This documentary about Anthony Bourdain, directed by Morgan Neville, is my favorite one of the year (at least so far). Mr. Bourdain, trained by the C.I.A., was once the executive chef of a 5-star Manhattan French restaurant, “Brasserie Les Halles.” While working there, he wrote the best-selling expose, “Kitchen Confidential,” which made him one of the first world-famous chefs. From there, he went on to have three excellent TV shows, the last one being “Parts Unknown,” where he travelled the world revealing his take on various well-known and exotic locations along with his love of great food. Unfortunately, Anthony committed suicide in 2018, although even his closest friends and two former wives don’t really know why (nor does anyone else).
Extremely intelligent, funny, and talented, Bourdain was an all-in, passionate man who clearly loved life, despite his anti-life ending. The film reveals what a fascinating man Anthony was by showing clips of his TV shows, conversations he had with his co-workers, and interviews with his ex-wives and some close friends. These people were very intelligent, articulate, and perceptive as well, and they really help to give some interesting perspectives on Bourdain that we might not have seen before.
Anthony had frequent wide mood swings, and I suspect that he had Bipolar II. Underneath this biological vulnerability, however, he had unresolved childhood conflicts which created sadness, rage, and a fear of intimacy and closeness. He was constantly restless and his travelling served as a defense against these painful feelings. My one criticism of the film is that his parents and childhood were absent, the film beginning with “Kitchen Confidential,” so I have no idea what his psychodynamic conflicts were.
Before his suicide, Anthony was very depressed, as well as obsessed with a beautiful but volatile actress, Asia Argento. She cheated on and then abandoned him. My hypothesis is that repressed, unconscious, murderous rage towards Asia turned against himself, and, along with his biological depression, resulted in his suicide. Apparently, there were aspects of Anthony, too, that were “Parts Unknown.”
This documentary about Anthony Bourdain, directed by Morgan Neville, is my favorite one of the year (at least so far). Mr. Bourdain, trained by the C.I.A., was once the executive chef of a 5-star Manhattan French restaurant, "Brasserie Les Halles." While working there, he wrote the best-selling expose, "Kitchen Confidential," which made him one of the first world-famous chefs. From there, he went on to have three excellent TV shows, the last one being "Parts Unknown," where he travelled the world revealing his take on various well-known and exotic locations along with his love of great food. Unfortunately, Anthony committed suicide in 2018, although even his closest friends and two former wives don't really know why (nor does anyone else). Extremely intelligent, funny, and talented, Bourdain was an all-in, passionate man who clearly loved life, despite his anti-life ending. The film reveals what a fascinating man Anthony was by showing clips of his TV shows, conversations he had with his co-workers, and interviews with his ex-wives and some close friends. These people were very intelligent, articulate, and perceptive as well, and they really help to give some interesting perspectives on Bourdain that we might not have seen before. Anthony had frequent wide mood swings, and I suspect that he had Bipolar II. Underneath this biological vulnerability, however, he had unresolved childhood conflicts which created sadness, rage, and a fear of intimacy and closeness. He was constantly restless and his travelling served as a defense against these painful feelings. My one criticism of the film is that his parents and childhood were absent, the film beginning with "Kitchen Confidential," so I have no idea what his psychodynamic conflicts were. Before his suicide, Anthony was very depressed, as well as obsessed with a beautiful but volatile actress, Asia Argento. She cheated on and then abandoned him. My hypothesis is that repressed, unconscious, murderous rage towards Asia turned against himself, and, along with his biological depression, resulted in his suicide. Apparently, there were aspects of Anthony, too, that were "Parts Unknown."
Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain
Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain
2021-08-09
David
85
8.5
A Terrific Documentary!
Anthony Was A Fascinating Man!
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