Morgan Neville's anguished new documentary tackles the extraordinary life and tragic death of a beloved chef, writer and TV personality.
“Here’s a little preemptive truth telling: There’s no happy ending.” That’s Anthony Bourdain, sounding cheerful, unmistakable and eerily prophetic. Lifted from a cornucopia of footage, his voice welcomes us into the opening scenes of “Roadrunner,” a restless and anguished new documentary that proves to be as much about his death as it is about his life.
Those who knew Bourdain best, several of whom are interviewed here, have their own questions as well as answers. Neville introduces them in a literal setting-the-table montage — a fitting introduction for a celebrity profile that sometimes plays like a collective seance, with a touch of the too-late intervention.
The show itself became the catalyst and the conduit for Bourdain’s own soul searching, undertaken with loyal behind-the-scenes collaborators — including Tom Vitale, Morgan Fallon, Helen Cho and Michael Steed — who speak with warmth and candor about Bourdain’s perfectionism, his controlling streak and his irascible brilliance. They talk about his intense cinephilia, the way he fashioned certain episodes of his shows, including “No Reservations” and “Parts Unknown,” as tributes to classic movies.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Review: 'Casanova, Last Love' fails to illuminate the notorious wooer of women's appealVincent Lindon and Stacy Martin star in 'Casanova, Last Love,' Benoît Jacquot's lackluster period drama about the infamous 18th century womanizer.
Read more »
‘The Year of the Everlasting Storm’: Film Review | Cannes 2021The hidden depths of COVID-19 are plumbed by arthouse headliners Jafar Panahi, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, David Lowery, Laura Poitras, Dominga Sotomayor, Anthony Chen and Malik Vitthal in seven off…
Read more »
Before You Write A Nasty Yelp Review, Here's What Restaurant Workers Want You To KnowIndustry insiders share the kind of comments that can actually help them, as well as those that hurt the most.
Read more »
‘Casanova, Last Love’ Review: No New Angles on This Lackluster RouéCasanova’s love for a manipulative young prostitute is the focus of this traditionally-minded, peculiarly misogynistic vision of the great diarist’s London period.
Read more »
‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’ Review: LeBron James’ Sequel Easily Dunks on the OriginalProfessional basketball players are a marvel seemingly created by an animator’s pen: elongated arms, mountainous shoulders, whirlwind speed and an ability to leap over defenders in a single bound. …
Read more »
‘Escape Room: Tournament of Champions’ Review: When Constant Crisis Becomes MonotonousThe only one of several same-titled movies in recent years to make a significant commercial dent, Adam Robitel’s 2019 “Escape Room” proved a considerable sleeper hit, making back many times its mod…
Read more »