Dominic Sessa, who gained attention for his lead turn in “The Holdovers,” is playing the late Anthony Bourdain in “Tony,” an upcoming film produced by A24. Emilia Jones, Antonio Banderas, Rich Sommer and Stavros Halkias (!) are also part of the cast.
Now, after testing, “Tony” is getting reshoots starting April 22. Hopefully, they can better this movie, which is eyeing a fall release and a likely premiere at TIFF.
The film is directed by Matt Johnson, known for 2023’s acclaimed “BlackBerry.” The screenplay comes from Todd Bartel and Lou Howe. Though plot specifics are still technically under wraps, “Tony” is supposed to take place in 1976, when a young Bourdain had a life-changing experience working and living in Provincetown, Mass.
Bourdain made his mark in the culinary world as an executive chef in Manhattan during the 1980s. His breakthrough came with the release of Kitchen Confidential: “Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly,” a bestselling memoir that propelled him to stardom.
Known for his raw honesty and no-nonsense perspective on food and culture, Bourdain became a beloved figure through his Travel Channel series “Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations,” which aired for eight seasons. He died by suicide in 2018.
Would Bourdain have approved of a Hollywood biopic about his life? Probably not. He wasn’t the type to seek artifice out of the spotlight. In fact, this film feels like the kind of thing he would’ve resisted most.
Regardless, Johnson is talented, and maybe “Tony” can turn out to be a good movie — much like “BlackBerry” and this year’s “Nirvana the Band The Show The Movie.” Expect lots of handheld camerawork and rapid zooms — his forte.