Dominic Sessa

Tony (2026): Marty Supreme for Foodies

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Tony” is directed by Matt Johnson (BlackBerry, Nirvana the Band the Show the Movie) and stars Dominic Sessa (The Holdovers, Oh. What. Fun), Emilia Jones (CODA, Task), Dagmara Domińczyk (Priscilla, The Lost Daughter), Rich Sommer (Fair Play, BlackBerry), Stavros Halkias (Let’s Start a Cult, Bugonia), Leo Woodall (One Day, The White Lotus), and Antonio Banderas (Shrek 2, Babygirl). This film is about a young Anthony Bourdain who is aspiring to be a writer. It follows Bourdain’s time in Provincetown, Massachusetts as he takes a job at a restaurant, tries to impress a girl, and covers up a big lie to his family.

For those who read this blog in 2023, you may know that one of the movies I massively enjoyed was “The Holdovers.” Not only has the film quickly become a must watch for me around the holidays, but it has the bonus of being shot minutes away from my house. “Tony” is not shot as close, but nevertheless in my home state of Massachusetts. One thing those films have in common – Dominic Sessa stars in both of them. Another thing both films have in common – I enjoyed them very much.

No matter where this movie was shot, it did not change the fact that I witnessed one of the year’s most compelling films. While this film can probably best be described as a coming of age drama, it has a little bit of everything in it. It has humor. It has grit. It has romance. This is the kind of film that I can honestly see appealing to many different demographics. Not only does it implement all of these elements from the getgo, but utilizes each one to their full potential.

“Tony” is basically “Marty Supreme” for foodies. For those who remember my review of “Marty Supreme,” you may recall that when I described Marty Mauser, I said he was “by no means a role model.” I did not necessarily mean that as a negative. In fact, the way that film fleshes Marty out only accentuated his complication. He is a bit of a jerk, but he comes off as palatable. Anthony Bourdain, or at least this film’s interpretation of him, is kind of in the same boat. He is young, has a remarkable drive, but also comes off as cocky. Depending on the situation, he is not the most pleasant person to be around. This is something that the late Anthony Bourdain himself seems to have acknowledged at a certain point in his life. As a matter of fact, when the film starts, there is a title card with a quote from Bourdain himself. In the quote, Bourdain says that he was a “spoiled, miserable, narcissistic, self-destructive and thoughtless young lout.” That specific quote is taken from his memoir, “Kitchen Confidential,” which also inspired this movie.

I love that the movie started with this quote. Not only is it a compelling quote by itself, but this perfectly set the tone for what’s to come. While there are people who fondly remember Bourdain following his 2018 death, the film in more ways than one portrays him as a bit of a whiner and egomaniac. Is he smart? Perhaps. Is he driven? Sure. But it does not change the fact that he does come off as an occasional moron. I think many of us, in one way or another, would look at our younger selves and ask what the heck were we thinking at that age. If anything, this film is a raw look at a Bourdain’s young adulthood where his character flaws come to show.

Despite being a Bay Stater and finding out “Tony” was set in Provincetown, that did not turn out to be the sole big draw for me. Another big draw for me was the casting of Dominic Sessa as Anthony Bourdain. This is not necessarily because I thought Sessa would make a good Anthony Bourdain. I know as much about Anthony Bourdain as I do about professional cornhole. I have seen both of those things once or twice on a television screen, but that is about it. Though maybe I should take that back a little bit, because Sessa, who just so happened to have a major role in “The Holdovers” prior to this movie, has proven his talents. He is a sensational young actor and I can see him following in the footsteps of the greats. He had plenty to work with in “The Holdovers” alongside Paul Giamatti and now he has this movie to essentially call his own.

Although at the same time Sessa’s dynamic with Antonio Banderas felt like a remix of his dynamic with Paul Giamatti. It’s a mentor-mentee relationship where both sides have their clear differences. It’s a cliche that works in both of these movies, and much like “The Holdovers,” what really holds this relationship together is the chemistry between both actors in addition to their individual performances, which, by the way, to my lack of surprise, Antonio Banderas does an excellent job in the film as Chef José Vatel. No notes.

Another actor I am happy to see in this film is Emilia Jones. While she has been in other projects since, like “The Running Man,” I still adore Jones for her lead outing in “CODA.” That movie is so riveting. While Jones plays a supporting role as Nancy, Bourdain’s crush, instead of a leading role, she is still fun to watch on screen. She and Bourdain tend to have a rocky connection as characters sometimes, and both Jones and Sessa do a great job at capturing said rockiness.

