A24's TONY (2026) is the Epitome of 'Fake it til you Make it' | Film Review

The Underbelly of the Restauranter, the Harsh Reality of Being a Chef 

A biopic that takes you on a journey of self-discovery, taking you back to a single summer of Anthony Bourdain’s life where he discovers his love for food. He unearths his resilience and understands the true meaning of wealth, it isn’t lying and cheating but instead, learning and nurturing relationships. 

Anthony Bourdain is a remarkable public figure who charmed the world with his storytelling and his look on life but this film takes you back to a time where he didn’t truly know himself. Where he was fighting to stay relevant, aching to be noticed and battling to impress everyone around him. In this film, Anthony Bourdain is young, dumb and arrogant, he’s sees himself as superior and in this film his ego is shot back down to earth. Whether you are familiar with Bourdain’s work or not, this is a simple story with likeable flawed characters who draw you in and entice you. You don’t need to be a fan of Bourdain’s work to appreciate how significant this single summer was in his life but I’m sure after watching, it’ll spark your curiosity. 

“I was — to be frank — a spoiled, miserable, narcissistic, self-destructive and thoughtless young lout, and badly in need of a good ass-kicking.”

This isn’t your typical story of self-discovery, it takes a moment to finds it footing but when it does it sprints over the finish line. TONY (2026) is a character journey, a film that focuses on the study of individuals all trying to be someone, all trying to stay afloat, all trying to make an impact. 

In terms of direction and execution, the film is electric, fun and memorable. The soundtrack complimented the chaotic kitchen scenes and the daily montages built a comedic repetition I thoroughly enjoyed. In terms of story though, the film tried to inject a little too much Hollywood into a very subtle story. I wanted less romance, less cliche and more realism because the film as a whole felt very natural but those moments of grand gesture almost lost my attachment to the character and his drive. 

Dominic Sessa is a performer we’ve all fallen in love with after this breathtaking portrayal in ‘The Holdovers’ (2023) and this role felt like a perfect extension of his filmography. He has an effortless air about him, he evokes natural charm with a striking arrogance and embodied Bourdain brilliantly. Alongside, Antonio Banderas, who in my eyes can do no wrong, this pairing were magnetic on screen together and developed a beautiful bond over food and vulnerability. Leo Woodall had a chaotic supporting role, acting as a catalyst for Bourdain’s downfall, he brought a rough performance to screen that I really enjoyed. 

Performances that epitomise the saying ‘Fake it til you Make it’

Overall, the performances sell this film because this is fundamentally a film about character. It’s a journey of self-discovery and watching flawed characters make mistakes. 

Finding your spark, discovering your purpose, TONY (2026) is the kind of biopic I want to see more of. Showing us details of someone’s life we didn’t know, sharing moments before stardom and before fame. This is the kind of biopic I crave more of, Sessa was able to portray Bourdain as the centre of the film despite acting alongside some exceptional actors, he injected life and humour into slow moments. 

Film Probe Conclusion

Overall, TONY (2026) is a film that surprised me because it was able to tell a charming story about an obnoxious individual. The film doesn’t make you despise Tony, quite the opposite, it made you curious about his next move, intrigued by his life and choices. TONY sparked my interest and that is the key to a compelling biopic, it didn’t try to depict Bourdain as a perfect specimen, it showed the vulnerable, flawed and ultimately little bit irritating side to his youth. 

Probe Points

★★★★