Title – Tony (2026)

Director – Matt Johnson (Blackberry)

Cast – Dominic Sessa, Antonio Banderas, Emilia Jones, Leo Woodall

Plot – Explores the life-changing summer in Provincetown for Anthony Bourdain (Sessa) where he took up a job in a busy kitchen run by the mysterious Chef (Banderas).

“Are you a good guy or a bad guy?”

Review by Eddie on 11/09/2026

An easily accessible dramedy that works as a Summer coming of age story, a dramatized expose of the early years of the late famed chef/writer Anthony Bourdain and a love letter to the chaos that is food and the culinary world, Matt Johnson’s critical A24 backed darling Tony is a fine film, even if it struggles in more ways than one to become a great one.

Another evolution in the filmmaking career of Blackberry and Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie creator Matt Johnson, Tony finds the Canadian talent behind the camera and in the writers room bringing the transformative teenage/young adulthood period of Bourdain’s existence to life in the form of The Holdovers breakout star Dominic Sessa’s highly frustrating and mostly infuriating Bourdain as he chases Emilia Jones fictitious Nancy on her journey to Provincetown where Bourdain takes up an impromptu role at Antonio Banderas chefs local seafood restaurant.

Portraying Bourdain exactly how the man himself described who he was at the time, which was someone that was spoilt, narcissistic, miserable, thoughtless and self-destructive, spending time with Sessa’s iteration of Bourdain isn’t always enjoyable or easy but the film he exists in still manages to endear itself to us thanks to Johnson’s energetic direction and the stand-out performances from Banderas and the rising Leo Woodall as the whirlwind Sal.

As good as his been in years if arguably ever, Banderas ends up being Tony’s true MVP bringing much warmth and humanity to his nameless chef, while Woodall is a force of nature as the out-of-control Sal, with the two performers doing a lot of memorable work whenever they’re on screen, ensuring that even when Bourdain the character and Sessa’s slightly distracting Adam’s apple have worn thin on us, Tony is always able to self-correct back onto its course of delivering an above average coming of age/life affirming slice of life tale.

Without a true narrative plot device that is driving things forward, with Tony very much taking place in its own unique way and pace, with Bourdain’s interest in school crush Nancy the only real consistent throughout its runtime, some viewers may find Johnson’s film aimless in nature and Bourdain fans may feel jaded that the film doesn’t feel like more of a straight up biopic that isn’t afraid to make up its own facts for the sake of entertainment value, but if viewers are willing to go along for the glacial ride with an often unlikable and deeply flawed protagonist, Tony will provide a solid 100 minutes of entertainment.

Likely to find itself a bit player in awards season showdowns thanks to Banderas notable performance and a quotable script, Tony doesn’t manage to cook up a feast for the ages but it’s another intriguing next step in the cinematic life of Johnson who appears destined to deliver a bonafide classic in the years to come.

Final Say –

A well-made and acted film that at times flirts with becoming something great, only to be held back by some narrative shortcomings, story dead ends and a frustrating main character, Tony isn’t a perfect cinematic dish but it’s still a highly watchable one thanks to Johnson’s keen directional eye and some standout supporting turns.

3 1/2 wood carvings out of 5