The new biopic 'Tony,' directed by Matt Johnson, delves into the formative years of the late chef and television personality Anthony Bourdain. The film, starring Dominic Sessa as a 19-year-old Bourdain, chronicles his experiences during the summer of 1975, following his crush and future wife, Nancy Putkoski, to Cape Cod.
While many fans see the movie as a fitting tribute to Bourdain, whose legend grew following his death by suicide in 2018, his longtime assistant Laurie Woolever has expressed reservations. In an essay for Bon Appétit, Woolever suggested that Bourdain might have disliked the public dissection of his life, titled her piece, "I Think Tony Would Have Hated This."
The film draws heavily from Bourdain's own writings, particularly his 2000 book "Kitchen Confidential," which detailed his early years in restaurant kitchens. However, 'Tony' also takes creative liberties to enhance its narrative.
Early Summers and First Jobs
'Tony' depicts Bourdain traveling to Provincetown, Massachusetts, during his summers while studying at Vassar College, pursuing Nancy. Bourdain himself alluded to this in "Kitchen Confidential," writing that he graduated high school early to chase "the object of my desire to Vassar College." He also mentioned that friends were joining him that summer, which was enough motivation for him.
In the film, Bourdain works at a fictional seafood restaurant called The Flagship. The movie dramatizes this by showing him getting drunk, having a negative encounter with Nancy, and being thrown out, only to be taken in by the restaurant owner. In reality, Bourdain secured the dishwashing job because a friend recommended him after another employee failed to show up for work. He needed the money, and his friends helped him get the position.
Key Encounters and Kitchen Dramas
The film also features Nancy working at a pizza shop, a detail that aligns with reality. The actual pizza shop, Spiritus Pizza, was used as a filming location, and its Instagram account confirmed that Bourdain's girlfriend worked there during that summer. According to location manager Charlie Harrington, Bourdain reportedly slept on top of the walk-in cooler at the back of the shop and eventually married Nancy.
A particularly dramatic scene in the movie involves a co-worker, Sal, having sex with a bride in full wedding attire while her groom and family dine inside the restaurant. This incident, according to Bourdain's book, actually happened, though he attributed it to a different co-worker named Bobby. Bourdain cited this event as a moment when he realized he wanted to become a chef.
Another memorable kitchen event depicted is Bourdain burning his hands on a hot sauté pan and asking a veteran cook, Tyrone, for bandages. The film shows Tyrone retrieving the scorching pan with his bare hands to embarrass Bourdain. While Bourdain recounted this incident in "Kitchen Confidential," the real Tyrone told director Matt Johnson that he used a towel to handle the hot pan, finding the bare-handed retrieval "insane."
The 'Bigfoot' Influence
The character referred to as 'Chef' in the film, played by Antonio Banderas, is based on a real mentor Bourdain knew as 'Bigfoot.' Although Bourdain did not meet Bigfoot until culinary school, director Matt Johnson included him in the film, stating that the mentor was a key figure in shaping Bourdain's persona. Johnson believes that Bigfoot, alongside the kitchen pirates Bourdain encountered in Provincetown, contributed significantly to the "legendary, heroic, traveling figure" that fans came to know.