Lean on Pete

Name: Lean on Pete
Genre: Adventure, Drama
Released: April 6, 2018
Duration: 121 min
Rating: 80
Cast: Alison Elliott, Amy Seimetz, Ayanna Berkshire, Charlie Plummer, Chloë Sevigny

2018

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 44 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 53 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 53 Ratings

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Lean On Pete

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Movie Details & Credits

Filmcoopi Zürich | Release Date: April 6, 2018 | Not Rated

Starring: Alison Elliott, Amy Seimetz, Ayanna Berkshire, Charlie Plummer, Chloë Sevigny, Connor Brenes, Jason Beem, Justin Rain, Kurt Conroyd, Lewis Pullman, Rachael Perrell Fosket, Steve Buscemi, Steve Zahn, Thomas Mann, Tolo Tuttele, Travis Fimmel

Summary: Fifteen-year-old Charley Thompson (Charlie Plummer) arrives in Portland, Oregon with his single father Ray (Travis Fimmel), both of them eager for a fresh start after a series of hard knocks. While Ray descends into personal turmoil, Charley finds acceptance and camaraderie at a local racetrack where he lands a job caring for an agingFifteen-year-old Charley Thompson (Charlie Plummer) arrives in Portland, Oregon with his single father Ray (Travis Fimmel), both of them eager for a fresh start after a series of hard knocks. While Ray descends into personal turmoil, Charley finds acceptance and camaraderie at a local racetrack where he lands a job caring for an aging Quarter Horse named Lean On Pete. The horse’s gruff owner Del Montgomery (Steve Buscemi) and his seasoned jockey Bonnie (Chloë Sevigny) help Charley fill the void of his father’s absence—until he discovers that Pete is bound for slaughter, prompting him to take extreme measures to spare his new friend’s life. Charley and Pete head out into the great unknown, embarking on an odyssey across the new American frontier in search of a loving aunt Charley hasn’t seen in years. They experience adventure and heartbreak in equal measure, but never lose their irrepressible hope and resiliency as they pursue their dream of finding a place they can call home.… Expand

Director: Andrew Haigh

Genre(s): Adventure, Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 121 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Richard Roeper

Apr 11, 2018

As the film takes deeper and darker turns, it also becomes something special, something unflinchingly honest, something that will punch you in the gut AND touch your heart. Read full review

A.A. Dowd

Just about every scene in Lean On Pete, the sensitive, unvarnished, at times powerfully sad new drama from writer-director Andrew Haigh (Weekend, 45 Years), reveals something small but important about the hardscrabble lives it chronicles. Read full review

Michael Phillips

Apr 12, 2018

In the best way, this is a tough movie to shake, and while it believes in the kindness of strangers, Lean on Pete never forgets every other human failing, impulse and circumstance. Read full review

The Telegraph Robbie Collin

[Haigh] hasn’t sacrificed a shred of the understated, observational style, lace-like emotional intricacy and lung-filling feel for landscape that all made his previous film, the Norfolk-set marital drama 45 Years, such a force to be reckoned with. Read full review

Dave Calhoun

Apr 9, 2018

It’s a road movie in which the origin is more interesting than the finish line, but Lean on Pete is never less than fully felt. Read full review

Peter Travers

Apr 5, 2018

Sobs are earned the hard way in this moving drama, which grips you with such scrappy humor and no-bull grit and grace that you'll be hooked. Read full review

John Bleasdale

Sadly, the intriguing set up - along with Del and Bonnie - is left behind for a too nakedly state-of-America musing, with everyone Charley happens across having some social ill to portray. Read full review

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User Reviews

DawdlingPoet

Nov 20, 2021

This is a film all about isolation and companionship. It is relatively slow in terms of plot pace but I thought it was quite contemplative, a good character based film and so I wasn't entirely bothered by the slowish plot pace. You could almost argue that its like a form of mindfulness in aThis is a film all about isolation and companionship. It is relatively slow in terms of plot pace but I thought it was quite contemplative, a good character based film and so I wasn't entirely bothered by the slowish plot pace. You could almost argue that its like a form of mindfulness in a film, with Charley being fairly quiet and thoughtful. We learn a fair bit about other people who work on the farmland and with the horses.

The sense of wilderness is quite sobering. Also the lack of dialogue at times made it seem quite poignant to me. Overall its an interesting, observation/character based drama which I enjoyed quite a lot.

