[virgil]

I saw this film the other day.  It brought back some old memories of my first job in a real kitchen.  How many of us have known a chef like Bradley Cooper's character?

 

[jimyra]

The guy was an unstable jerk.  I wouldn't stay one day in that atmosphere.  BOH should be a teem.

 

[vic cardenas]

Terrible movie. I had to turn it off about 30 minutes in, it was so bad.

So much cliche chef junk storytelling. I could see how this movie would appeal to foodies that don't know any better and just watch tons of food network and chef competition shows and dream about "what it's really like" while they work in an office from 9-5.

It was really hard for me to watch and I can usually sit through a bad movie but not this one.  

 

[virgil]

Terrible movie. I had to turn it off about 30 minutes in, it was so bad.

So much cliche chef junk storytelling. I could see how this movie would appeal to foodies that don't know any better and just watch tons of food network and chef competition shows and dream about "what it's really like" while they work in an office from 9-5.

It was really hard for me to watch and I can usually sit through a bad movie but not this one.

Maybe you guys misread the post or maybe I wasn't very clear? I didn't ask for a film review.

I asked if anyone has ever known a chef like Bradley Cooper's character?

 

[vic cardenas]

Oh, sorry for stating my opinion. So you were looking for answers like "no" or "yes" not opinions on the movie itself? Sorry for being so dumb... 

Well, no, I have not. Great thread...  :-/

 

[neworleanscookj]

I wanna see this movie but not for the cost of on demand with the reviews I've read. Chef's a better movie from what I hear, I liked Chef, No Reservations was alright... for a chic flick. Liked The Hundred Foot Journey quite abit, more for the depth of color in the cinematography than the story though. What other movies about the B.O.H. life are there that anyone knows about? Anthony Bourdain should totally be a chef in a R rated movie about the life in the B.O.H. lol.

 

[virgil]

@VIc - Your opinions are fine and are always welcome.  But, please do not trash the thread just because you made a simple mistake.  Please and thank you. 

 

[vic cardenas]

I wanna see this movie but not for the cost of on demand with the reviews I've read. Chef's a better movie from what I hear, I liked Chef, No Reservations was alright... for a chic flick. Liked The Hundred Foot Journey quite abit, more for the depth of color in the cinematography than the story though. What other movies about the B.O.H. life are there that anyone knows about? Anthony Bourdain should totally be a chef in a R rated movie about the life in the B.O.H. lol.

"Chef" was good, I thought. Worth a viewing and I enjoyed the story.

"Le Chef" with Jean Reno is a recent french movie that was good with a bit of comedy mixed in and a good story about a cook who becomes a chef in a michelin restaurant. "Comme un Chef" is the original title.

Both movies are a little sappy.

"Ratatouille" is a good animated film mostly meant for kids but most cooks I know seem to have enjoyed the story.

I never saw any of the others mentioned but check those out, NewOrleansCookJ.

 

[neworleanscookj]

Heh, Le Chef looks like a good watch, although whenever I see Jean Reno I can't help but be reminded of The Professional.

 

[pete]

I have mixed feelings about this movie. I certainly didn't like it nearly as much as Chef. It spent too much time glorifying bad behavior, and the anti-social aspects of this industry, but there was also some good food porn, although not enough IMHO. The storyline was pretty predictable and I found myself not really invested enough in Bradley Cooper's character to care what happened to him.

As to the question as to whether I've known a chef like Bradley Cooper's character; I haven't known 1 chef that displayed so many bad behaviors, but I see some of his character in many chefs and cooks I've known. I've known chefs that flamed out due to drugs. I've known cooks that were vindictive enough to sabotage kitchens I've worked in. I've worked for chefs that screamed, yelled, and threatened physical violence. And I 've known a whole host of cooks and chefs that have displayed a wide range of deviant behavior. But I've never worked for a chef that displayed as many poor qualities as this chef did.

 

[virgil]

As to the question as to whether I've known a chef like Bradley Cooper's character; I haven't known 1 chef that displayed so many bad behaviors, but I see some of his character in many chefs and cooks I've known. I've known chefs that flamed out due to drugs. I've known cooks that were vindictive enough to sabotage kitchens I've worked in. I've worked for chefs that screamed, yelled, and threatened physical violence. And I 've known a whole host of cooks and chefs that have displayed a wide range of deviant behavior. But I've never worked for a chef that displayed as many poor qualities as this chef did.

Great post, Pete. Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences.

The first chef I ever worked for many long years ago was a bit like Cooper's character. I guess I could say Cooper's character is a caricature of the man I worked for. He was verbally abusive, often needlessly and it really made for a dismal work environment. He really didn't inspire anyone. The opposite, in fact. As a result, I think it reflected in the staff's overall performance.

When I opened my own place, I realized that I did learn something from this guy. I learned what I did not want in my kitchen. Years later, when I made the decision that I could not physically handle running both the business and the kitchen and it was time to hire a chef, it took a long time to find someone with the right talents and the right temperament to both run a kitchen and inspire the staff to go the extra mile. If I had to name the most important thing that I learned over the years, its that the "magic" usually happens in that extra mile.

 

[just jim]

Watched it last night.

I agree with others, Chef was better, but then it was a different take on the industry.

While not a top notch movie, it was compelling enough that I would have liked more time, I thought it all wrapped up too suddenly.

And also like others, I see myself and many others I've worked with in the characters.

From the stress, anger, burn out, I've been there many times.

I used to be a more docile version of the aggro cook, I still exhibited some of those tendencies as i was coming up.

Mostly i liked that the characters hated each other and were angry with each other, they still cared for each other.

That happens when you go through hell together.

