Long single takes have become something of a fad in films recently and some have gone further and either made their entire narrative look like a single action from start to finish with sophisticated cheating in the edit suite (such as 1917) or made the trick work for complex action sequences (like Extraction) but this outstanding piece of work goes the whole hog and in Boiling Point the technique of a single take entirely serves the requirements of the story and not visa-versa. Starting its life as a short, this film was still filming when the first lock down hit and no doubt the cast and crew felt the pressure for real when told they only have time to do two more takes before the production was going to close (4 in total)
The story focuses on rising talented Chef Andy Jones (Graham in the performance of his life) who's recently branched out and gone solo to open his own venue and escape from under the thumb of his former boss celeb chef Alistair Skye (Jason Flemyng, bringing a brilliant slimy nuance to his character) - However it's a busy night for the new popping venue and tensions soon rise as their venue is over booked and different personal agendas among the staff soon give way to conflict and as the title would suggest, reach a boiling point.
Rising star Director Phillip Barantini fully utlises the adage 'I wish I could be a fly on the wall...' to full effect as the venue comes to life with a colourful assortment of characters one might find in any similar environment. As the camera drifts seamlessly from table to kitchen to back alleys to the bathroom and back again we often hear part of conversations that allude to a character's backstory or mindset and let our own imaginations fill out the rest. I've watched the film three times now and every time I notice skillfully woven details and hints of information that I missed the previous time. The set up works so well for four reasons: 1) The skillful direction 2) the superb performances from ALL the cast, especially the younger actors with the smaller roles, they really stayed with you long after the film is over. 3) The pacing and timing of the story, the key beats peel away like an onion, constantly upping the tension as the gloves come off and the stakes are raised and 4) but by no means least, the incredible camerawork in a real single take from Matthew Lewis. He hasn't been mentioned in enough reviews, so I single him out for well deserved praise here.
There's so many beautifully played moments in this piece its almost a masterclass in acting of itself. The style of the film and it's story will not be for everyone and it is certainly not a thriller, a tense drama would be a more accurate description, but the film feels as if this is the most accurate insight you're ever going to see into how your 5 star meal (downgraded to 3) arrives at your table. The whole film feels entirely real and believable and deserves all the praise and awards it receives, which I certainly hope will rise well into double figures. Just outstanding storytelling and pure cinema at its finest.
The story focuses on rising talented Chef Andy Jones (Graham in the performance of his life) who's recently branched out and gone solo to open his own venue and escape from under the thumb of his former boss celeb chef Alistair Skye (Jason Flemyng, bringing a brilliant slimy nuance to his character) - However it's a busy night for the new popping venue and tensions soon rise as their venue is over booked and different personal agendas among the staff soon give way to conflict and as the title would suggest, reach a boiling point.
Rising star Director Phillip Barantini fully utlises the adage 'I wish I could be a fly on the wall...' to full effect as the venue comes to life with a colourful assortment of characters one might find in any similar environment. As the camera drifts seamlessly from table to kitchen to back alleys to the bathroom and back again we often hear part of conversations that allude to a character's backstory or mindset and let our own imaginations fill out the rest. I've watched the film three times now and every time I notice skillfully woven details and hints of information that I missed the previous time. The set up works so well for four reasons: 1) The skillful direction 2) the superb performances from ALL the cast, especially the younger actors with the smaller roles, they really stayed with you long after the film is over. 3) The pacing and timing of the story, the key beats peel away like an onion, constantly upping the tension as the gloves come off and the stakes are raised and 4) but by no means least, the incredible camerawork in a real single take from Matthew Lewis. He hasn't been mentioned in enough reviews, so I single him out for well deserved praise here.
There's so many beautifully played moments in this piece its almost a masterclass in acting of itself. The style of the film and it's story will not be for everyone and it is certainly not a thriller, a tense drama would be a more accurate description, but the film feels as if this is the most accurate insight you're ever going to see into how your 5 star meal (downgraded to 3) arrives at your table. The whole film feels entirely real and believable and deserves all the praise and awards it receives, which I certainly hope will rise well into double figures. Just outstanding storytelling and pure cinema at its finest.