All articles tagged with #matt johnson
Matt Johnson's Tony portrays a fictionalized, myth-making early life of Anthony Bourdain, blending invented mentors and exaggerated bravado to probe what shaped the future chef; critics say the film favors emotional truth over strict facts, while acknowledging Bourdain's humanity and the era's toxic kitchen culture.
Director Matt Johnson’s Tony reimagines Anthony Bourdain by focusing on his adolescence in Provincetown rather than the chef’s fame, with Dominic Sessa as a young Bourdain and Antonio Banderas as a mentor boss; the project, born from Johnson’s own coming‑of‑age experiences, uses food as a social catalyst and includes a cameo from Eric Ripert to anchor Bourdain’s life in reality. The film aims to demystify the icon, presenting a flawed, relatable version of the man behind the legend, and hits theaters in limited release August 7 and wide release August 21.
Matt Johnson’s Tony follows a formative Provincetown summer in 1975 that shapes a young Tony Bourdain, with Dominic Sessa delivering a brash yet vulnerable performance as he works in a chaotic kitchen under Chef Antonio Banderas. The film leans into period detail and behind-the-scenes restaurant life, offering a brisk, nostalgic coming-of-age portrait, though Nancy’s arc is thinner. Release is August 7 via A24.
Matt Johnson’s Tony chronicles the 1975 Provincetown summer that shapes a young Anthony Bourdain, with Dominic Sessa delivering a breakout, magnetic performance as Tony. The biopic follows his hunger to write, a volatile romance with Nancy, and his mentorship under Chef (Antonio Banderas) in a kitchen that becomes his crucible, blending nostalgic, Adventureland–like atmosphere with a kinetic, Linklater-esque sensibility.
Matt Johnson’s Tony is a gentle coming-of-age biopic loosely drawn from Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential, tracking a formative summer in a 19-year-old Tony’s life in Provincetown 1975. With Dominic Sessa giving a quietly magnetic performance and Antonio Banderas as the patient mentor Ciro, the film elevates a small, human-centered story through lush visuals and a well-curated soundtrack, delivering a satisfying if not groundbreaking portrait of the future chef.
"BlackBerry" is a workplace comedy that turns into tragedy, chronicling the rise and fall of Research in Motion (RIM) and its revolutionary product, the BlackBerry. The film follows the friendship of co-founders Mike Lazaridis and Doug Fregin, played by Jay Baruchel and Matt Johnson, respectively. The movie highlights the vulnerability and exploitability of creatives in a cutthroat marketplace and the push-pull between genius and business. The film is grounded by strong performances from its cast, including Glenn Howerton as a predatory salesman named Jim Balsillie.
Filmmaker Matt Johnson discusses his latest project, "BlackBerry," a low-budget workplace comedy biopic about the rise and fall of the mobile phone company. Johnson and his longtime writing and producing partner, Matthew Miller, adapted the script from the book "Losing the Signal: The Untold Story Behind the Extraordinary Rise and Spectacular Fall of BlackBerry." The film takes a wry approach to the story, focusing on the evolving dynamic between the company's founders and the cutthroat demands of a corporate ecosystem. Despite the low budget, the film was able to attract well-known actors, including Jay Baruchel and Glenn Howerton.