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.

As someone who has worked in both a kitchen and behind the bar in several places, and my dad was a head chef until a few years ago, this hit very close to home and was borderline traumatic.

So my dad was head chef in this restaurant for years and I worked alongside him for a few of those. I can confidently say that the job caused a lot of the problems in my family, and it actually caused him to have a heart attack a few years back and forced him into a career change, which has been nothing but beneficial to us all.

When I worked there, there was crying staff almost daily, people quitting because they couldn't take it anymore, constant arguments between servers/FOH and kitchen staff, slack-offs thinking nothing of leaving their workload to other staff members, and customers who didn't care in the slightest about the people in uniform and had little respect for them.

Hospitality and kitchen work is horrible, even when it has it's spots of light, and I've never seen such an incredible portrayal of the job before. All done in one continuous take, It is such a well done, heartbreaking show of one of the hardest industries and I hope it shows some people some of the things they never think about when they go to a restaurant. Please watch this, and take it as a lesson on what the people working these jobs go through, because it's not at all far from the truth.