Tony

Tony
Starring Dominic Sessa, Antonio Banderas, Emilia Jones, Leo Woodall
Directed by Matt Johnson

Anthony Bourdain was one of America's most prolific chefs, a culinary genius who, like pretty much all geniuses, was a troubled soul. His outward cockiness was a mask for hidden insecurities which ultimately unfortunately took over him in 2018, leaving a legacy that'll inspire future chefs for decades to come. When it comes to biopics, a story like this seems golden - a young arrogant wannabe who lied his way through life to be more impressive comes to terms with who he really is and turns his life around to find his true passion and live a fruitful, yet troubled, life. It's also the kind of biopic that could've failed on every level, resulting in another Wikipedia-sourced movie that glosses over everything and focusing on a few minor details. Fortunately, director Matt Johnson didn't go this route, but instead focused on one moment in Anthony's formative years that allowed us to stew in the juices of his work, led by an awards-worthy performance by young upstart Dominic Sessa.

While at Vassar, Anthony Bourdain (Dominic Sessa) is pitching his idea for a novel to a fellowship committee that he hasn't even started, but is confident and cocky enough to make it make sense. Thinking he's got it in the bag, he finds the courage to talk to his high school crush Nancy (Emilia Jones) at the bar, and she tells him that she's going to be spending summer in Provincetown. After finding out he didn't get the fellowship, he travels to Provincetown to find Nancy, and instead finds himself down-and-out with no money and no desire to go home. He's taken in by Chef (Antonio Banderas), the owner of a small seafood restaurant who allows him to sleep on an outside cot at his small beachside home and in return he washes dishes at the restaurant. While there he learns about cooking and develops a passion for it, and although he continues lying to Chef and Nancy, he is taken in under Chef's wing and he teaches Anthony everything he knows, but his lies catch up to him and threatens to destroy everything he built up during that summer.

"Tony" is a rare biopic that doesn't just gloss over someone's extensive life, but rather sits down with you at the dinner table and tells an intimate, emotional, heartfelt story about one small seemingly insignificant section of their life and how it truly shaped the person into becoming the worldwide sensation they'd later become. It's a delicate balancing act for "The Hangovers" standout to make Tony someone who's both so egotistical he's almost unlikable but charming enough to be rootable, and he more than lives up to the challenge. It's a movie that, technically, shouldn't work but does due to the perfect direction, impeccable performances, deeply emotional story and committed performances.

In what could've easily been regarded as a generic summer coming-of-age movie, "Tony" focuses on Anthony's life during college when he, discouraged and upset over not getting a lucrative fellowship, travels to Provincetown with his proverbial tale between his legs to meet up with a girl he's been pining for since high school, but is too self-conscious to admit even a single fault. We see him fail time and again, first with seeing Nancy with another man, and then getting drunk and belligerent at a local seafood restaurant where he's kicked out and later robbed by one of the chefs. Without a penny to his name, but also unwilling to admit any fault, he lies his way to the Chef's good graces and lands a sort of "internship" at his restaurant in return for housing under the Chef's back patio cot.  Every time you expect the movie to zig, it zags, and keeps you on your toes as you watch this flawed yet relatable character navigate his way through his zany summer adventure.

Dominic Sessa is, for the lack of a better word, born to play this role. He's dominated playing the cocky arrogant a-hole yet lovable hero in standout performances in both "The Holdovers" and "Now You See Me: Now You Don't" and he utilizes that charm to full effect here. He's both parts cocky jerk and sad puppy dog, and never leans too far to either end. He does the brunt of his work in the kitchen, where he starts as a lowly dishwasher who gets picked on by the other chefs, including more outwardly cocky Sal, played by "Tuner" star Leo Woodall, who takes Tony in under his nefarious wing and shows him the darker side of the town. The experiences Tony goes through changes him from an arrogant loser to eventually one of the world's most well-known chefs, and this summer is the moment it all changes for him, and Sessa proves himself worthy of carrying his name.

Equally, Antonio Banderas shines as the unnamed Chef who takes Tony in and shows him the ropes of cooking, at first believing Tony's constant lies and opening himself to him in ways that he seemingly never did to anyone else. He brings him into his home and his life, sharing his passion of cooking as a true mentor that cements Tony's change from wannabe author to chef although there's always the underlying thread of lies he concocts that threatens to unravel. This is Banderas's best work in a long time, and perfect fodder for the young arrogant upstart.

Oscar-winning cinematographer Michael Bauman gives the film a subtle visual language, shooting at unnatural angles and giving the town a truly lived-in feel, making it feel more natural than it would and allowing yourself to become immersed in the story as if you're actually living in the city itself. Throw in the very confined and dirty space in the kitchen and it's like you're watching an episode of "Hell's Kitchen," but bathed in natural golden hour light.

When it comes to biopics it's a dime a dozen, but every now and then one comes along that reshapes the narrative and gives a more intimate, emotional look into the life of a celebrity you've only seen on television, and "Tony" is one of those diamonds in the rough, leaving you with a newfound appreciation for a chef who's short life was marred with tragedy but also life-affirming success.

The Score: A+