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I’m pretty much the opposite of what one would call a foodie, so my knowledge of Anthony Bourdain comes entirely from the renowned chef’s pop-culture reputation, rather than any regular viewing of his multiple culinary and travel documentary series or reading any of his books. That turns out to be a perfectly solid perspective for viewing “Tony,” director and co-writer Matt Johnson’s biopic that follows the young Bourdain during a summer he spent working at a restaurant in Provincetown, Massachusetts.Tom's Guide Verdict: “Tony”Rating: 3/5 StarsVerdict: Although it may not encompass the entirety of renowned chef and documentarian Anthony Bourdain’s life and career, “Tony” is entertaining slice-of-life drama about an arrogant young man finding his purpose over the course of a meaningful summer in 1975 Provincetown.Where to watch: Opens in select theaters Aug. 7 and theaters nationwide Aug. 21Aside from its closing title cards that give a brief summary of some of Bourdain’s major career achievements, “Tony” has essentially nothing to do with the Bourdain who was a famous face on TV for nearly two decades. Instead, it’s a small-scale coming-of-age drama set in 1975, which just happens to have a future celebrity as its main character.In some ways, that makes it less distinctive, since it wouldn’t take much to change this into an entirely fictional story. But it also avoids many of the pitfalls of a typical biopic, honing in on a specific period rather than trying to encompass Bourdain’s entire life.‘Tony’ tells an entertaining slice-of-life storyA student at Vassar College in upstate New York, Tony (Dominic Sessa) is insistent that no one call him Anthony, and in general he lives up to the quote on the movie’s opening title card, from Bourdain’s 2000 memoir “Kitchen Confidential”: “I was — to be frank — a spoiled, miserable, narcissistic, self-destructive and thoughtless young lout, and badly in need of a good ass-kicking.” That makes him a bit tough to root for, even as he gradually fumbles toward some simple but important life lessons, courtesy of a handful of key figures.
