Classic Review #46: Boiling Point

Providing a vehicle for Stephen Graham’s uncommon talents is about as clear a no-brainer as any director could wish to receive; the Scouse thespian has that rare ability to make viewers feel as if they aren’t actually watching someone act, but rather peering into the actual life of the characters he portrays. That is certainly the case in Boiling Point, Philip Barantini’s film about an incredibly tense and fateful night in the life of a chef working in one of London’s trendiest restaurants.

What makes Barantini’s drama ingenious is the way it is audaciously filmed in one-shot, a stylistic choice which, rather than being gimmicky, ensures that each scene – no matter how trivial it might seem – develops the arc of every character. Graham is the obvious standout but he is joined by a fine supporting cast, with Vinette Robinson particularly excellent as his long-suffering sous-chef.

As its title suggests, the film simmers along right up to its dramatic conclusion, inviting you to share in the anxiety and claustrophobia that is clearly being felt by its central players. It is a delicious slice of independent cinema, one that reminds us that original concepts will always triumph over flashy effects. And it is another crowning moment for its leading man, who continues to excel as the sort of tortured everyman that we can all, in some shape or form, relate to.