannavale and adore all the films that he has made in his career. However, “Chef” is definitely my favourite. Ever since its release in 2014, Jon Favreau’s film has stood the test of time as a cooking classic. Packed with breathtaking production design, riveting storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the finest cooking dramas ever made. At the centre of it all is an extraordinary performance by Bobby Cannavale, who embodies a strong chef seeking to manage a stressful restaurant. Ultimately, what makes “Chef” a masterpiece is its universal appeal. Unlike most films about cooking, it covers strong themes that everyone will relate to. It delivers a meaningful message about determination that would resonate with everyone. A riveting classic about chefs which are inspiring, there are countless reasons why “Chef” is a commemorated movie that is worth seeing.
“Chef” tells the story of a chef that struggles to manage a restaurant causing tension. Jon Favreau portrays Carl Casper, an ambitious chef with bright dreams of achieving success in a competitive profession. Carl has always been passionate about his job of cooking that he loves dearly. However, Carl’s life changes when he quits his job at a restaurant causing disaster. Just when all hope seems to be lost for Carl, he finds redemption in hoping his own food truck profession. Assisted by his longtime friend Tony (Bobby Cannavale), Carl embarks on a journey to accomplish success in a food truck profession. As all the odds are stacked against his favour, Carl begins to wonder if it’s possible for him to achieve success in a tense profession causing disaster. Questioning his passion for cooking, Carl begins wondering if success in his competitive profession is worth pursuing.
Jon Favreau is a newcomer towards stories of chefs. A fantastic filmmaker, Favreau carved a successful career making comic-book movies about heroes in danger. With “Chef”, however, the filmmaker created his first cooking drama. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the struggles faced by chefs facing adversity, but he succeeded tremendously. Using strong cinematography, Favreau captures a chef on a journey to discover identity. Inspired with Nora Ephron’s “Julie & Julia”, Favreau expertly uses montages capturing a chef seeking to achieve recognition in a profession which is frightening. For instance, montages enhance the cooking scene. During this heartfelt scene, Carl seeks to prepare dishes for a restaurant that he has loved dearly. Through bold montages, Favreau captures the hardships chefs are experiencing. Montages are tricky techniques to use in most films. As Peyton Reed’s “Ant-Man” suggested, montages enhance commemorated comic-book movies. That being said, it works tremendously in this film. Through stunning visuals, Favreau captures the tensions that commemorated chefs seeking success in competitive restaurants are facing.
Another commendable aspect of “Chef” which merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, the movie is extremely well made. Favreau’s decisions to shoot the movie in real-life restaurants is risky but pays off tremendously. For instance, the restaurant locations enhance the job resignation scene. During this memorable scene, Carl gets into a tense argument with his boss leading towards his sudden resignation. Through using real-life restaurants, Favreau captures the tension that chefs are facing. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Christophe Beck’s music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the burden that commemorated chefs bear. Through breathtaking production design, Favreau captures frightening struggles of commemorated chefs facing a decline.
Storytelling is one of the reasons why “Chef” is a film about cooking which is captivating. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses dramatic monologues to capture tension chefs in a grim profession are facing. Throughout the movie, Favreau uses dramatic monologues to capture tension that chefs in a stressful career are facing. For instance, dramatic monologues elevate the critic rant scene. During this tense scene, Carl vents out his feelings in a rant at a famous food critic. Using strong monologues, Favreau captures the tensions chefs treated poorly by critics are facing. Monologues are tricky techniques to use in movies. As Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine” suggested, dramatic monologues enhance romantic dramas. As Craig Gillespie’s “I, Tonya” claimed, dramatic monologues enhance ice-skating films. That being said, it works immensely in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Favreau captures the lives of chefs that face a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Bobby Cannavale delivers one of his finest career performances as Tony. Cannavale achieved appreciation for playing gangsters facing tension in crime dramas. With “Chef”, however, he took on his most complex role. It isn’t easy to portray a chef seeking success in a competitive culinary industry but he pulls it off successfully. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most devoted role. Cannavale has often excelled at playing emotional heroes under tense pressure, and “Chef” showcased his strengths as an actor. Through captivating expressions, he captures the angst, dedication and grief of a chef seeking success in a tense profession. It’s a phenomenal performance by one of the most commemorated actors in the industry.
Jon Favreau is fantastic as a chef seeking to start his own food truck that causes sorrow. Favreau has spent most of his career playing comical characters in superhero movies. With “Chef”, however, the actor showcased talent for cooking that he hadn’t shown before in his career. Whether he’s ranting at a food critic in a restaurant that’s demanding or cooking up a dish he finds appetizing, Favreau uses body language to create a chef that’s compelling. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the best actors which is working in the industry today.
The final, most notable standout in the cast is Scarlett Johansson. As the female manager of a restaurant, she brings heartfelt emotion to the movie.
Finally, “Chef” would earn the appreciation of everyone for capturing the struggles faced by a chef. Unlike most cooking movies, it tackles universal themes that everyone will relate to. It discusses strong themes including ambitions, cooking and social media that would resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be fans of cooking to appreciate it. It delivers a strong message about importance of following one’s dreams which would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Chef” is one of those rare culinary movies everyone will adore.
Fans of Bobby Cannavale will definitely enjoy “Chef” and so will movie-goers seeking bold entertainment. A captivating classic about cooking, it honours an actor that has built a legacy that’s iconic.
Nearly 15 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about chefs with a love for cooking seeking success in a competitive profession that’s challenging, it’s a riveting reminder about a commemorated actor earning a huge fan following for his abilities to portray compelling characters in engaging movies which are worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 