I had mixed, and mostly ambivalent feelings about Anthony Bourdain while he was alive.
The chef-turned-author-turned-television personality made shows that didn’t really interest me where he traveled around the globe, sampling food and conversation as sort of a full-time cultural gourmand. He seemed more interesting and engaging in talk show or stage Q&A appearances, and I appreciated his non-fussy approach to food, something that often puts me at odds with dining professionals.
It’s hard not to like a guy who could crank out complicated gourmet recipes from memory, but also proudly expressed his admiration for a greasy In-N-Out burger.
The new documentary, “Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain,” is a revelation. Not since “Amy” made me completely rethink my perceptions of doomed singer Amy Winehouse has a non-fiction film delved as deeply and authentically into the life of a troubled famous person -- someone others looked upon with awe and envy but who (mostly) silently suffered a long, dark journey of the soul.
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