PremiumRoadrunner on OTT: When, where to watch this compelling film about Anthony Bourdain
Directed and produced by Morgan Neville Roadrunner is a 2021 documentary on the life of Anthony Bourdain, tracing his early days as a chef, his rise to an author and then as a television presenter.
Last Updated: 08.38 PM, Aug 14, 2023
Anthony Bourdain meant different things to different people and the reason is that he embodied diverse shades of life. For some, he was the celebrity chef who served some of the top kitchens in the world during his time. For others, he was the man who literally travelled the off-the-beaten track to explore all possible culinary mysteries around him. Food, for sure, was on his agenda but his expeditions were imbued with a sense of unrestrained zest, and also a journalistic viewpoint, so as to learn as much as he could about people and their cuisines & cultures.
But, of course, Bourdain's professional life as a chef and traveller was a facade blocking the troubles of his personal life. While the former brimmed with intrigue and excitement, he generally refrained from speaking much about his personal issues which, in the past, reportedly also led to drug addiction. Anthony Bourdain died by suicide on June 8, 2018.
When and Where to watch Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain
Directed and produced by Morgan Neville (Won't You Be My Neighbor?, 20 Feet from Stardom), Roadrunner is a 2021 documentary on the life of Anthony Bourdain, tracing his early days as a chef, the rise to a best-selling author and a television presenter who traversed the entire world in search of food and adventure.
Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2021 before releasing in theatres the same year. The film is now ready to debut on OTT and will premiere on Netflix on August 16.
What to expect?
Perhaps it would be impossible to capture Anthony Bourdain's charisma in a film of sub two hours runtime. However, Morgan Neville attempts to bring to the fore the many highlights of Bourdain's vibrant life through the help of archival footage and a set of interviews featuring friends, family members and colleagues. These accounts could help the viewer gain a deeper insight into how the man functioned, though one must be wary of the broad-strokes-storytelling approach.