 

[parallax]

Gordon Ramsay was an executive producer. Told me immediately what to expect, and it delivered as expected.

I own Chef, because it's just a cool flick. Plus, it's one of my four year old boy's favorites. Points at Farveau, and says "That's you," then points to the boy and says "and that's me. We're gonna work on a food truck, too!" Hard not to be a family favorite.

I guess it also means I'm going to invest in a food truck in the near future!

Anyone considering Le Chef-watch it. It's hillarious, and also on Netflix. Subtitles obly, no engrish.

 

[mmorales]

Oooh, discussions of chef movies....love it. I am one of those annoying people who work a 9-to-5 and just watch cooking shows and chef movies. Oh, I do cook at home; wish I were better at it.

Have seen all of these discussed here, enjoyed them all but did indeed find Burnt hard to take, since I don't care for movies about people with few redeeming qualities. There's another nice one called "Today's Special", a little along the lines of "The Hundred Foot Journey" but without Helen Mirren. My favorite chef flick? "Kings of Pastry". I've watched it twice. I wish they would do a documentary about the competition every time. Have a look; it is totally engrossing.

 

[rndmchef]

Nothing about it was interesting or kept me wanting to even finish the movie. And I've been a line cook for a few years and plan on soon being a chef and doing it till I can't pick up a knife. So I love hearing about struggle and getting through it , but this was just a bad movie.

I guess any real line cook or chef should have low expectations given that it's a movie made by Hollywood with Hollywood actors and its primary audience is the average American, and the average American is not a line cook or chef.

 

[kaiquekuisine]

I didnt like the movie.

It was boring. 

Bradley Cooper played some neurotic crazy chef, pretending to be Gordon Ramseys Evil Twin. 

I thought it was so exaggerated, so unrealistic (especially the speed they opened the restaurant), and i thought it was made by someone who had no idea what the industry was like. 

Sure there are some crazy chefs who are pretty aggressive, but that isnt the majority of the industry. 

I think the movie was very fictional, i personally didn´t like it. 

I prefer No Reservations or Le Chef  or even Ratatouille to this movie. 

 

[someday]

I thought it was OK. Not great, but not bad. I think it did a pretty decent job of showing the stress of operating at that high of a level (though, yes, even still exaggerated) and the importance of innovation and not resting on laurels. The love story aspect felt a bit tacked on--not my favorite part. 

I also wished it would have focused on the food a bit more lol. 

I also like the part when his sous chef tried to screw him over with Michelin by cobbering the sauce with cayenne. The slow knife, revenge served cold, etc. Thought that was a bit of a shocker and a nice twist. 

I thought Cooper's acting was good too, even though the script wasn't the best. 

I've known a couple of chefs that were pretty close to that level, too. Nothing quite that bad but still, not the most fun lol. 

 

[pastrymd23]

Bradley Cooper in Kitchen Confidential (on Hulu) and now this Burnt movie - his acting is key spot on for these types of scenarios. I've dealt with a handful of men in the kitchen like this, and honestly, Cooper was a lot better in Kitchen Confidential than in Burnt. I'd rather watching GRACE on netflix, than Burnt again. However, the movie was poorly written, it was humorous and I'd never watch it again because of the other actors sad acting.

 

[someday]

Bradley Cooper in Kitchen Confidential (on Hulu) and now this Burnt movie - his acting is key spot on for these types of scenarios. I've dealt with a handful of men in the kitchen like this, and honestly, Cooper was a lot better in Kitchen Confidential than in Burnt. I'd rather watching GRACE on netflix, than Burnt again. However, the movie was poorly written, it was humorous and I'd never watch it again because of the other actors sad acting.

Hmm, interesting, I had a different reaction. I thought the acting in Burnt was generally really good...not 100% "realistic" I guess but still done very well. I also didn't think it was very humorous, other than a couple moments of levity.

Kitchen Confidential was pretty awful--it had a few funny bits but it seems like, even if it had lasted longer, it would have run out of ideas fairly quickly.

Grace was awesome...that scene with Charlie Trotter struck a nerve. Heard that guy was a COLOSSAL a-hole, Grace didn't do anything to change my mind. Very good movie, though like I often am with movies like this, I found myself wanting more scenes with the kitchen.

I'm also gonna steal his way of doing sunchokes and put a variation on my next menu

 

[pastrymd23]

Bradley Cooper from

Hmm, interesting, I had a different reaction. I thought the acting in Burnt was generally really good...not 100% "realistic" I guess but still done very well. I also didn't think it was very humorous, other than a couple moments of levity.

Kitchen Confidential was pretty awful--it had a few funny bits but it seems like, even if it had lasted longer, it would have run out of ideas fairly quickly.

Grace was awesome...that scene with Charlie Trotter struck a nerve. Heard that guy was a COLOSSAL a-hole, Grace didn't do anything to change my mind. Very good movie, though like I often am with movies like this, I found myself wanting more scenes with the kitchen.

I'm also gonna steal his way of doing sunchokes and put a variation on my next menu

Opposite views! That's no problem. I loved Kitchen Confidential (and hated Burnt), but to each their own. I've been in kitchens, as a woman, where Kitchen Confidential's scenes are tried and true and it's hilarious to me. I think the main reason I enjoyed the show, is because I've lived some of the goofy times.

GRACE was pretty sweet. I was pretty upset with Trotter's dick-hole actions, but you never know the true side of people! It's nice to see what people come from and see what they can accomplish. I was a little bored on scenes that weren't kitchen/restaurant based, honestly.

I enjoy every aspect of the kitchen world, regardless of it being scattered with addicts, alcoholics, and sex-based comments. It's life, and it happens everywhere, not just kitchens.