Tony Movie Review: A Young Anthony Bourdain Finds His Calling
Without romanticising the burns, cuts and pains of being a young chef, the Matt Johnson directorial tells the story of the one summer that changed Anthony’s life.
Anthony Bourdain's Journey
Anthony Bourdain has left an indelible mark on the world, and every generation comes around to him in some way. The film 'Tony' tells the story of a lost, rebellious college kid who finds himself in Provincetown, Cape Cod, one summer, and how the kitchen makes him a man.
Anthony (Dominic Sessa), or Tony as he likes to go by, is a brilliant liar. He convinces the jury of a writing fellowship of his abilities to write a book on a story that he makes up on the spot. Arrogant, egotistical young Tony walks up to his high-school crush Nancy (Emilia Jones) in a bar afterwards with confidence, and claims to have the fellowship in the bag and invites her to New York.
The words “I’m going to Cape Cod for the summer” change the trajectory of his life. Tony follows a girl to Provincetown, where he meets the chef (Antonio Banderas), an old, seasoned professional, who gives him refuge on his porch and appoints him as a dishwasher.
“I was — to be frank — a spoiled, miserable, narcissistic, self-destructive, and thoughtless young lout badly in need of a good a**-kicking,” writes Anthony Bourdain in the chapter titled ‘Food is Sex’ in Kitchen Confidential. And a good a**-kicking he got.
A Summer of Self-Discovery
Tony is woken up brutally with a pot of salty seawater on his face every morning, and spends his days hunched over the sink washing dishes, and his evenings under the influence and indulging in healthy teenage activities.
It is a way of life in P-town summer. Somewhere along the way, the kitchen becomes the place where he is no longer just washing dishes, but dreaming of something big. Bigger than himself.
He shucks oysters, portions fish, learns how to make sauce and reads Auguste Escoffier’s 1903 classic cookbook, Le Guide Culinaire from the chef’s bookshelf.
Domnic Sessa’s portrayal of the late chef, with the lose clothing, wide smile, hunched back and brooding look is uncannily convincing. His gait is confident and Sessa is able to bring out a disarmingly tender approach to not just the mannerism but also in the vulnerability beneath.
The picturisation of the sleepy beach town in Cape Cod is beautiful and intimate, and almost makes you want to spend a summer there hoping to bump into Tony and dine at the Lobster Pot.
Tony is not a film that leaves you in awe. It’s not a larger-than-life story about a celebrity chef who travelled the world and ate with passion. Tony may not leave you inspired, or hopeful, but it will leave you hungry. For food, life, and audacity.
Tony is currently running in theatres.
