Anthony Bourdain is a name that has become inseparably linked to food, travel, and storytelling. Yet Tony chooses not to tell the complete story of the famous chef and television personality. Instead, director Matt Johnson focuses on a short but important period in Bourdain's younger years. It is a smart choice, as it gives the film room to explore where his love for food and travel came from.
Tony Focuses on a Small Part of Bourdain's Life
Where a traditional biopic often tries to squeeze an entire life into two hours, Tony takes a different approach. The film primarily takes place during the summer of 1975, when a young Anthony Bourdain arrives in Provincetown and starts working in a restaurant kitchen.
It is a relatively small chapter of his life, but one that turns out to be crucial to the person he would eventually become.
That is a smart decision. Instead of rushing through all the familiar milestones of Bourdain's career, Tony takes us back to the beginning. His fascination with food, his experiences in the kitchen, and his attraction to a life filled with new experiences are given room to develop naturally.
As a result, Tony feels less like a Wikipedia page brought to the big screen and more like a character study.
The Film Never Overplays Its Hand
Another strength of Tony is that it never constantly reminds you that you are watching a young Anthony Bourdain. There are certainly plenty of elements that fans of Bourdain will recognize, but the film trusts the audience to make those connections themselves.
That works particularly well. The film does not feel the need to turn every scene into a major life lesson or create an obvious moment where we are told: this is where Anthony Bourdain becomes Anthony Bourdain.
Instead, the relatively subtle approach makes his development feel more believable. The young Tony is obviously not yet the television personality we know, but some of his defining characteristics are already there. His curiosity, confidence, rebellious streak, and love of storytelling are beginning to take shape, while he is still trying to figure out what he actually wants to do with his life.
Dominic Sessa and Antonio Banderas Shine
A large part of the film's success comes from its strong cast. Dominic Sessa, best known for The Holdovers, takes on the role of the young Bourdain and gives the character plenty of personality.
Rather than simply playing a younger version of the television personality we already know, Sessa portrays Tony as a young man who is still searching for his place in the world. His confidence often feels like a way of hiding his own uncertainty, which makes the character more interesting.
But Sessa is not the only actor who stands out.
Antonio Banderas is particularly memorable as the restaurant's chef. His character provides an interesting contrast to Tony, and Banderas gives the role plenty of personality without ever completely taking over the film.
The chemistry between Sessa and Banderas is one of the highlights of Tony, particularly in the scenes set in the kitchen.
A Stylish and Atmospheric 1970s Setting
Tony is also a good-looking film. The production does an impressive job of capturing the atmosphere of the 1970s, while the Provincetown setting gives the movie a distinctive sense of place.
The restaurant kitchen, the coastal surroundings, the costumes, and the cinematography all contribute to an atmosphere that feels nostalgic without becoming overly sentimental.
The result is a very atmospheric film. Even though Tony is not strictly a film about food, food and cooking are constantly present in the story, and the kitchen becomes an important part of Tony's journey.
There is a genuine sense that this is where he is beginning to discover not only his passion for food, but also his fascination with people, places, and experiences.
Tony Is Not a Complete Anthony Bourdain Biopic
Perhaps the biggest limitation of Tony is also the result of its greatest strength.
Anyone expecting a comprehensive Anthony Bourdain biopic may be surprised by how much of his life is left untouched. The film deliberately stops before many of the chapters that would later make Bourdain famous.
But that is also why the approach works.
Tony is not trying to summarize Bourdain's entire life. It is a film about a young man who has not yet figured out where his life is heading and who discovers that working in a restaurant kitchen can give him something he has been looking for.
The film is ultimately more interested in showing how experiences can shape a person than in ticking off every major event from Bourdain's biography.
Tony Is an Atmospheric and Engaging Bourdain Story
Tony is a surprisingly modest film about a man whose later life was anything but modest. By focusing on just a small part of Anthony Bourdain's life, the film has the opportunity to explore the beginnings of his love for food, travel, and storytelling.
The strong cast, led by Dominic Sessa and supported by a particularly memorable Antonio Banderas, keeps the film engaging. It also looks great and does an excellent job of capturing its period, resulting in an atmospheric movie that never feels the need to over-explain what everything will eventually mean.
This is not a definitive Anthony Bourdain biopic. Instead, it offers an interesting glimpse at the period when Anthony Bourdain was slowly becoming Anthony Bourdain.
Rating: 7/10
