The film takes place in a very specific locale. Destitute, yes, but hes about as destitute as Tyler. A quiet joy with breathtaking performances. After a bumpy beginning, Tyler and Zac bond. Hemakes his escape proper by getting on a boatowned by Tyler (Shia LaBeouf), who agrees to take him from Virginia to North Carolina, where Zak hopes to attend a wrestling school he's seen on TV. Thats all right. This is how the movie turned out. First of all, Tylers act is absolutely incomprehensible here, who seems to be a positive character, but at the same time robbed other fishermen also, in general, almost impoverished poor fellows and then completely deprived them of their livelihood, burning down the pier with all its contents. When Eleanor discovers Zak escapes Janice tells her Lee wants to see her. Gottsagen then asked them to make a film for him, and they agreed, wanting to build a movie around him to provide the same opportunities afforded toother actors. As Tyler attempts to intervene, Duncan and Ratboy arrive, and Duncan hits Tyler on the head with a tire iron, knocking him unconscious right as Zak manages to lift Sam overhead and throw him forcefully out of the ring, something Salt Water had told him was impossible. [4] Filming took place in North Carolina and Georgia. I do however disagree with some of the reviews that theres too much vulgar language and drinking and violence? Common Sense Media. This moment from Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz's The Peanut Butter Falcon is the most endearing scene I've seen in years.. Zac tells Tyler his mission is to get to Salt Water Redneck's wrestling school, and Tyler, on his way to Florida, decides to help. Tyler doesnt treat Zak with kid gloves, which is exactly what his always-underestimated friend needs. See production, box office & company info, Chris Stuckmann Movie Reviews: The Peanut Butter Falcon. He discovers Zak on board and attempts to leave him behind once they reach shore. Grief is easier to bear when we walk with each other. Instead, The Peanut Butter Falconcreatorsshot test footage with Zak to prove that he could do it and sent that video out to the people who'd become the fellow cast and crew members, who wanted to work with him. Its an endearing phrase that comes up a few times throughout the movie. Related:CODA Ending & Real Meaning Explained. That said, some of the material is fairly mature. Hes inspired by Tylers words and finally feels like his life is worth living and worth remembering. Zac lives in the real world. Along the way, he encounters a young man named Tyler, who too is running away. Read her answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here. One night, Carl helps Zac bend back the iron bars on the window, suggests Zac grease himself up with hand soap, and watches his roommate flee into the night, barefoot and wearing just his underwear. Though the plot of this mismatched-buddies drama may feel overly familiar, the bold casting and watery setting provide a welcome edginess that enhances the inevitable sweetness, making it genuine. LaBeouf, meanwhile, is known for his irreverence and volatility, which makes it all the more notable when his character opens up and shows a softer side of himself. Nilson and Schwartz's devotion to the details of Zac's world highlights Gottsagen's funny and intelligent performance, giving the film an authenticity it wouldn't otherwise have. In the process, he purposefully burns bridges with many working in the fishing or boating business in the area as he tries to get away to start life anew in Jupiter, Florida. Slurs are hurled at Zak at several turns by strangers, and the film doesnt shy away from illustrating the pain of discrimination. Johnson's irrepressible sense of humor serves her well as an actress (even in the ", 10th Chicago Critics Film Fest Features Past Lives, Blackberry, Sanctuary, Theater Camp, and Many More, A Road Paved with Bloodshed: High Plains Drifter Turns 50, Cannes 2023 Line-up Includes Wes Anderson, Martin Scorsese, and Many More, Ebertfest Welcomes Molly Cornyn as its New Project Coordinator. [2], In its limited opening weekend on August 9, the film grossed $205,200 from 17 theaters. We learn that a woman is widowed at a young age. [17], The film was met with positive reviews. With Zack Gottsagen, Ann Pierce, Dakota Johnson, Bruce Dern. They break out into a dance and do, indeed, party. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 95% based on 220 reviews, with an average rating of 7.5/10. . The next morning, Eleanor discovers their camp, and attempts to persuade Zak to come back with her. The Peanut Butter Falcon has been repeatedly described thus far as a heartwarming, inspiring and feel-good indie film. "[18] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 70 out of 100, based on 28 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews. Then they made him the star of "The Peanut Butter Falcon." 'Peanut Butter Falcon' was written for a specific first . "[12][14], Peter Debruge of Variety praised the performances, saying "In Gottsagen, we get a performer who appears to be playing an earnest, unfiltered version of himself, while in LaBeouf, there are layers at play. Together they wind through deltas, elude capture, drink whisky, find God, catch fish, and convince Eleanor (28), a kind nursing home employee with a story of her own, to join them on their journey. He has nowhere else to go. Tragicomedy, USA, 2019, 97 min. Some of the adventures work better than others. Zak wants to be friends with him from the moment they meet, especially after Tyler saves him from drowning. But the film resists them at (almost) every turn, at least in the characterization if not in the plot. I wont spoil the ending, which involves a wrestling match featuring The Peanut Butter