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United States · 2022
1h 36m
Director Rebecca Halpern
Starring Charlie Trotter, Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse, Grant Achatz
Genre Documentary
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In the 2000s, chef Charlie Trotter was the toast of Chicago, his restaurant one of the world’s top fine-dining destinations, yet his tempestuous nature alienated many. This absorbing, unvarnished profile chronicles the passions of a master chef and the consequences of pursuing perfection at all costs.
The editorial assembly and talking-head presentation of “Love, Charlie” is a bit too dry for my taste, struggling to build an intriguing pacing with and-then-this-happened storytelling. But the emotional power of the film benefits from its extensive archive, and how it displays it.
Los Angeles Times by Noel Murray
What makes this film so fascinating is that its subject remains an enigma: a pioneer who did a lot of good and inspired a lot of people, then faded quietly away, leaving questions about who he really was.
Chicago Sun-Times by Richard Roeper
Neither hagiography nor cold-plate dish, this is a solidly researched, well-photographed, crisply edited film that chronicles Trotter’s life with journalistic integrity, while providing fascinating glimpses into the “foodie” culture of the times, in Chicago and around the world.
“Love, Charlie” plays like a whirlwind story, and an often entertaining one, but there’s no breathing room to process anything beyond hitting the highs and lows. We’re left in some unresolved limbo between celebrating what makes a high-end restaurant sing and considering this culinary legend’s life a cautionary tale.