The Wasteland Reviewer

Tony (2026) Written Review

Who is Anthony Bourdain? By the time of his unfortunate suicide, Bourdain had become a figure of admiration of praise well beyond the confines of the food world. One of society’s most famous chefs, Bourdain’s sharp wit and attitude made him a personality that people could connect with. A talented chef whose perspective on the cooking world transformed it with plenty of demons made him someone that people could empathize with and be entertained by. But his journey into the kitchen was not a traditional one. His impressive written voice was his early talent but A24’s latest biopic, Tony, takes audiences to the point in Bourdain’s life where cooking became his path.

What does director Matt Johnson bring to the table in bringing Bourdain’s story to life? Johnson is a talented filmmaker with a unique voice and perspective. Through his impressive retelling of the story of a smart phone in Blackberry and the innovative and creative comedy Nirvana the Band the Show the Movie, Johnson has shown that he has a great handle of the cinematic form. His touch brings Tony to life in such an engaging and impactful way. Johnson shows his ability to balance a sharp bit of humor and some real tension so well in Tony. This is not a “comedy” per se, but you will find plenty of laughs in the young and snarky Bourdain and the rest of this rag tag crew in The Flagship’s kitchen. But these characters are quite volatile as well and there is some raw and engrossing tension that will put you on the edge of your seat. Drugs and anger bring some prickly elements to the story and Johnson does not shy away from them. There are some genuinely emotionally poignant beats as well and Johnson brings them to life in some quieter moments in the film. This modest runtime flies by with strong energy which Johnson develops through some sharp montages and clever bits of storytelling. The editing by Curt Lobb and Robert Upchurch gives the film plenty of personality and some engaging momentum. Jay McCarrol’s score might be overshadowed by an excellent lineup of needle drops but it is still quite the effective tool at bringing the emotions of the story to the surface. Michael Bauman grabbed attention last year with his excellent photography in One Battle After Another and he does work of equal quality in shooting Tony, but it is subtler and more focused on impactful close-ups.

Does Johnson and the writing crew do justice in telling this pivotal chapter of Bourdain’s life? There is a clever bookend of scenes in front of academic boards that say so much about Bourdain as a person. This opening scene captures the arrogance and knack for storytelling that become such an essential piece of Bourdain’s character. The final scene is an excellent full circle moment that shows that the snark and charm that Bourdain was beloved for was still there but the growth from this summer in Provincetown shines through so clearly. This slice of life story allows for great growth in Bourdain which is essential to the effectiveness of the story. Tony is an insufferable jerk at the beginning of the film who has underlying traumas that dictate his behavior. The audience witnesses his journey of experimenting with drugs and creating general mayhem (with the horrible influence of his coworker Sal) which pushes the limits of connecting with Tony. But as he slowly finds himself underneath the wing of Chef, the enigmatic and compelling captain of The Flagship restaurant, we see the seeds of his growth. Tony chased a girl to Provincetown under the guise of a writing fellowship (that he never actually got) but the natural growth of his connection to Nancy is the heart of the film. What could have been your by-the-numbers biopic instead feels like a fresh and engrossing coming-of-age story in a beautiful summer locale. This is a film about finding one’s real identity at a formative time in life and that is deeply relatable (and Johnson and company queue into that fact so impactfully).

How does the cast bring Bourdain’s transformative summer to life? Dominic Sessa made a splash in his debut performance in The Holdovers and tackling a figure like Bourdain was an exciting prospect. Sessa brings plenty of authenticity to the performance and embodies a young Bourdain quite well. This is not an impression, but Sessa makes some adjustments to his voice and his body language to capture this arrogant and aloof persona that Bourdain was known for. The snark and sarcasm of a young Tony feel organic with Sessa sharp timing. Emilia Jones portrays the young woman who Tony is pursuing. Their dynamic grows from a contentious tension to something more meaningful and layered. Jones is not provided with the most complex of characters, but she brings natural charm and genuine emotion to the role. Leo Woodall had already delivered a powerful performance in Tuner earlier this year and he gets to have plenty of fun as the chaotic and brutish coworker who gets Tony into all types of mayhem. There is a drug-fueled mania to the performance and plenty of insecurity that Woodall quite authentically. The audience is treated to some fun comic relief from comedian Stavros Halkias. The film does not spend a lot of time with Tony’s parents, but Rich Sommer and Dagmara Dominczyk capture these characters so honestly and it gives the audience a better understanding of Tony’s upbringing and trauma. One of the biggest delights of the film is getting to watch Antonio Banderas at work. You might not understand every word that comes out of the mouth of the reserved but at times excitable Chef but his presence brings so much to the film. Watching him come to life in the kitchen with fire, precision, and care is quite engrossing. There are plenty of other moments where he gets to shine as well with his veteran presence adding so much to Sessa’ performance as Bourdain.

Does A24 and Matt Johnson have a late summer winner on their hands? This biopic comes out at the perfect time as this beautiful ocean front setting is the perfect vibe for the waning weeks of the summer. This is an engaging portrait of a young Bourdain that guides his future success while offering a universal story in its coming-of-age format. Johnson’s tight and inspired direction brings this film to life and the period it is set as well with plenty of spirit. Sessa continues to show he has a bright future in film, and he brings Bourdain to life most authentically. Tony is a must-see film in the busy and crowded month of August.