Burnt (2015) * * *

Directed by:  John Wells

Starring:  Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Daniel Bruhl, Omar Sy, Alicia Vikander, Uma Thurman, Matthew Rhys, Emma Thompson, Sam Keeley

Burnt tells the story of a master chef looking for redemption.   He was once the head chef at one of the most prestigious restaurants in Paris, but fell victim to drugs, women, alcohol, and his inflated ego.     After leaving Paris, he serves his penance shucking exactly 1,000,000 oysters in New Orleans.    Once he hits his goal, he flies to London to make one last attempt to gain the elusive "third star", which is the equivalent to a 5-star general in chef terms....I think.   

I thought I had Burnt pegged as a predictable redemption drama, but it throws in a few surprises that make it special.    We know that Adam Jones (Cooper) is troubled by the demons mentioned above, but will find a way to pull through at the end.      Adam is not always a likable guy.    His tantrums directed at his staff border Gordon Ramsay's in their intensity.     At first, his quest is simply ego-driven and selfish, but he actually learns a few things along the way.    He learns he can't do it all by himself and to trust his staff to share in his vision.      You would be surprised how moving it can be. 

We learn Adam made plenty of mistakes in Paris and made some enemies.     He became estranged from his mentor, fell out of favor with the owner's son Tony (Bruhl), and was vicious enough to his sous-chef Michel (Sy) to cause him to chase Adam through the streets of Paris.    The resolution of this chase is among the surprises Burnt has to offer.  

Adam is able to convince Tony to reopen the Paris restaurant in London.     We see the food being prepared and everything in the restaurant put in just the right place.     Adam is looking for perfection, which causes distress to his staff which includes an apprentice named David (Keeley) and single mom Helene (Miller), who does not take kindly to Adam's insults and rants, but not enough to rule out being a potential love interest.     Also in the mix is Dr. Rosshilde (Thompson), a therapist Adam must visit as a stipulation of his investors.     She senses he is only halfway dedicated to treatment, which could take a dangerous turn if things go south.     Oh, and there are drug dealers lurking around to whom Adam owes a substantial amount of money.     They are not above causing bodily harm.  

Burnt successfully conveys the pressures of running a high-end restaurant.    The clientele pay top dollar for dishes they can't get anyplace else.     I'm not sure I would want to.    The portions are so small that I wouldn't be shocked if the diners then go someplace afterward to fill up on a burger.      If Burnt was not a good movie, it at least it made me hungry.    But, thanks to the performances by Cooper, Miller, and especially Bruhl (who slyly presents Tony's hidden motives for helping Adam), Burnt is pretty good.     I enjoy movies watching experts do their thing.    Adam is brilliant, but irascible.   Troubled, but with redemption not far out of reach.     You think you know exactly how Burnt will play out.    It basically plays out like you'd expect, but I like the human touches along the way, including a tender scene involving Adam's rival which goes a bit against movie convention.