Burnt

Directed by John Wells with a screenplay by Steven Knight, Burnt is the story of Adam Jones as he tries to reclaim the respect of his peers and finally get his third Michelin star after a troublesome past in Paris. Focusing on this star, Jones moves to London and reconnects with old friends (and enemies) with the hope of reestablishing his career as one of the most talented chefs in the world. After facing several setbacks, due to his drug history and his tendency to be an asshole, Jones' restaurant takes shape and soon the world is taking interest. It is worth noting, that this film's twist was unexpected and excellently executed. But I wont mention the moment in this review as the film has only just been released in the UK. 

Adam Jones is the typical rebellious, creative mind. His own arrogance stands in his way at nearly every juncture, and his obsessive nature makes for stressful viewing. However, I would say that Cooper's performance was spot on. Cooper is known mostly for films that fall at either end of the spectrum - award winning or forgettable. In a radio interview, Cooper explained how he was adamant that he master the lingo and the actions required to be convincing as a chef. He claimed he has worked previously in a kitchen and that this was a good starting point for what was going to be a long journey of education. Joined on screen by Sienna Miller, he quickly appeared comfortable in the role and was frankly a delight to watch - despite the character's personality, being at times, unbearable. 

Speaking of Miller, whilst her character was a welcome addition to the film's overall cast, I felt the inclusion of a romance subplot was unnecessary. Personally, I would have preferred if the film had focused solely on the food and the road to a Michelin star (or three, as this chef aims for). The blossoming love story between Adam and Helene cheapened the film and felt like a last minute addition to the plot in order to appeal to wider audiences. For example, my mother was disappointed by the film because she wanted it to explore more of the relationship between Adam and Helene... Needless to say, I was disappointed by her observation. Furthermore, Helene being a mother added nothing to the film. Literally nothing. Wasted screen time and money trying to make a character more relatable and likeable. I would have preferred ten extra minutes of Adam Jones talking about how amazing he is.

Daniel Brühl's performance was another pleasant addition to the cast. Not only because I see so much of him in a French, Sommelier friend of mine, but because he was convincing in the role. I haven't noticed Brühl in his other films despite having seen many, but will certainly be keeping my eye out for him in the future. Hopefully his efforts are recognised by heavy hitters in the industry who have roles that will test, challenge and inspire him to do more films in mainstream Hollywood. Hopefully leading to more Brühl on our screens and more recognition for his hard work.

As for the film's overall aesthetic. An obvious amount of scenes were created and manipulated in order to display the cooking and the food. Please do not make the mistake that I made and eat before you see Burnt. Otherwise, you'll be rushing home to cook up some store bought meal that will make you sigh with disappointment in comparison to the dishes seen on film. The inclusion of frequent French language (and therefore subtitles) was an interesting decision but didn't hinder the film's progression in anyway. The use was natural and flowed amongst the scenes. After the first few times, it is easy to forget that the characters are speaking a different language. It'll be interesting to read the reviews for this film as they begin trickling out. I'm not yet sure whether it will be making as big an impact as the cast and crew would think, but then again it is entirely possible for a film like this to surprise us all come award season.