The iconic movie Anthony Bourdain called the “ugliest, greasiest, darkest”
Among the most beloved celebrity chefs in the world, Anthony Bourdain was one of the key figures who played a part in highlighting the infinite nuances of international cuisines to a strong global following. Through his brilliant travelogues, Bourdain didn’t just explore the unimaginable variety of food across multiple regions. He also examined the sociological and philosophical traditions that govern the way of thinking in different cultures.
Due to his invaluable contributions to popular culture, Bourdain transcended the culinary domain and became a public figure. In addition to his documentaries, he also penned several books about his incredible journey, which struck a chord with thousands around the world. That’s exactly why many valued his judgement when it came to things apart from food as well, which included his taste in movies and music.
During a conversation with Criterion before his untimely demise, the revered chef opened up about the cinematic masterpieces that influenced his own imagination. One of the most notable entries on the list is Wong Kar-wai’s brilliant Hong Kong film Chungking Express, which left an indelible mark on Bourdain, who routinely revisited it. Through his praise of the movie, it’s clear that Bourdain was an ardent fan of Wong Kar-wai and was very familiar with his filmography.
When asked to elaborate on the magnificent visual narrative of Chungking Express, Bourdain praised cinematographer Christopher Doyle and his unique language: “I could watch the work of Wong Kar-wai (and the brilliant cinematographer Christopher Doyle) all day long. I don’t have to understand what’s going on… I don’t care. Beautiful people, photographed beautifully. His films are the best, most romantic out there.”
In contrast to the beauty of Chungking Express, Bourdain also included a film noir that he considered to be the “ugliest” addition to the genre. That movie is none other than Robert Alrdich’s seminal 1955 noir Kiss Me Deadly, which influenced many great auteurs like Jean-Luc Godard and Quentin Tarantino. While talking about the movie, Bourdain described it as “easily the ugliest, greasiest, darkest, and most influential noir of its day. Love it.”
Kiss Me Deadly delved deeper into the frameworks of film noir than many of its predecessors, painting an unapologetically nihilistic portrait of the world. It remains an important part of popular culture due to its famous ending, which Tarantino borrowed for the iconic suitcase scene in Pulp Fiction. Undoubtedly among the finest additions to a celebrated genre, Aldrich’s apocalyptic work is more relevant than ever.
Watch the trailer below.
