‘Burnt’ promises filet mignon but serves up a burger
Burnt has Bradley Cooper as master chef Adam Jones. After a hiatus to get clean and sober, he returns to London to get an all-important third star for the restaurant where he once failed.
His own worst enemy, Jones alienates and then inspires his kitchen staff as he battles ghosts from the past and a new love interest in Sienna Miller’s assistant chef Helene.
The cast includes terrific performances from the always good Cooper and Miller (American Sniper), and from the supporting cast of Daniel Bruhl, Omar Sy and Emma Thompson. Uma Thurman plays a small cameo.
I don’t cook. In spite of herculean efforts by my bride to teach me to use the kitchen range, I fail at the process miserably, but I love the idea of concocting recipes and cooking. And cooking movies usually make me want to learn to cook. Chef did. So did the animated gem Ratatouille. Big Night, Julie & Julia and, though I hate sushi, even Jiro Dreams of Sushi inspired me to attempt the art of cooking.
Burnt does not. Neither does The Hundred Foot Journey, which was written by Burnt writer Steven Knight. It’s like he failed to get it right the first time, so he’s trying again. Both screenplays are surprisingly bad considering Knight penned Locke, Dirty Pretty Things and Amazing Grace, and is a much better writer than either of his cooking movies. Burnt is also directed by John Wells, whose August: Osage County and The Company Men are most excellent.
Like Knight, he’s not so good here.
Great cooking comes from interesting recipes and an unusual but enticing mix of ingredients. Chunks and plot hints that might have made Burnt brilliant and more interesting are left off the menu completely. And that leads to an interesting dilemma. The characters in Burnt demand perfection in cooking, but like The Hundred Foot Journey, Burnt preaches filet mignon but serves us hash.
The performances — however — save the movie, and make it worth the meal.
Check out Mr. Movies’ other reviews at www.tricityherald.com/entertainment/movies-news-reviews/mr-movie/.
Burnt
Director: John Wells
Stars: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Daniel Bruhl, Omar Sy, Emma Thompson, Alica Vikander, Uma Thurman
Rated R for mature themes and language. It’s playing at the Carmike 12, the Fairchild Cinemas 12 and at Walla Walla Grand Cinemas.
Mr. Movie rating: 3 1/2 stars
Rated PG for mature themes. It opens Friday, Nov. 5 at the Carmike 12 and at the Fairchild Cinemas 12.
5 stars to 4 1/2 stars: Must see on the big screen.
4 stars to 3 1/2 stars: Good film, see it if it’s your type of movie.
3 stars to 2 1/2 stars: Wait until it comes out on DVD.
2 stars to 1 star: Don’t bother.
0 stars: Speaks for itself.
This story was originally published October 29, 2015 at 6:00 AM with the headline "‘Burnt’ promises filet mignon but serves up a burger."