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Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain - Everything You Need to Know

7/7/2021 • 3 min read

It’s always difficult when a figure we look up to passes. That grief can be multiplied when such a person dies because they took their own life. Anthony Bourdain had what some people would call the best job in the world. He traveled the globe on a quest to eat the best food and meet the most interesting people. And he was extremely good at it. And yet it wasn't enough for him to find peace and lasting fulfillment, leading many to realize how severe the influence of depression can be.

Lives like Bourdain's also create a mystery. Fans ask, "how could such a thing happen? Is there something we didn’t know about this person?" The documentary ROADRUNNER attempts to explore these questions while also celebrating a beloved public figure that left us far too soon.

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The Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain Release Date

ROADRUNNER opens in theaters on July 16.

Is There a Roadrunner Trailer?

 

It just so happens there is! Be forewarned, though, even the film’s trailer is likely to make you cry. This footage shows off some of Bourdain's high points, and introduces some of the people who speak about his life and work in the documentary.

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What Is Roadrunner About?

As you can probably tell from the title, the film is about Anthony Bourdain. His life, his rise to fame, this background, and the demons that plagued him, all told through footage of the man and interviews with those who knew and loved him. The film is half investigation and half celebration. Parts of it will make you sad. Parts will inspire you. It’s almost a certainty parts will make you thirsty for cheap beer and hungry for some quality street food.

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Who Is in Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain?

Obviously, the film will have tons of archival footage of Anthony Bourdain himself. But it also features a bunch of prominent interview subjects, people like chefs David Chang and Eric Ripert, musicians Iggy Pop and Josh Homme, and actor/filmmaker/musician John Lurie. Maybe more importantly, the archival footage is going to feature a ton of everyday people Bourdain was lucky enough to meet and eat with during his travels.

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Who Directed Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain?

The film was made by documentary superstar Morgan Neville. While you might not know his name, Neville directed some very high-profile documentaries many have seen. He won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature with his 20 FEET FROM STARDOM in 2014. He also made the entire world cry like crazy with his well-received Mr. Rogers documentary, WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR, which is still the highest-grossing biographical documentary of all time.

So the idea of this person taking on a subject like Anthony Bourdain is kind of a sure thing. But also, you should probably bring a box of tissues with you to the movie theater. The film is sure to be good, but it’s also sure to be moving.

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Is There Anything Else We Should Know About Roadrunner?

Just that, while this movie is sure to be a tearjerker, it is also very likely to inspire you do try new things and go see the world. So be prepared to pick up a cookbook on the way home and maybe even finally take those extra steps to get your passport renewed.

 

Roadrunner opens on July 16!

 

All images courtesy of Focus Features.

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