ABC News says “Tony,” the new Anthony Bourdain biopic, centers on a single summer in 1975, when the future chef and TV personality worked in a Cape Cod kitchen. The review describes the film as a coming-of-age story that offers only a limited look at Bourdain’s early life.
Director and co-writer Matt Johnson takes liberties with that period, according to the review, which says the movie follows a young Bourdain as he moves from dishwasher to plating shrimp cocktails and learning the rough culture of the kitchen. The film also introduces a new mentor character played by Antonio Banderas.
The review says the movie does not fully capture the larger personality Bourdain would later become known for in books and travel television. It also notes that while the film alludes to drugs, it does not depict Bourdain’s own heroin use.
Still, the review points to some strong moments, including appearances by Eric Ripert, Emilia Jones and Leo Woodall. “Tony,” an A24 release, opens in Los Angeles and New York on Aug. 7 before expanding on Aug. 21, according to ABC News.
