Film Review: ROADRUNNER: A FILM ABOUT ANTHONY BOURDAIN

WDCB’s Gary Zidek reviews the new documentary. ROADRUNNER: A FILM ABOUT ANTHONY BOURDAIN.

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The late chef and TV personality Anthony Bourdain is the subject of a new documentary that opens in theaters this weekend. Titled ROADRUNNER: A FILM ABOUT ANTHONY BOURDAIN, the doc aims to provide some context and insight into a public figure who attracted a large and loyal fanbase and then shocked the world when he committed suicide. The film comes Academy Award-winning director Morgan Neville, who has previously made biographical documentaries about Fred Rogers, Orson Wells and Keith Richards.

A young Anthony Bourdain. Image from the new documentary ROADRUNNER.

Despite some controversies surrounding the depiction of Bourdain’s last romantic partner and the use of voice-cloning software in the documentary, ROADRUNNER does present a worthy portrait of a person who seemed to crave and grapple with fame. The New Jersey native appeared to be on a certain path at the age of 43, when everything changed after the release of his New York Times bestselling book, KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL. ROADRUNNER doesn’t spend too much time on Bourdain’s life pre-book, the movie uses the book’s release as a jumping off point of sorts. It’s fascinating to watch this relatively unknown chef rise to astronomical levels of fame. And even though, we as the viewers know what’s coming in regards to Bourdain’s life, the last third of the documentary is a downer. ROADRUNNER does it’s best to provides some additional insight, but there aren’t any grand revelations about Bourdain’s end-of-life state of mind.

Gary gives ROADRUNNER 3.5 out 4 stars. It’s playing at theaters all over the country. Go here for more information.