Review of Burnt (2015) by Joanna B — 22 Feb 2016

A discordant 5-course degustation of ego, scruples, denial, debt and paybacks, the beautiful cuisine served up on the Burnt menu leaves a slightly over cooked and perplexingly familiar taste in one's mouth.

Two Michelin-star chef Adam Jones (Bradley Cooper) had; and lost, it all. A rock star talent - with matching ego, Adam's spiraling self-destructive fall from grace reverberated throughout the culinary world taking more than just his own reputation with it.

Two years after his Parisian disgrace, having finally confronted his demons by giving up his vices of booze, drugs and women whilst paying a self- imposed penance to shuck one million oysters; Adam embarks on a grand resurgence to take the London restaurant scene by storm in search of an elusive third star.

Driven solely by the thrill of creating explosions of taste, he taps every tumultuous contact he ever had; regardless of how he left their reputation to lie and die. Bribing, blackmailing and pilfering, Adam lands his own kitchen and a hand-picked Brigade de cuisine, but is it enough?

Written as a less endearing version of the infamous Mr. Ramsey, the fluent-in-French Cooper's charm and charisma ensures that we like Adam - arrogant, unforgiving and manipulative faults and all while supporting actors Daniel Brühl and Matthew Rhys are woefully underutilized and love interest Sienna Miller lacks presence.

The Verdict: A combination of unexpected flavors and contradictory textures, the chaos and precision in the kitchen feels exceptionally real while the sparingly shot gourmet offerings are just mouth-watering. Although not the most inspired sensory experience, the meal still has a little bite.

Published: Canberra Weekly.

Date of Publication: 29/10/2015.