A new biopic about the early life of chef and TV personality Anthony Bourdain has premiered, with Dominic Sessa delivering a standout performance as the cocky yet vulnerable young man in 'Tony.' Directed by Matt Johnson, the film is based on the opening chapters of Bourdain's bestselling memoir 'Kitchen Confidential' and chronicles a formative summer in 1975 when a college-aged Bourdain, then called Tony, worked in a hectic kitchen in Provincetown, Massachusetts. The cast also includes Antonio Banderas, Emilia Jones, and Leo Woodall.
Critics have praised Sessa's portrayal, noting that he captures the balance between arrogance and loneliness that defined Bourdain's youthful persona. The film is described as a tender coming-of-age story that shows the future celebrity chef running away from home after failing to secure a summer writing scholarship, arriving nearly penniless in the seaside resort town to impress a crush.
Reviews highlight that the film does not dwell on Bourdain's later fame or his death by suicide in 2018, instead focusing on a specific moment in his life. The Guardian notes that the feelgood narrative is somewhat compromised by the audience's knowledge of Bourdain's eventual fate. Variety emphasizes that the movie avoids making anything feel predetermined, capturing the drifting freedom of a Cape Cod beach town summer. Hollywood Reporter calls it a 'tender coming-of-age portrait' that finds an ideal balance in its lead performance.
'Tony' marks a significant role for Sessa, who previously appeared in 'The Holdovers,' and continues Johnson's exploration of real-life figures after his film 'The Dirties.'