Even though he's gone through a meteoric rise in fame over the past few years and has proved his ability more times than he needs to, Bradley Cooper certainly isn't incapable of a few duds every now and again. The star has been on a losing streak as of late, as both "Serena" (2014) and "Aloha" (2015), Coopers last two projects, were panned by critics nationwide. His most recent film, "Burnt," is no different. But, with consideration to the ironic nature of this statement, the critics aren't always right.
"Burnt" follows Adam Jones (played by Cooper), a disgraced chef, as he tries to reassemble his former kitchen staff in an attempt to gain his third Michelin Star, the single most prestigious award to be gained in the culinary world. A former drug addict and womanizer, Jones struggles in and out of the kitchen to keep his life and his career in balance.
Although there is an overabundance of clichés to be found in that plot synopsis alone, "Burnt" succeeds solely because of Cooper's performance. Jones as a character is about as one note as they come. He's a domineering, egotistical maniac who happens to be a genius in the kitchen, which, aside from the kitchen bit, sounds uncannily similar to dozens of characters from other films, namely the title character from last weekend's "Steve Jobs."
But somehow Cooper makes it work. He's practically built for the character with his fiery blue eyes, confident predisposition and knack for screaming. In essence, Jones is just a more handsome version of Gordon Ramsay, and Cooper delivers on that to the letter. In many ways, this runs the character right into overdone territory, but Cooper's magnetic qualities make it an enjoyable watch regardless. Even though I predicted nearly every step the character took, I still found satisfaction in observing the man's struggle. Although that doesn't reflect well on the script, it's high praise for the leading man.
However, I will say that even beyond the cliché nature of the main character, I understand how this film received such low marks from critics. The entire film is relatively shallow and doesn't really even make an attempt to break the mold from which it came. The whole movie has a sort of commercial quality that feels superficial, and Cooper is the only cog in the machine that is firmly planted on solid ground. There are sequences that literally feel as though they're straight out of an advertisement for some high-end restaurant in London, and the lack of depth given to the peripheral characters doesn't help.
But even where the filmmakers let things go, Cooper is there to pick up the pieces. He creates chemistry with his costars where there wouldn't have been any otherwise, and is the sole reason there's any legitimate drama to be found in the film at all. Even though it's been done before, the intensity of Jones' kitchen is thoroughly established, so much so that I left the theater questioning whether Cooper was cast for his acting talent or his aptitude as a maestro of the culinary instruments. If great films about cooking are what you're after, last year's "Chef" is a much more sincere and considerably better take on the subject than this. But if you seek the fire of "Hell's Kitchen," then "Burnt" is probably right up your alley. Even though the film didn't come close to its potential, "Burnt" works because its leading man is one of the best in the business.
"Burnt" follows Adam Jones (played by Cooper), a disgraced chef, as he tries to reassemble his former kitchen staff in an attempt to gain his third Michelin Star, the single most prestigious award to be gained in the culinary world. A former drug addict and womanizer, Jones struggles in and out of the kitchen to keep his life and his career in balance.
Although there is an overabundance of clichés to be found in that plot synopsis alone, "Burnt" succeeds solely because of Cooper's performance. Jones as a character is about as one note as they come. He's a domineering, egotistical maniac who happens to be a genius in the kitchen, which, aside from the kitchen bit, sounds uncannily similar to dozens of characters from other films, namely the title character from last weekend's "Steve Jobs."
But somehow Cooper makes it work. He's practically built for the character with his fiery blue eyes, confident predisposition and knack for screaming. In essence, Jones is just a more handsome version of Gordon Ramsay, and Cooper delivers on that to the letter. In many ways, this runs the character right into overdone territory, but Cooper's magnetic qualities make it an enjoyable watch regardless. Even though I predicted nearly every step the character took, I still found satisfaction in observing the man's struggle. Although that doesn't reflect well on the script, it's high praise for the leading man.
However, I will say that even beyond the cliché nature of the main character, I understand how this film received such low marks from critics. The entire film is relatively shallow and doesn't really even make an attempt to break the mold from which it came. The whole movie has a sort of commercial quality that feels superficial, and Cooper is the only cog in the machine that is firmly planted on solid ground. There are sequences that literally feel as though they're straight out of an advertisement for some high-end restaurant in London, and the lack of depth given to the peripheral characters doesn't help.
But even where the filmmakers let things go, Cooper is there to pick up the pieces. He creates chemistry with his costars where there wouldn't have been any otherwise, and is the sole reason there's any legitimate drama to be found in the film at all. Even though it's been done before, the intensity of Jones' kitchen is thoroughly established, so much so that I left the theater questioning whether Cooper was cast for his acting talent or his aptitude as a maestro of the culinary instruments. If great films about cooking are what you're after, last year's "Chef" is a much more sincere and considerably better take on the subject than this. But if you seek the fire of "Hell's Kitchen," then "Burnt" is probably right up your alley. Even though the film didn't come close to its potential, "Burnt" works because its leading man is one of the best in the business.