If you wrote a book, would anyone read it? This is how the life of Anthony Bourdain truly started. A man well into his 40’s publishes a book, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, that would forever change the course of his life.
Directed by Morgan Neville (Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead), Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain takes a deep dive into the life of the popular chef, writer, and host. Known the world-over for his exotic travels and savory discoveries, Roadrunner pulls the curtains back so to speak, on his private life, his goals, and ultimately, his struggles.
What was widely cherished by strangers was quietly admonished by those that knew him. One of his many obvious traits was how meticulous he was with food. But if that same attention to detail was focused on the wrong subject at the wrong time, it could cause problems for say, a relationship, a business deal, etc. His unpredictable, manic obsessions, appeared more often as he aged and those closest to him were left to deal with the aftermath.
The dry humor and smart aleck attitude was just a part of who he was. In the food world, it seemed to be par for the course. But it was that same attitude, paired with his never-ending search for discovery, that made his TV show, Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, a smash hit. Sadly, that same obsession for discovery, or “the next big thing”, is what ultimately drew him to the inevitable. It begs the question, “What would you do next?” For those that love to travel, there’s always a destination that you would love to experience if you could. Well, if you had visited every major city on the planet, twice, what would you do next?
RoadRunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain, gets an 8 out of 10. If you’re unfamiliar with Bourdain, it’s a documentary worth watching to see what all the hype was about. If you’re a fan, you’ll be able to appreciate his flare, his respect for different cultures and experiences, and how empathy would eventually change the course of his show.
Roadrunner is due in theaters July 16.
-Jon J.
Cover photo: Courtesy of CNN/Focus Features