Random segway, one of the best movies I watched over the years is “Chef.” I love the story, the characters, the performances… Everything about it. But one of my favorite things about the film is the fact that the food looked so good that it made me hungry. For the record, the food in “Tony” is not as good-looking as “Chef,” but it is still quite appetizing. I love a good restaurant that serves nothing but their interpretation of the American basics. When I saw the camera angle on the french fries in this film, I wanted to leap into the screen and take one for myself. This is one of those films that makes me want to go to a restaurant and soak in the atmosphere. Not necessarily a nice restaurant. In fact, regarding the eatery where Bourdain works, Nancy even refers to its cuisine as junk food at a particular point of the film. Look, the food may be unhealthy, but it does not mean the it looks off-putting. In fact, it is quite the opposite. This film’s food sometimes makes me want to chuck my popcorn towards the screen, dash out of the auditorium, and indulge in some hand-cut fries.

In the end, “Tony” impressed me. It is hard to come up with any flaws that I have with “Tony.” The film is perfectly paced, engaging, and as I said before, it has a fine balance in multiple genres. It has some cliches that you might see in coming of age stories like this, but cliches do not really break a movie if they work, and the cliches seem to work here. I cannot recommend this movie enough. I went into “Tony” mainly because it was new and I wanted to pay off my AMC A-List subscription for the month, I stayed because how much this film sucked me in. Oh, and it made me hungry. I want french fries! I am going to give “Tony” a 9/10.

“Tony” is now playing in theaters. Tickets are available now!

Thanks for reading this review! If you have not done so already, please be sure to check out the latest episode of the Scene Before original series, Movie Requests, which features actress Melissa Barrera! In this episode, she recommends the movie “Roma.” Click the video to find out my thoughts! And if you enjoy the video, remember to leave a like, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and click the notification bell if you want to see more episodes of Movie Requests coming soon!

My next review is going to be for “Spa Weekend.” Stay tuned! Also coming soon, I will be sharing my thoughts on “Coyote vs. Acme,” “Idiots,” and “Don’t Move.” If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Tony?” What did you think about it? Or, in the spirit of “Marty Supreme,” have you seen that movie? Tell me your thoughts on it if you have seen it! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

The Holdovers (2023): A Hearty, Homey, Comforting Throwback to the 1970s

Posted on by Jack Drees

“The Holdovers” is directed by Alexander Payne (Sideways, The Descendants) and stars Paul Giamatti (Sideways, Billions), Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Last O.G., High Fidelity), and Dominic Sessa in a film set in the 1970s where a cranky history teacher and a troubled student are forced to remain on a school campus together during the holidays.

I have been looking forward to “The Holdovers” for a very long time. Granted, I have some bias in this notion because I live not too far from where it was shot. In fact, one of the filming locations is about five minutes away from my house. More on that later. But of course, that sort of attachment should not be an indicator of whether the film is good or bad, but it is one of the reasons why I got in the door. But there are many other reasons why I got in the door as well. The film itself looked fairly wholesome and relatable. I have never attended a prep school, but I think many people regardless of where they have received education may have had a troubling connection with a teacher. And the same goes for teachers, I imagine just about every teacher had some trouble dealing with students for one reason or another, even if it is for a reason beyond their control. But even with the troubling dynamic, this just looked like a fascinating slice of life picture that would come out at a perfect time.

And that is exactly what it is.

I have said this phrase in the past, and I have heard other people say it too, but it needs to be said here. “The Holdovers” is the movie we need right now. I feel like ever since COVID-19 began I have always been finding myself in a need to go to a “happy place,” and I imagine a lot of other people reading this feel the same way. Ever since the virus began to spread, few movies have took me there like this one did. In fact, going back to the COVID-19 aspect, it sort of took me back to 2020 when the disease first got traction in the United States. This film coincidentally is set, mostly, in a singular location where our leads are basically in quarantine. Nobody’s sick, nobody’s spreading any infections, there’s not much on that front to worry about. But a good portion of the movie, specifically the first half, is set at this one prep school. When we get to the second half of the movie where our characters start venturing out, there is a feeling of joy and excitement in the air. It reminded me of when June 2020 rolled around and restaurants near me started opening up for outdoor dining. There was a sudden liberation in my veins when that opportunity arose.

But that does not mean the first half is uncomfortable. Although one of the lower points of the movie just so happens to be the relationships between the students. That said, it is not like the students have a ton of screen time. They ultimately serve their purpose. But when it comes to our three leads, we spend a ton of time with all them to the point where each one is adequately established. It also helps that I like all of them and when it comes to our core duo, specifically Paul Hunham and Angus Tully in a divided teacher/student relationship, their time dominating the screen makes for some incredible moments together. The movie brilliantly displays their strengths and weaknesses and uses them to make each one all the more likable. All the characters have phenomenal chemistry together, and I cannot imagine another soul in their shoes.

