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 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 30 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	Your Score
7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 30 Ratings

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Lean On Pete

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Movie Details & Credits

Not Rated

Filmcoopi Zürich | Release Date: April 6, 2018

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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Awards & Rankings

62	#62 Best Movie of 2018
97	#97 Most Discussed Movie of 2018

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Chicago Sun-Times - 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

The A.V. Club - 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

Chicago Tribune - 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

Time Out - 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

Rolling Stone - 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

CineVue - 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

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

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

ahmedaiman9999

Jul 18, 2018

I liked Charlie Plummer's performance in All the Money in the World as John Paul Getty III, and since then I became interested in his upcoming roles. In Lean On Pete, Charlie Plummer proved to me that he is not just a good young actor, but he is a very talented, and promising, actor. HisI liked Charlie Plummer's performance in All the Money in the World as John Paul Getty III, and since then I became interested in his upcoming roles. In Lean On Pete, Charlie Plummer proved to me that he is not just a good young actor, but he is a very talented, and promising, actor. His character is fully-developed, and there are some very powerful lines that helped to flesh out this character, therefore, it became a very interesting one. But Charlie's performance made his character, Charley, even more relatable. His face expressions and reactions are enough to express the character's mind, and even to state what his character is thinking about at this particular moment. Travis Fimmel, as Charley's dad, gave an interesting performance. Also, Steve Buscemi and Steve Zahn were fantastic, and stole every scene they are in. There's only one character that hasn't much screen time, yet has a central role, that was really poorly written, and the actor who played it also wasn't good. So I was a bit disappointed to see that a character that seemed to have an important role in the story to end up to be nothing but stereotypical and thinly-written character.

The Cinematography is mesmerizing in this movie, and really fits the movie's haunting atmosphere. Definitely one of the best-looking movies in 2018, so far. Just behind Paddington 2.

The soundtrack also as functional as the cinematography, and the songs themselves are very touching and emotional.

Although it's one of the movie's virtues that it avoids melodrama clichés, I think the movie neither as harrowing enough as Good Time, nor as realistic enough as Manchester By the Sea to be as poignant, or moving, as it wanted to be. Overall, Lean On Pete is a moving picaresque tale that avoids being very sentimental to evoke your feelings, instead, it relies on its three-dimensional protagonist that is anchored by Charlie Plummer's wonderful performance. Also, the plot unfolds in a way that you can never expect, you will really be shocked many times. Charley has no one to turn to. He's truly alone, hence, you will really care about him very much.

(8.5/10)… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

CosiMOLOGO

Sep 10, 2018

A24, a dado gratas sorpresas en la sección de producciones independientes. Este año trae Hereditary, una joya del horror moderno de la que escribiré en un futuro. Y el año pasado Lady Bird, la historia de una chica rebelde y terca y su proceso de maduración. Pero ahora es distinto, unA24, a dado gratas sorpresas en la sección de producciones independientes. Este año trae Hereditary, una joya del horror moderno de la que escribiré en un futuro. Y el año pasado Lady Bird, la historia de una chica rebelde y terca y su proceso de maduración. Pero ahora es distinto, un adolescente consigue un trabajo de verano trabajando para un entrenador de caballos y se hace amigo del caballo de carreras, Lean on Pete.

La historia se va construyendo poco a poco y de los que parece ser un simple drama, el director termina sacando una historia mucho más desarrollada. La actuación de Charlie Plummer de 18 años, como Charley de 16 está genial. Las emociones que transmiten Charlie, junto con el montaje y la fotografía son genuinas. La película llega a conmover y emocionar. Es un retrato hermoso de la vida de un joven y como afronta diversos infortunios. No llega a caer en efectismos y se mantiene sobria. Una de las mejores propuestas independientes del año. Muestra a una sociedad triste y el sueño americano. Como Charley se va formando experimentando lo peor que le puede suceder a un chico de su edad, las decisiones que tiene que tomar y a que le conducen.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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

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

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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