Falcon, a budding relationship between Tyler and Eleanor, and Tylers past catching up to him, but what I will say is that Zaks language changes in a powerful wayhe begins to refer to Eleanor and Tyler as his family. This is particularly beautiful because each of them has lost family, and each needs the others. He is aa troubled thief and fisherman who helps Zak a runaway 22-year-old with Down Syndrome get to a wrestling school in North Carolina while reluctant at first he eventually warms up to Zak and forms a very close bond with him. At the same time, Tyler continues to be chased by very unfriendly fishermen, and Zack is looking for a volunteer from the shelter, Eleanor (Dakota Johnson), who looked after Zack at the shelter. Tyler learns how much he doesnt know about Eleanors lifethat, like Tyler and Zak, she has experienced loss in the early death of her husband. After some arguments, she is convincedby a smitten Tylerto join them on their outlaw journey. Filmmakers Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz met Gottsagen by chance at Zeno Mountain Farm, a camp for people both with and without disabilities. Meanwhile Tyler, a man fired for bringing in illegal crab catches, decides to burn the gear of his rivals, and goes on the lam himself. The girl treats Zach very well, but for her he is sick and destitute, like those old people in the orphanage whom she cares for. This is not to say that these aren't good or empathetic performances, but all you have to do is watch Gottsagen's performance to see what we are missing when we discount the complaints of the disabled community in re: representation. The Peanut Butter Falcon: Directed by Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz. Zak: Hey, youre invited to my birthday party. In order to build Peanut Butter Falconinto a true story, what Nilson and Schwartz decided to do was figure outGottsagen's interests. Under the Silver Lake Explained: Whats Up With the Ending? Actors and actresses with Down syndrome are starting to get more representation within the industry with performerslike Kiki May in Ted Lasso, Edward Barbanell, Jamie Brewer, and Zack Gottsagen, who gives an incredible performance as Zak. Co-written and co-directed by first-timers Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz, The Peanut Butter Falcon does follow a well-worn story arc, but the presence of Gottsagen -- who has Down syndrome in real life -- quickly ups the ante. But he already lives in a North Carolina nursing home alongside his roommate, Carl (Bruce Dern). The camp the directors met him at was Zeno Mountain Farm, a Los Angeles-based organization that hosts camps for artists and adventurers, and Gottsagen was attending an acting workshop there. Bluegrass, country songs, gospel hymns punctuate the narrative. Most drama/inspirational films are usually based on events that happened in real life but is The Peanut Butter Falconbased on a true story? However, this is by no means a complaint against LaBeouf and Johnson, rather the opposite: they acted very nobly, because their roles were not supposed to divert the attention of the audience from Zack Gottsagen. There are directors who are tempted to use people with problems in order to enhance the emotional response of the audience. He really looks up to professional wrestlers like the Salt Water Redneck, and he wants to be just like them. 2. You got a good guy heart, you cant do shit about that. Tyleris the main protagonist ofThe Peanut Butter Falcon. Thanks! By the time Eleanor catches up with them, they have built a raft with lumber given to them by a blind backwoods preacher. They build a raft and begin traveling by water. We won't share this comment without your permission. Lindsey Weishar enjoys traveling, exploring the origins of words, and reading. To help Zak get to the wrestling school (succeeded), Princess Peach (The Super Mario Bros. Movie), Donkey Kong (The Super Mario Bros. Movie), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. When Tyler destroys the others fishing gear, he finds himself fleeing for his life. One night, Zak escapes with the help of his roommate, Carl (Bruce Dern). The film premiered at South by Southwest on March 9, 2019, and was given a limited theatrical release in the United States on August 9, 2019, by Roadside Attractions. The Peanut Butter Falcon is an adventure story set in the world of a modern Mark Twain that begins when Zak (22), a young man with Down syndrome, runs away from the nursing home where he lives to chase his dream of becoming a professional wrestler by attending the wrestling school The Salt Water Redneck. And Tyler doesnt treat Zach like hes sick, but more like his little brother. Good guys get left too, Zak. The waves, cornfields, marshes, crab pots . Zak is disappointed, but shakes Clint's hand and they leave. Tyler: Whats that got to do with your heart? When Tyler angers two local crabbers (John Hawkes and Yelawolf), he goes on the run, with Zak quietly hidden in the bottom of his boat. Unlike so many disabled characters in film, Zac is not utilized as a symbol, a metaphor, or created to be "inspirational." Peanut Butter Falcon The Peanut Butter Falcon is heralded as a modern day, film version of the American classic Huckleberry Finn. At the hospital, Zak and Eleanor wait while Tyler is attended to. And they kicked him at the beginning of the film for a reason, because he robbed their traps. Not only is he played by newcomer Zack Gottsagen, an actor with Down syndrome, but it was actually built around him and the character draws heavily upon his own personality and experiences. After shooting a $20,000 proof-of-concept video, with producer David Thies, the duo received funding for the film to star Gottsagen. He's always wanted to be "bro dawgs" with someone. 