The Chef

source: Boiling Point

One take movies have been around for a while and while "Birdman" snuggles in a few cuts and therefore cant be considered a one take movie, "Boiling Point" is literally a 90in play, more like "Victoria", which is a much longer movie though. The coordinations and technical difficulties that come with it are handled very well and Stephen Graham is undoubtably the only star in this movie, BUT you dont feel this, as he is supported by a brilliant cast. Especially Vinette Robinson is stunning with her facial expressions of all possible emotions you can feel in such a high pressured environment. The only "downside" of this movie is, that it can seem a little bit "too much" at times, like all stereotypes of people that work in this industry suddenly came all together and work in this one restaurant in London, which was exactly the point I think, but it takes a little bit of the realism away at times. The "Chekovs gun" is a bit to much on the nose and you see it coming from a mile away, but still the conclusion and execution of it was handled brilliantly! The amount of comic relief is just the right dose and its combined with a stunning dramatic performance by Stephen Graham, so you feel like you have a perfectly spiced dish on your plate! I'm keen to see what Philip Barantini has on his menu next!

Set in and around a restaurant during a single evening, we are following a London chef struggling to keep it together. He has problems in his family life, he owes money, and he hasn't been keeping up with the paperwork at his chic, upmarket restaurant. On the evening we meet him, the restaurant has been over-booked and understaffed, none of which the maitre de wants to accept responsibility for. And the health inspector has just arrived to go over the kitchen very thoroughly, and he quickly finds plenty of room for improvements. The chef is doing his best in the very difficult circumstances. It's Fawlty Towers without the laughs, just the relentless, grinding, pathetically-human tragedy; every cook's nightmare. And when I say relentless, this film puts you continuously in the kitchen and around the restaurant without a break and without any musical accompaniment. The whole film is made as one continuous, evolving scenario without edits for the actors or crew. And no break for the audience, either. (One shot films (or continuous take): Russian Ark (The Hermitage), 1917, Birdman, Timecode, Hitchcock's Rope are generally failures and cheats. The only good one I've seen before this is La Tarea (Homework- sp). This movie though, is a brilliantly engaging ride, and Stephen Graham is heroic, leading an excellent ensemble cast. A jaw-dropping achievement.

And swearing. And people being moody. It has no plot. Just a night in a kitchen with people stressing out. Also the ending was terrible. Stephen Graham is better than this.

What an incredible movie. I was captivated and pulled in from the first scene and the movie never let me go..or sometimes even breathe. I loved every single second of it. Bravo!

It can be universally agreed that the technical achievement of performing a 90 minute movie in one single shot is impressive and worth an applause. It is like watching a piece of theatre but has the benefit of the viewpoint being able to turn 360 degrees around he restaurant and close ups etc. But in a sense actors perform pieces in one take every single night in all the theatres around the globe. So then you have to ask how interesting is the actually film / story. It does an excellent job at creating a tension and capturing the atmosphere of the vast majority of commercial working spaces, particularly fast paced ones: that of stress and nervous fervour at making sure everything is done correctly, as well as sinister game playing and tussle and bustle between the working hierachy. There were a few moments where it kind of made my blood boil because it reminds you of terrible times in the working environment when people aren't doing what they are supposed to be doing or people are taking advantage of their positions within the working hierarchy to mistreat lower employees. So this was well done. But the story otherwise was very thin and slim in depth and meaning. I guess ultimately it is a cautionary tale about working too hard at the expense of other areas of life and of relationships with others. Other than that there is nothing positive that I can take form it or take forward with me in my life, nor much to think about.

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.

Firstly, Stephen Graham is one of the most underrated actors from all time. He is always brilliant, credible, raw, and intense on his job. Here too. He does again an acting masterclass. Secondly, Boiling point is a little masterpiece filmed in one shot, including an interesting view, great coordination from all the cast and incredible realism to one of a hell night in a famous restaurant. Last, if you're looking for a little different Stephen Graham's jewel this one is for you. Enjoy.

It's a hectic night in a London restaurant. Head chef Andy Jones (Stephen Graham) has been under stressed and failing to maintain standards for the last two months. The health inspector downgrades their rating due to his bad paperwork. His mentor is coming with a food critic. There is conflicts in and out of the kitchen. It is chaotic poetry. This one shot film has no cuts. It looks like steady handheld camera work for ninety minutes as the camera follows the action. Quite frankly, I didn't realize the no cuts until the thirty minutes. The intensity doesn't slack off so the audience doesn't have to wait for the continuous shot. It pushes the energy and doesn't let go. There are stressful moments which punctuates an already stressful night. The only minor issue is that I didn't really like chef Andy as a character. I would love to follow Carly instead although that would be less dramatic. The flow is natural. There are no dead spots although the extended allergy scene does slow it down. I would move away from the girl to the argument about the cause quicker. It would allow the argument to take place while they are uncertain about the girl's health. Waiters and other kitchen staff would probably have PTSD watching this. This is a really good indie.