Sticking with the idea of isolation, this helped me appreciate the Angus Tully character. Because as someone who had to deal with the outside world closing off at the age of 20, I felt like any semblance of my life getting started was out of reach. As this movie progressed, I was watching this character deal with his personal issues and I could not help but feel bad for him partially because he was stuck somewhere he clearly did not want to be for an extended period of time. I understand that feeling because I lived through it. And much like me staying home in 2020, Tully stayed where he needed to stay for a reason, but I understood how agonizing it can get the longer you’re there.

I have not reviewed many Christmas or holiday movies on Scene Before, partially because I have not had much time to visit classics, and I feel like there is a shortage of them nowadays. Or at least a shortage of Christmas flicks that tend to stand out. Although I somehow managed to tackle a couple Christmas movies last year between “Violent Night” and “The Mean One.” “The Holdovers” is probably one of the best Christmas movies I have watched in the past number of years. And it is not exactly preachy to the point where everything is Christmas central. It is one those movies that takes place at Christmas but it can probably be an appropriate watch at any other point of the year. All due respect because the movie is entertaining, but I cannot remember the last time I wanted to watch “Elf” in the spring. It’s just not that kind of movie for me. “The Holdovers” is perfect for any time of year, and when it comes to 2023’s calendar, it is a standout of all the films I have seen this year.

One of the reasons why “The Holdovers” is as I describe in the title of this review, hearty and homey, is because of the progression we see with Paul Hunham. I am not going to spoil much for you, but the teacher does not emit the most pleasing vibe when it comes to dealing with his students. Part of that comes into play regarding the relationship between him and the main student in the film, Angus Tully. You have these two people who do not really see eye to eye on everything, but the more they are forced to deal with each other, the more they tend to find themselves having good times with each other. Both individuals, in their own ways, make the best of a bad situation. But they do so realizing maybe they could share a bond if they opened their eyes. Of course, when it comes to Hunham, it also helps that an actor with the caliber of Paul Giamatti just so happens to be portraying him, and it brings forth one of the best performances of the year. The character reminds me of, and I know this analogy may not be the most prominent because not a lot of people saw this movie, Alice from the 2020 movie “Summerland.” By the way, watch “Summerland.” It’s fantastic. But I use this as a comparison because both films have a main character who appears all tough and mean, but when she is placed together with someone younger with her for a period of time, we see more and more that she kind of has a heart.

The film does a great job at showcasing the flaws of these characters and having them come into play throughout the runtime. And when it comes to Hunham as a character, we see his flaws from the beginning, how they are adjusted to some degree, but his positives and negatives as an individual make him one of the most compelling characters of the year.

On a little sidenote, much like the George Clooney-directed “The Tender Bar,” which came out at the tail end of 2021, this film features my local candlepin bowling alley, Wakefield Bowladrome in a couple minutes of screentime. And unlike “The Tender Bar,” which is set in New York, it actually makes sense that it is in here because the film is set in Massachusetts, where candlepin bowling just so happens to exist. I think what they’ve done with the place is rather impressive and adds to the throwback feel of the movie itself. Though if I have one nitpick, there are occasional moments where I hear pins falling down, but the sound effects match the sound the pins would make in tenpin. But of course, this is why I put the “moron” in Movie Reviewing Moron.

In the end, “The Holdovers” is an utter delight of a film. Its main trio make the story worthwhile. The film is a sensational throwback to the 1970s that is as charming as it is inviting. The film is rated R, so I would not recommend watching it with younger viewers, but if you are with loved ones this holiday season, this could be a good watch. The characters are spectacular. The locations are beautiful. The set design is very well done. And I think Paul Giamatti could be in the running for an Oscar nomination. Also, one more thing, there is a particular scene in the film that includes “The Newlywed Game” where I was in a trance until the moment it was over. I have not watched that show a ton, but I have often watched clips of it on YouTube, and it is legendary. Bob Eubanks is a treasure. I am going to give “The Holdovers” an 8/10.

“The Holdovers” is now playing in theaters everywhere. It is also available to buy on VOD.

Thanks for reading this review! My next review is going to be for the brand new historical epic, “Napoleon.” Also coming soon, I will have my thoughts on “Godzilla Minus One,” “Ferrari,” “The Boy and the Heron,” and “Dream Scenario.” If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “The Holdovers?” What did you think about it? Or, what is your favorite Christmas movie? Yes, “Die Hard” counts. Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!