By Charlie Thompson, Guest Writer 

Once in a blue moon, a film comes around that evokes the level of vivid emotion and obvious passion for filmmaking that “Tony” does. 

“Tony” is a 2026 biopic, a dramatized film about a real-life person, directed by Matt Johnson and starring Dominic Sessa. Sessa stars as world famous chef and author, Anthony Bourdain, during the eventful summer of1975.  

After losing a writing fellowship at his college, a 19-year-old Bourdain chases his high school crush to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Broke and unhoused, Bourdain accepts a job at a small seafood restaurant that changes the course of his life and ignites his passion for food. 

The film should be Johnson’s ticket to the “A-List” directors of Hollywood alongside the likes of Christopher Nolan and Paul Thomas Anderson. Every single second of “Tony” is directed to absolute perfection with masterful lighting, especially demonstrated during the striper fish catching scene, imaginative camera work and the frequent camera cuts.  

Sessa is equally good in his role, perfectly capturing the version of Bourdain that he described himself as in his novel “Kitchen Confidential,” as “a spoiled, miserable, narcissistic, self-destructive and thoughtless young lout, badly in need of a good ass-kicking.”  

Another actor who was absolutely phenomenal was Antonio Banderas who plays Tony’s mentor Ciro. Banderas channels a powerful passion for cooking and is the perfect cool to Bourdain’s fiery personality. 

“Tony” truly has something for everyone. First off, it is absolutely hysterical and the realistic kitchen dialogue and insults are very similar to hit FOX show “The Bear.” Balancing the humor, however, is on extreme intensity demonstrated in scenes like Bourdain’s conversations with his family and any scene in the kitchen in the second and third act of the film.  

As funny as “Tony” is, it is also full of melancholy and woe. Bourdain betrays and lies his way through the entire film which causes a deep unhappiness for himself and everyone around him. It also touches on subjects of addiction, depression and a feeling of being lost in life which Bourdain must overcome. 

The balance between powerful youthful energy and the complex portrait of such a troubled and lost young man is very interesting and entertaining. 

“Tony” makes the viewer long for a life they have never experienced. It evokes feelings of nostalgia and a desire to return to a younger version of oneself. It feels transformative to see the main character, Tony, change little by little over the course of the film. 

My favorite scene occurs about three-quarters of the way through the film during a nighttime fishing sequence. The scene is lit and shot so beautifully it made me feel as though I was a participant of a dusk boat ride off the shore of Cape Cod. I was truly glued to my seat, afraid that if I moved a single inch the scene would end and I would be taken away from the moment. 

Other incredible elements of “Tony” include the fantastic score by composer Jay McCarrol, which perfectly wraps up the film’s elements and themes into a piano score full of heart and soul and a wonderfully written script which gives each and every character a different voice while also filling them with life. 

I have nothing but praise for “Tony” and am incredibly excited for a new generation of Bourdain readers and viewers to be born from the film and get to experience the work of such a passionate and genuine person. 

“If I’m an advocate for anything, it’s to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. Walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food. It’s a plus for everybody. Open your mind, get off the couch, move,” Bourdain said. 

So please take his advice. Get out of your bed, get your shoes on and go see “Tony” for an unforgettable time.