Writer/Director: Matt Johnson
Starring: Dominic Sessa, Emilia Jones and Antonio Banderas
‘A Dazzling Drama’
Few food critics have managed to gain a fan following as huge as Anthony Bourdain. Following fame in the 2000’s, Bourdain transformed into a successful chef. On a personal level, I find Bourdain’s passion for cooking relatable. Several years ago, my cousin became a chef establishing his own restaurant in Toronto. Raised in a dysfunctional family, he turned to cooking as an escape from painful reality. Fond of Gordon Ramsey, his dream he hoped to achieve in every way was to open his own cafe one day. He would often enjoy going on a hundred-foot journey to the local grocery store to purchase ingredients he loved dearly. Like Anthony Bourdain, his passionate love for food was hard to contain. It didn’t take long before I bonded with a relative that created dishes my family appreciated. It was always a treat to eat dishes made by a relative that loved freshly cooked meat. When he opened up a prosperous restaurant with a successful menu, my cousin’s dream came true. Located in the heart of Toronto, the restaurant sold tasty Pakistani dishes people loved to follow. However, my hope of eating at his restaurant never turned into a reality. As my cousin became extremely busy with running his eatery, our relationship ended abruptly. Drawn towards the taste of things, he no longer had any time for attending family gatherings. Concerned about quality of his food, he adopted a negative attitude. It was devastating to part ways with a relative whose dishes my family would praise. No longer on talking terms today, it’s heartbreaking to say that we have parted way. Several years later, I treasure warm memories of a cousin that changed my perceptions of food forever.
As someone treasuring a cousin that loved cooking dearly, I adored “Tony”. Released in 2026, Matt Johnson’s latest movie honours Anthony Bourdain’s legacy. Packed with breathtaking visuals, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s a brilliant biopic. At the centre of it all is Dominic Sessa, who embodies a chef with charisma. Although “Tony” is a captivating drama, it isn’t a flawless film. It suffers from uneven pacing. Nevertheless, it offers delicious entertainment that will definitely without doubt satisfy fans of Anthony Bourdain.
“Tony” tells the true story of how Anthony Bourdain discovered cooking shaping destiny. Dominic Sessa embodies Tony, an ambitious youth searching for his identity. When he is hired by famous chef Jose Vatel (Antonio Banderas) to work in a restaurant, Tony is stuck in a job he doesn’t want. However, soon Tony develops a passion for a competitive profession that changes his life forever. Forming love for cooking, Tony questions whether dreams are worth achieving.
Matt Johnson is fascinated with real-life figures that deserve attention. A fantastic Canadian filmmaker, Johnson has often made engaging biopics about real-life figures. His biopic “BlackBerry” captured ambitious entrepreneurs that founded one of the world’s greatest smartphone companies. Using captivating cinematography, Johnson captures a culinary chef embarking on a journey to find his identity. Evoking Jon Favreau’s “Chef”, Johnson effectively uses montages to capture the passionate nature of an aspiring chef. For instance, montages elevate the cooking lobster scene. During this unforgettable scene, Anthony passionately seeks to prepare a lobster dish for his girlfriend at his restaurant. It brought back fond memories of a cousin that loved cooking dishes which shaped his identity. Montages are tricky techniques. As Lasse Hallstrom’s “The Hundred-Foot Journey” suggested, montages elevate movies about Indian cooking. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Using stunning visuals, Johnson captures tensions that chefs are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Tony” that merits appreciation is the production. Johnson’s decision to shoot the movie in real-life kitchens across America is risky but works tremendously. Evoking Mark Mylod’s “The Menu”, Johnson effectively uses real-life kitchens to capture hardships chefs go through. For instance, the real-life kitchens elevate the collaboration scene. During this heartfelt scene, Anthony develops a strong bond with his manager chef by cooking a dish together. It reminded me of my bond with a cousin that created delicious dishes my family appreciated. Moreover, the musical score is magn ificent. Jay McCarrol’s music contributes to the success of the movie. It gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden that chefs bear. Through stunning production, Johnson captures harsh realities of the culinary profession.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Tony” is a film about cooking that’s compelling. In Hollywood, most movies about famous chefs rarely address their personal struggles that are misunderstood. For instance, Nora Ephron’s “Julie & Julia” depicted a pair of chefs cooking delicious dishes without facing any dilemma. Thankfully, however, “Tony” avoids these pitfalls of the genre. Evoking John Wells’ “Burnt”, Johnson effectively uses silence to capture struggles of chefs whose lives are burnt. For instance, silence elevates the family phone call scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Anthony has a sad phone call with his family whom he abandons after becoming a chef. It reminded me of my broken relationship with a chef cousin with whom I parted leaving me emotionally devastated. Through silence, Johnson creates a portrait of chefs audiences can easily relate to. Silence is.a tricky technique. As Tran Anh Hung’s “The Taste of Things” suggested, silence elevates films about French cooking. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Johnson honours a chef that’s beloved today.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Dominic Sessa delivers one of his best career performances as Anthony Bourdain. Sessa achieved appreciation for playing teens in coming-of-age movies. With “Tony”, however, he took on his most tricky role. It isn’t easy to portray a legendary chef that changed the culinary world but he succeeds. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most complex role. With riveting expressions, he captures ambition, dedication and strong spirit of a chef seeking to succeed in tough professions. It’s a powerful performance from one of the most promising young actors working today.
While the movie is mainly a stunning showcase for Sessa, the supporting cast is also spectacular. Antonio Banderas is brilliant, capturing sorrow of a renowned chef struggling to run a restaurant that hits a crushing low. Emilia Jones is extraordinary, bringing charisma to a teenage girl falling in love with a chef causing a dilemma. Lastly, Leo Woodall merits appreciation. As a reckless chef, he brings comical relief to the movie.
Despite its extraordinary performances, however, “Tony” can’t entirely honour the legacy of a commemorated chef that’s legendary. Johnson’s decision to integrate subplots about the seedy underbelly of the culinary world is bold but doesn’t entirely succeed. Due to this faulty technique, scenes that focus on Anthony’s drug addiction aren’t as engaging as his journey to become a successful chef in his profession. As Darren Aronofsky’s “Requiem for a Dream” suggested, subplots about substance abuse elevate movies about drug addiction. Moreover, the film lacks a compelling ending. It’s an ambiguous conclusion that fails to bring the movie to a satisfying resolution. At worst, it perpetuates false stereotypes about chefs that aren’t true to reality. Therefore, “Tony” can’t quite honour a commemorated food critic that people adore.
Nevertheless, fans of Anthony Bourdain will definitely enjoy “Tony” and so would audiences seeking delicious entertainment. A brilliant biopic, it honours a legendary food critic that captivated the public.
Nearly 40 years after Anthony Bourdain became a legendary food critic by going against the grain, it’s a riveting reminder that the stories of famous chefs are absolutely worth telling in memorable movies which entertain.
As strong as Anthony’s love for cooking, it has motivated me to move on many years after parting ways with a cousin that prioritized becoming a successful chef over maintaining friendships by treasuring positive memories of a commemorated relative that cultivated my lifelong love for eating dishes that are appetizing.
4/5 stars
The Film Buff 