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 50 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 50 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

Bizzylorenzo70

Jul 19, 2018

Just a wonderful movie! As many reviewers have noted, a bravura performance by Charlie Plummer, and really the whole cast is superb. Steve Buscemi is always great, Chloe Sevigny is completely believable as a shady jockey, and it's great to see Alison Elliott again in a most moving role. IJust a wonderful movie! As many reviewers have noted, a bravura performance by Charlie Plummer, and really the whole cast is superb. Steve Buscemi is always great, Chloe Sevigny is completely believable as a shady jockey, and it's great to see Alison Elliott again in a most moving role. I can't believe it's been 20 years since I saw her wonderful performance in "Spitfire Grill". I surely am getting old.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

moviemitch96

Apr 28, 2018

This film genuinely touched and moved me in a way no other film has in quite a while! At first glance, it may appear to be a relatively straightforward "boy and his horse" type story, but really it's so much more. It's also a subtle, yet brutally honest statement and look at poverty andThis film genuinely touched and moved me in a way no other film has in quite a while! At first glance, it may appear to be a relatively straightforward "boy and his horse" type story, but really it's so much more. It's also a subtle, yet brutally honest statement and look at poverty and trying to get by every day little by little in America. Charlie Plummer graces us with such a raw and unflinching performance as well and proves himself to be a true up and coming talent! Overall, it's one heavy film, but it also has a lot to say and manages to be both poignant and highly moving all at the same time!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

justwibi

Oct 7, 2018

unpredictable, sensitive, heartbreaking and beautiful! Charlie Plummer is the right person for the lead. and Andrew Haigh is definitely do the great job... again!

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

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

monicadebrest1

Jun 28, 2018

This Movie was pretty good. The connection between Charlie and Pete was very moving. Charlie's unique relationship with dad was realty for most teens. But the breath of fresh air was the connection he was able to rekindle with his estranged Aunt. Overall I thought the movie was heartwarmingThis Movie was pretty good. The connection between Charlie and Pete was very moving. Charlie's unique relationship with dad was realty for most teens. But the breath of fresh air was the connection he was able to rekindle with his estranged Aunt. Overall I thought the movie was heartwarming and believable.
Dan Cole… 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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