Boiling Point
Boiling Point
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Boiling Point is a superb but tense British drama set in a London restaurant and has near-constant strong language and some drug taking. Stephen Graham stars as Andy Jones, a head chef of an upmarket London restaurant, who is living with an alcohol and drug disorder. Struggling with his personal life -- he is estranged from his wife and is constantly apologizing for letting down his young son -- Andy must gather himself to run the kitchen on the restaurant's busiest day of the year. Filmed in one continuous shot, the movie follows around the various restaurant staff as they deal with difficult diners -- including, in one instance, a racist customer -- and each other. Tempers are lost and voices are raised leading to much swearing including "bitch," "pr--k," and variants of "f--k." Various scuffles also break out, although they are quickly broken up. A customer has an allergic reaction and his rushed to hospital in an ambulance. Another character is seen with cuts on their forearm, with the suggestion being that they have been self-harming. Andy is seen downing vodka and pouring some into his water bottle. He also snorts drugs. Another character is shown buying pot. The cast is diverse in terms of gender, race, and sexuality with characters clearly coming from all different regions of the U.K. as well as other countries like France.
Community Reviews
Brilliant for older audiences.
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What's the Story?
BOILING POINT finds Andy Jones (Stephen Graham), head chef of a prestigious London restaurant, struggling with his personal life while trying to run his kitchen on one of the busiest days of the year. As tempers flare and pressures mount, will Andy and his team make it to closing time?
Is It Any Good?
Shot in one continuous take, this stress-inducing British drama is a superb piece of filmmaking. Anyone that has ever worked in a restaurant will recognize so much that is portrayed in Boiling Point from the over-whelming heat of the kitchen to the array of diners frequenting this London restaurant. As the camera moves in and around the restaurant, the viewer is given little crumbs of insight into the various characters, from the restaurant manager to the waiting staff to the customers. The camera is constantly on the move and it's to director and co-writer Philip Barantini's credit that we gain enough of an understanding about each of these characters despite some being given only a few minutes screen time. It's a testament to Barantini, who doesn't waste a second of the 92-minute runtime.
While the supporting cast are all superb, Boiling Point is led by a first-rate performance from Graham as the restaurant's head chef, Andy. From the opening scene, when Andy is apologizing to his estranged wife on his phone outside the restaurant, the pressure bubbling away below the surface is palpable. Every now and then, this pressure spills over, such as when Andy shouts at a new member of his kitchen staff for washing her hands in the wrong sink. But these outbursts feel nothing more than warning shots for what is to come as more and more lands on Andy's plate. A film that is experienced rather than enjoyed, you'll be wanting a long lie down by the closing credits.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the strong language in Boiling Point. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
How were drinking and drug use portrayed? Were there consequences? Did it glamorize it?
The movie was shot in one continuous take. What effect did it have on the storytelling? Did it remind you of any other movies you've seen?
Have you or anyone you know worked in a restaurant? How did the portrayal on-screen compare to real life?
Movie Details
- In theaters: November 19, 2021
- On DVD or streaming: November 23, 2021
- Cast: Stephen Graham, Vinette Robinson, Alice Feetham
- Director: Philip Barantini
- Studio: Saban Films
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Cooking and Baking
- Run time: 92 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: pervasive language and some drug use
- Last updated: October 8, 2022
For kids who love cooking
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