14 Best Quotes from The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) An endearing film about what it means to live and experience all that life has to offer, the film offers a lot of insightful and quotable. Its a matter of time. The Peanut Butter Falcon is a 2019 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz, in their directorial film debut, and starring Zack Gottsagen, Shia LaBeouf, Dakota Johnson and John Hawkes. Tyler punches a middle-school boy in Zak's defense. Tyler doesnt treat Zak with kid gloves, which is exactly what his always-underestimated friend needs. He has befriended every elderly resident, as well as Eleanor (Dakota Johnson), a kindly young woman who works at the facility. Formerly the TV editor at WhatCulture, he has a particular love of Star Wars (The Last Jedi was great), Game of Thrones (season 8 was good), and Harry Potter (J.K. Rowlingnever mind) - y'know, all that really niche, nerdy stuff. [6] Nilson and Schwartz met Gottsagen at a camp for actors with disabilities around 2011 in Venice, California, and he expressed interest in them making a film with him. -Welcome to the Hero/Protagonist wiki! The fact that the crabber is Shia LaBeouf, a talented but . "Peanut Butter Falcon" is a buddy movie, but it has the quality of a fable, even down to how it's shot by cinematographer, Some of the adventures work better than others. As the pair make their way from North Carolina to Florida -- to the wrestling school Zak dreams of attending -- they slowly become friends. 6. Jasper: Today is the first day of the rest of your life. The film focuses on the lives of two men trying to escape their present realities. After picking a potentially risky fight with Duncan (John Hawkes), a temperamental local crab trapper, Tyler makes his escape from his dead-end Virginia town, knowing full well he's dead meat if . Yet, the hero's journey has never been done with a hero like Zak. In town recently to be a. This is the films weakest point. #ThePeanutButterFalcon. Did you learn anything? Hes close with one of his carers, Eleanor, who discourages Zaks obsession with wrestling. Search for showtimes and purchase tickets for The Peanut Butter Falcon. Both LaBeouf and Johnson (and later, Church) approach their roles with ease and simplicity, highlighting Gottsagen (who has studied acting since he was a child) beautifully. Spending most of his days editing articles about or writing on movies and shows, James likes to really get away from work and unwind by, er, watching movies and shows. PG-13; Drama; Content Caution. Though Zack didn't dream of becoming a WWE-style wrestler, heis someone who had a dream his whole life and managed to realize it despite the odds, thanks to his own talent and help from friends made along the way. But Tyler doesnt think Zach is sick. Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That said, some of the material is fairly mature. PS Well, it was important for me to find out the opinion of a person who is very close to this topic Svetlana Nagaeva, the author of the book about Down syndrome ChromoSonya, the mother of a child with this syndrome. Jasper is an eccentric sort of character who becomes a significant part of Zaks story. It looked kind of wild. Even though it seeks to be inspirational, the story maintains its sense of humor throughout. THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON is based on real experiences from director Tyler Nilson's past, and it has the echoes of a Mark Twain adventure story as it also addresses the experiences of people with Down syndrome. Enjoy the movie. . [9] Later that month, John Hawkes, Jon Bernthal, Thomas Haden Church, Mick Foley, Jake Roberts and Yelawolf joined the cast of the film. Because Zak was abandoned by his family, hes fallen through the cracks. Tyler is the main protagonist of The Peanut Butter Falcon. More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Resume Born April 22, 1985 Add to list Awards 4 wins & 4 nominations Photos 23 Known for [9], Schwartz and Nilson wanted to play the music that inspired them while writing, and on set used a boombox to play the same music before performing a scene. According to the film, we should consider the fishermen chasing Tyler to be thugs, and this is what is written in the announcement. Zak uses Tyler's shotgun to defend his friends. Theseattributes then make it into the character of Zak in The Peanut Butter Falcon. The conversation about "representation" in cinema often excludes the disabled. Writers Michael Schwartz and Tyler Nilson met Zack Gottsagen at an acting camp. This renaming restores Zaks confidence in himself. Follow. If all of this sounds too sentimental to be believed, it isn't. Families can talk about The Peanut Butter Falcon's violence. "[20] Sheri Linden of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "[Gottsagen's] sensibility infuses the modern-day fable with an engaging forthrightness. Zak runs away from his care home to make his dream of becoming a wrestler come true.Zak runs away from his care home to make his dream of becoming a wrestler come true.Zak runs away from his care home to make his dream of becoming a wrestler come true. I guarantee in any average American household that there is way more language than what this movie has, so if youre worried about that dont be. They are approached by Clint, now dressed as the Salt Water Redneck. This is what being a hero means to him, and its not a bad way to live. In a big way,The Peanut Butter Falconis based on a true story, one of Zack Gottsagen's own. Eleanor and Tyler cross paths at a convenience store, where Tyler denies having seen Zak. Credits. . The Peanut Butter Falcon. 13. It also clearly shows the difference in attitudes towards Zach on the part of Tyler and Eleanor. 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