Would I recommend it? Yes, I'd happily recommend this film, as long as you know its not fast paced or action packed. For what it is, its a very good film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

The3AcademySins

Apr 17, 2018

Lean on Pete is a powerful epic of a film. Lean on Pete is more of a commentary of being poor/homeless in rural America than a "boy and his horse" story. The harrowing depictions of the poor, the beautiful desolation of the land, and the amazing performance by Charlie Plummer are allLean on Pete is a powerful epic of a film. Lean on Pete is more of a commentary of being poor/homeless in rural America than a "boy and his horse" story. The harrowing depictions of the poor, the beautiful desolation of the land, and the amazing performance by Charlie Plummer are all captured by masterful cinematography and truly breathtaking direction. I believe A24 makes some of the best films in Hollywood these days, and Lean on Pete is another impressive notch on their belt. The film is a little more than two hours long, but it'll leave you on the edge of your seat.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

nosajholt

Apr 30, 2018

Charlie Plummer reminded me of a vulnerable River Phoenix in My Own Private Idaho. The depth of despair and scary moments living on the streets in America was profound, and deeply moving. Beautifully filmed, it was an epic journey, with sweeping views of Eastern Washington's desert, andCharlie Plummer reminded me of a vulnerable River Phoenix in My Own Private Idaho. The depth of despair and scary moments living on the streets in America was profound, and deeply moving. Beautifully filmed, it was an epic journey, with sweeping views of Eastern Washington's desert, and the streets of Portland and other Northwest towns. It showed how easy it can be for children to be left behind, left on the streets, slip from the system into homelessness. Charlie Plummer deserves an Oscar nod with this stellar and moving performance.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

MattBrady99

Aug 23, 2018

"I just miss him a lot. I miss him so much."

I've heard little things about this hidden gem and the great praise it got at festivals, but nothing else after that. So upon seeing this on the list of movies on a plane journey home, I gave it a try, and was instinctively blown away You know"I just miss him a lot. I miss him so much."

I've heard little things about this hidden gem and the great praise it got at festivals, but nothing else after that. So upon seeing this on the list of movies on a plane journey home, I gave it a try, and was instinctively blown away

You know there’s something special when your jaw drops in disbelief during an exhausting flight home.

‘Lean on Pete’ begins with a narrative that you most likely have seen before, so immediately you start noticing plot points from other movies. However, the film takes a shift into a completely new direction, nowhere near the climax, just the middle segment.

Becoming a bitter look at loneliness.

Charlie Plummer was absolutely superb. Definitely a breakout performance, as this is the first movie I've seen him and I want to see more him. His character doesn't make the smartest decisions, yet that never distracts you from the movie and you understand where he's coming from.

Steve Buscemi, Travis Fimmel, Chloë Sevigny, and Steve Zahn were all great and you bought into their characters. With the amount of screen they got, they still left a strong impression on me.

I haven’t seen any of Andrew Haigh other movies, such as ‘Weekend’ & ‘47 Years’. This is my first introduction to his movies and I want to check out more of Haigh work. Just the way he directs actors and bringing such a natural touch to the story or characters made the experience real to me. Also the cinematography was beautiful and captured the sense of being in Pacific Northwest of America. While not being visually masterful, and yet didn't need to be.

Overall rating: Check it out… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

CLeCrom

Nov 14, 2020

A good indep American road trip, but all over the birth of a new star: Charlie Plummer.Wow. My boy, make the right choices!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Sep 22, 2018

At first instance its story might seem repetitive and maybe even bad but it's always good when you get your mouth shut with quality and what the proposal of this film is much better than I expected in the first place, therefore Lean On Pete becomes a true revelation.

Even in spite of theAt first instance its story might seem repetitive and maybe even bad but it's always good when you get your mouth shut with quality and what the proposal of this film is much better than I expected in the first place, therefore Lean On Pete becomes a true revelation.

Even in spite of the sentimentality and certain melodrama the film manages to feel genuine because the characters make it feel genuine and what could quickly fall into terrible cliches, manages to get ahead pretty well.

A small and hidden surprise, but those are the best.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Jordy1128

May 31, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I found this to be a horribly disappointing experience. I thought this was about a boy and a horse saving each other but halfway through the movie the horse was killed. I regret the time I spent watching it. As soon as Pete was killed, I stopped watching the movie. Maybe I'm just not a people person, but after the horse's brutal death, I could care less what happened to the boy. This movie was misleading. I had nothing to do with the two saving each other. The horse is brutally killed despite the young boy's efforts to save him. Why didn't he just leave him on the ranch he stopped at and let the rest of the movie focus on Charlie? I just found it too painful too watch.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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