Review: ‘Burnt’ filled with good food, better acting

Posted on November 6, 2015

By MARK VIOLA

Last year we had two films centered on the high-pressure world of restaurant kitchens–“Chef” and “The Hundred-Foot Journey.”

This year we have “Burnt” from director John Wells (August: Osage County) and starring Bradley Cooper (“American Sniper”). The story falls somewhere in the middle of the previous two, again following a high-end chef whose career implodes due to poor decisions like in “Chef,” but instead of jumping into a food truck, Cooper’s Adam Jones stays in the realm of fine dining like “The Hundred-Foot Journey.”

That being said, “Burnt” has its own story to tell, and while the basic structure doesn’t blaze much new ground, it also isn’t a retread, so if you enjoyed those previous films, especially “Chef,” I’m betting you will find plenty to enjoy here. I know I did and for what it’s worth, two really good chefs I know caught the movie before I did and gave it their endorsement as well.

In addition to copious amounts of mouth-watering food depicted on screen, the movie’s biggest selling point is Cooper, whose impassioned performance takes the film by the horns and carries it to creative success. The actor has been on a roll lately–with three straight Academy Award nominations to show for it–and Adam Jones is the latest in a growing list of memorable roles.

“Burnt” is very enjoyable movie, especially for those who like good food and good acting. Just be prepared to be hungry when it’s over.

The film is rated R for language throughout.

(This is a shortened version of the full review available in our printed or e-edition papers.)

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