TONY -- How to Become a Better Person

Review by Chadd Clubine

Anthony Bourdain was a complicated man, and Dominic Sessa — who's made a name for himself playing layered young characters — feels like inspired casting to play him at 19 in Tony. Writer-director Matt Johnson is having quite a year, following up Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie with a completely different register. That genre jump might raise eyebrows, but look back at his 2023 biopic BlackBerry. Johnson has quietly become one of the sharpest filmmakers working, and Tony should cement that on a bigger stage. The cast he's assembled here is unreal, and the result is shaping up to be one of the most compelling true stories on screen this year.

It's nearly impossible to talk about Tony without noting how personal the film feels. Even for someone who's worked in the food industry, there's something universally relatable in the story it tells. Dominic Sessa plays Tony before he becomes Anthony Bourdain — a young guy who, after a spontaneous trip, ends up working in a kitchen just to get by, the last place he ever expected to land. As an introvert, he finds a community in that kitchen, and that discovery speaks volumes about the work he'd go on to do later in life.

Matt Johnson's directorial style is infectious. You can tell he's working within a budget, but he consistently lets story and character take center stage. Tony covers a classic hero's journey, though it helps to come in with some sense of who Bourdain is. Johnson focuses on a chapter of his life that doesn't always paint him in the best light — but that's what gives him room to grow. Bourdain is out to prove the doubters wrong, but he comes to realize that doing so means being held accountable for his actions along the way.

Dominic Sessa's performance is terrific, proving he's no one-hit wonder after his breakout in The Holdovers. It's easy to see the surface resemblance between that character and this one, but by the end of Tony, Sessa fully embodies the real-life person. The supporting cast shines too. Emilia Jones and Leo Woodall are genuine scene-stealers, and Antonio Banderas turns in one of his best performances in years.

While a lot works in this film, there are a few shortfalls in story and characterization. On a personal level, it feels perfect. On a technical level, it's almost there. Tony genuinely captures its subject's story, but doesn't quite lean into who the supporting characters are. Leo Woodall's character is intriguing, yet the film seems to sideline him — likely for budget reasons — only to bring him back for a motive that doesn't fully land. While Banderas delivers one of his best performances — quiet, unpredictable, commanding — the film never quite leans into who his character is, nor does it capture enough of the dialogue between him and Tony. He remains a mystery, but there's something missing in his characterization that could have pushed Tony's arc even further.

Overall, Tony is undoubtedly one of the best — and most inspiring — films of the year. It captures something relatable that will resonate far beyond the restaurant industry. Sessa delivers another terrific performance, backed by a supporting cast that shines. Matt Johnson is well on his way to becoming one of the most distinctive voices in filmmaking today.

Tony premieres in limited theaters August 7th, and will expand nationwide August 21st!

RATING: 4/5