[yasr_overall_rating]
Adam Jones is a Chef who destroyed his career with drugs and diva behavior. He cleans up and returns to London, determined to redeem himself by spearheading a top restaurant that can gain three Michelin stars.
I went in expecting great things from this wayward chef redemption story in John Wells’ and Steve Knight’s film “Burnt,” but found myself a bit disappointed and not immediately understanding why. I so badly wanted to love this film with all its beautiful cityscapes, plates adorned with interesting food that looked as if it belonged in an art museum, and the slew of brilliant actors cast. While I braced myself for the impending emotional whiplash that was surely to come with this drama, I sat there dumbfounded as to why I never felt a thing for any of the characters or even cared about the story. What should have easily been a brilliant film ended up being a predictable glossy flick that had an excess of subplots and no character depth. “Burnt,” is fully equipped with all the elements necessary to create an interesting and intense drama, and while it does have its moving moments; it merely simmers beneath the skin, never reaching that magical boiling point that produces genuine awe.
We find Adam Jones (Bradley Cooper) shucking oysters in New Orleans, paying his personal penance for running amuck boozing and drugging it up in Paris, destroying his career as an innovative and ambitious chef and dragging others down with him. After shucking 1 million oysters, he sets off for London determined to regain his former glory and then some. He is arrogant, cutting, and to a degree charming. Although he is somewhat unlikeable, his talent is undeniable, and with a haughty air of confidence he charms his way into the lives of former and new acquaintances alike.
Adam first appeals to Tony (Daniel Brühl), convincing him that he can turn is present establishment into something truly great. Although their relationship is marred by the past, an irritated but slightly enamored Tony gives Adam what he desires and Adam goes full throttle picking a crew, including the burgeoning talent Helene (Sienna Miller), that will surely aid him in his ultimate goal.
The road is not an easy one, as Adam requires perfection. It is not enough to serve up great food. He desires to conjure a “longing” within his diners. It is a sin for food to just be “good.” His obsession and demand for perfection is a burden to himself and his crew. He is insulting and volatile in the kitchen. It is only Helene, the only woman in the kitchen, who is able to break through to him and give the advice, support, and updated tools he needs to achieve three Michelin stars. It is a long choppy road peppered with some romantic dalliance, drug thugs, and hidden enemies, but eventually all end goals are met.
Bradley Cooper is excellent as the anal retentive angry chef. He’s just as terrifying whispering harsh criticism as he is destroying a kitchen. Daniel Brühl and Sienna Miller are equally wonderful in their roles. But overall “Burnt,” lacks cohesion. It’s aesthetically pleasing to the eye but that doesn’t count for much when the story is choppy and overrun with unnecessary subplots, detracting from the heart of the story and development of the main characters. “Burnt,” had all the potential and talent available to make it a truly great film but unfortunately it comes off as contrived, having no more feeling in it than a glossy editorial spread in a magazine.
In theaters now
