The Chef

Why is the world not talking more about this? What a fantastic film. Sometimes reminded me of Mass (raw acting as credible as if we were seeing real people). Sometimes reminded me of Uncut Gems and Shiva Baby (anxiety inducing, small spaces, chaos, dealing with stupid people, screaming inside).

I'm a fan of how Philip Barantini directed this, this single-shot approach is perfect for this kind of fast paced happening in real time films and it helps to create the anxiety it wants to create. You are there. You are part of the team. In terms of acting, all are on a great level, but let me take a moment for Stephen Graham and Vinette Robinson: both absolutely perfect, flawless! There are great scenes that will stay with me - some not including neither of these two characters - and I'm really curious to see what this director can bring us next.

You wouldn't think a film set in a kitchen over one fateful night would be the stuff of white knuckle tension but in adapting their short film of the same name for a feature length affair, director Philip Barantini and his star Stephen Graham have crafted one of 2021's most sweat inducing rides that is a technical accomplishment as well as a storytelling one, that is sure to make you reevaluate the life of busy kitchen/restaurant.

Filmed in one long continuous take that only ratchets up the uneasy vibes and hectic nature of chef Andy Jones and his restaurants staff workload, Boiling Point never lets up from the moment we and Andy first walk through the door of his establishment and confront a health inspector that sets up a busy night in the worst way possible that will bring everything to a head in a life changing way as the night goes on.

On a hot streak at the moment with 2021 giving him some of his most notable roles yet in the likes of underrated TV shows The North Water and Time and memorable Covid-19 themed TV movie Help, Stephen Graham is a revelation here as Andy with the well liked performer bringing his famed intensity and vulnerability to the flawed chef who is clearly not in a good state personally or professionally as he tries to keep his head above water with mounting problems weighing him down every chance they get.

A clear standout in the acting stakes, everyone involved in Boiling Point gives it a good go even if because of the nature of these one take films you do sometimes feel like reactions or moments are slightly off with the ensemble unable to request a simple retake on their scenes but as a whole, Barantini and his cast and crew have crafted a far above average TV film that pushes itself to achieve something great rather than take the easy options it could've easily taken.

Sticking to its guns and offering an unflattering yet no doubt honest depiction of modern day chef work, restaurant management and the pressures of work life many face on a day to day basis, Boiling Point might not exactly be feel good material but it's a thrilling exercise nonetheless.

Final Say -

Offering an unrelenting viewing experience that's anchored by the always great Stephen Graham, Boiling Point is a sizzling dramatic thriller that offers a fascinating insight to the restaurant sub-culture.

4 water bottles out of 5

Breathtakingly shot in a single take and set entirely within a restaurant, Boiling Point captures the stresses and strains of working in this environment. Stephen Graham leads a brilliant ensemble cast all improvising a skeleton script. Who would have thought a seemingly normal night in a restaurant could provide such drama and tension. A must see 8.5 out of ten. A Q&A with some of the cast, the director and the brilliant director of photography was a nice bonus. They were meant to shoot it 8 times and choose the best of the 8. However, they were filming in March 2020 and they were shut down after the four takes for obvious reasons. A brilliant achievement.

On a stylish level, this is an absolute stunning experience. To be presented in tracking shot (unbroken and without tricks) sends adrenaline rushes to the brain and it helps to get the right, nerve-wracking tone with the performances.

About the storyline, it has little cracks and not everything is perfect. But the pacing and the energy makes up for all the possibles shortcomings.

All in, a thrilling and compelling experience that demands to be watched even if it is not for everyone.

'Boiling Point', the second film by English director Philip Barantini will be, I think, one of the sensations of the cinematographic year 2021. It has been presented so far in only a few festivals and will meet with the broader public in cinema halls starting in October. There are in this film, bold in form and sensitive in content, the premises of a love story with the audiences.

'Boiling Point' is filmed in one shot take, i.e in a single long frame. This is not the first film to use this technique that requires intense training and formidable logistics. My experiences with movies like this are mixed. The film considered by many to be a masterpiece of the genre, Aleksandr Sokurov's 'Russian Ark' tired and annoyed me (I apologize to the fans of the director or the film for my blunt opinion). Even '1917' (which cheated a little with the technical process) did not excite me, I did not find the connection between story and technique except at the level of gimmick. On the other side, I was enthusiastic about 'Victoria' by the German director Sebastian Schipper, the description of a tumultuous Berlin night lived by a young Spanish immigrant. I gave it a rare 10/10 rating on IMDB. To a large extent, 'Boiling Point' comes close to this level, and it has helped me understand when one shot take filming works well for me. Life itself, as we live it, is a single take film or, if you will, a series with single-take episodes and sleep breaks. Realistic dramas that happen in real time and in one place or in places connected by the movements of the characters fit the formula perfectly. This is exactly the case with 'Boling Point', which takes place in the kitchen and dining room of a high-end restaurant. After watching for a few minutes the movements of the camera (handled by Matthew Lewis) the story and the characters absorbed me and I forgot (for a while at least) the technical aspects. This is the best sign of success.

Before becoming a director, Philip Barantini was an actor and ... a chef. His previous two professions helped him considerably and contributed to the quality of the film. The director knows perfectly the secrets of cuisine, the organisation of the kitchen and of the services in a good restaurant, and especially the people who work in these institutions at the top of the culinary industry and art. Understanding the environment and knowing the actors helped him select an excellent team, made up of mostly experienced actors, many with dozens of movies in their filmographies, who did not refuse to play supporting roles, some with short screen time, but all significant. Of course, Stephen Graham stands out in the role of Andy, the talented chef who faces during the 90 minutes of the film and of the events on the screen the tough problems in the restaurant and in his personal life. I have been following the evolution of Stephen Graham for some time and in my opinion he has now become one of the best actors in British cinema.

I hope that 'Boiling Point' will enjoy a good promotion. I believe that those who see it will enjoy an original cinematic work, which adds a new dimension to the restaurants and chefs films genre. It may also be that the customer experience and appreciation of the staff when they dine next time at such a top restaurant will be different as well.