Tony, aka Anthony Bourdain, tells the story of the real-life chef, and how he came to be in that position, portrayed here as a young man, by Dominic Sessa (The Holdovers), in a film directed and co-written by Matt Johnson… not the The The guy, but the man who brought us 2023’s superb Blackberry.
Taking place in 1975 – as can be seen from the cinema showing Jaws, he’s very much a Walter Mitty-style individual, claiming to all and sundry that he’s a writer – despite never having got started on actually writing anything, and that he’s scored a Fellowship in that discipline, which would take him to New York City. This is a lie he also tries on Nancy (Emilia Jones – Brimstone, Cat Person), who he fancied from school, but since she’s soon off to Provincetown in Massachusetts for the summer, oh, what a coincidence it would be if he just also had to end up there?
Nothing ever goes to plan, but after making a dick of himself in Chef José Vatel’s (Antonio Banderas) restaurant, with no money to his name, he finds himself getting a job there – lying again by claiming he has experience of working in a kitchen, plus for his digs, he sleeps on the hammock outside.
It’s an interesting environment, given how the chef openly allows random drug misuse to go on between the staff while on the job, and one of his new colleagues is Sal (Leo Woodall – Tuner), who sleeps around, and carves a notch of wood from the door of every woman he does the business with – even including a bride-to-be at the restaurant, when the group turns up for a wedding party booking!
Obviously, no spoilers as to how things go – aside from mentioning the moment where Tony gets a nasty injury while trying to schuck an oyster, but… duct tape to the rescue! Very sanitary! – but for a film that won’t get anywhere near as many eyes on it as it should have, this is a drama that has great talent at the fore – particularly with Sessa and Jones, superb writing and direction, and even Antonio Banderas can restore his reputation after whatever the fuck was going on with Paddington In Peru!
Plus, it’s time for Matt Johnson and his co-writers to get a higher-budget film!
NOTE: There are no mid- nor post-credit scenes.
Tony is in cinemas now, but isn’t yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD. However, once announced, it will appear on the New DVD Blu-ray 3D and 4K releases UK list.
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 106 minutes
Release date: August 21st 2026
Studio: A24
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 (ARRIRAW (4.6K))
Cinema: Odeon Trafford Centre
Rating: 8/10
Director: Matt Johnson
Producers: Matt Johnson, Matthew Miller, Tim White, Trevor White
Writers: Todd Bartels, Lou Howe, Matt Johnson, Matthew Miller
Music: Jay McCarrol
Cast:
Tony: Dominic Sessa
Chef: Antonio Banderas
Nancy: Emilia Jones
Sal: Leo Woodall
Stavros: Stavros Halkias
Tyrone: Michael Jibrin
Mary: Monica Raymund
Pierre: Rich Sommer
Gladys: Dagmara Dominczyk
Christopher: Liam Fitch
Robin: Caroline Portu
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.