In recent years, Canadian director Matt Johnson has served up two unexpected exceptions to the biopic trap. His 2023 “BlackBerry,” about the rapid rise and fall of the breakthrough smartphone, is a workplace comedy turned late capitalist tragedy with a “Succession”-like lack of reverence for its subjects. And his new film “Tony,” about the summer a young Anthony Bourdain spent working in a Provincetown kitchen, works as a coming-of-age film, regardless if you know its miserable 20-year old protagonist, played by Dominic Sessa, will become the beloved writer, chef, and “Parts Unknown” host.
This article is a companion piece to Matt Johnson on Feeling ‘Trapped’ Shooting ‘Tony,’ Josh Safdie’s Advice, and If Bigger Hollywood Films Are Next taken from the interview in Indiewire’s Filmmaker Toolkit Podcast.