#REVIEW: “TONY”

Review by Nicholas Porteous for Mr. Will Wong

Anthony Bourdain, the legendary Chef, Writer and Documentary Host, left a legacy of countless celebrated travelogues and memoirs when he died in 2018. In 1975, Tony was–in his own words–“a spoiled, miserable, narcissistic, self-destructive and thoughtless young lout, and badly in need of a good ass-kicking.” These are the same words that open Matt Johnson‘s hyper-specific new biopic–(and follow-up to Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie)–Tony, chronicling a pivotal Summer in the life of a teenage Bourdain.

Dominic Sessa embodies the titular miserable young lout, joined by a fantastic supporting cast which includes Leo Woodall (fresh off last year’s Tuner), Stavros Halkias (as “Stavros“), Emilia Jones, and a wonderfully soulful Antonio Banderas. Notably absent from the cast is Matt Johnson himself. This is his first feature spent entirely off-camera, and while his presence is felt in Tony‘s sharp, instinctive storytelling, the Movie feels as though it’s consciously playing in a space closer to a mainstream coming-of-age story–more disconnected from Johnson’s Torontonian mad genius persona than any of his other works.

Tony is driven by desire for his mysterious high school crush Nancy (Emilia Jones). To convince her he’s worthy of attention, he spins an elaborate web of lies under the cover of his new job in Banderas‘ kitchen and his writerly ambitions. Johnson sets up an angel-vs-devil-on-his-shoulder dichotomy between Leo Woodall, as Tony‘s toxic dude-bro colleague, and Banderas, as the sage chef mentor who lends him his hammock for a bed. Theoretically, Bourdain’s final form lies somewhere between those two characters, but we never see it coalesce.

Tony is filled to the brim with the spirit of Cape Cod. The sights, sounds, and textures sing–to the point that I could smell the beach. If you have even a mild fondness for seafood or cooking in general, it’s a movie that will make you hungry. I wish it was as evocative when it came to Tony himself. Sessa dives headfirst into that “miserable, narcissistic, self-destructive” personality, but his arc’s a bit flat. The Screenplay puts a lot of emphasis on the distinction between “Tony” and “Anthony” as a mark of his evolution, which feels insubstantial–more like a shortcut than a true encapsulation of Bourdain’s identity. I believe Tony will connect more among those who have a pre-existing relationship with Bourdain. I enjoyed Roadrunner, the 2021 Documentary, and a couple of his travelogues, but I haven’t read Kitchen Confidential. I don’t have the reverence for Bourdain that Tony is playing into, and while it’s an entertaining series of events, the Film doesn’t totally stand on its own–without all the supporting material.

If you’re still high off the runaway brilliance of Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie, don’t expect an encore. Tony is an earnest portrait of an immature personality that feels a bit safe in the shadow of Johnson’s other, more inventive films. But if you’re a foodie with a hunger for insight into the genesis of one of the world’s most storied celebrity chefs, Tony might be just the ticket.

A24 release TONY August 14, 2026 in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, and everywhere August 21, 2026.