Boiling Point Movie Review - ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Stephen Graham as Chef Andy Jones

Anyone who’s ever worked in a busy restaurant can tell you that it’s not for the faint of heart. Demanding diners, loud kitchens, and the relentless pace make for a high-stress environment. Boiling Point stars Stephen Graham as the chef of a new London hotspot on the night from hell, and the film does a good job making its audience feel nearly as frazzled and frayed as Graham surely must. 

A single, unbroken shot pulls viewers through the film, mostly following Graham as he tries to put out one fire after another. Single-shot takes can often feel contrived, but in the cramped, chaotic environs of this pressure-cooked setting, the technique elevates the tension further. The audience feels like they are in amongst the cooks, servers, and bartenders desperately trying not to fuck up as they go about their evenings.

Graham’s performance as a chef simultaneously on the verge of stardom and a complete mental breakdown is compelling. From the first minutes, even as he projects a relatively placid exterior, it's clear there is a ravaged psyche underneath. As the night goes on and circumstances deteriorate, Graham’s attempts to keep things together do as well.

Some strong supporting work bolsters the production, particularly by Vinette Robinson as a competent, supportive, but frustrated sous chef, and Alice Feetham as a maître d' who masks her feelings of inadequacy with bullying.

The plot is never dull, with multiple conflicts constantly occurring amongst the back-of-the-house, waitstaff, and guests. Unfortunately, some of these plot points feel so obviously engineered that they become predictable, while one in particular is just a bit ludicrous in its scale and execution.

Altogether, Boiling Point provides a compressed, intense 90-minute shot of adrenaline that accurately captures the feeling of the restaurant business. The contours of the plot can at times detract from the deep sense of immersion viewers will otherwise have, but they don’t derail the overall experience.. Chef Andy’s night might be a nightmare, but it’s still one worth watching.