There are some minor spoilers ahead. He has befriended every elderly resident, as well as Eleanor (Dakota Johnson), a kindly young woman who works at the facility. So he stays with some feisty seniors, several of whom he’s befriended. The Peanut Butter Falcon is a sweet, tender and joyful portrayal of an unlikely friendship, and it won't fail to charm. Zac lives in the real world. The Peanut Butter Falcon is a sweet and surprisingly genuine look at friendship, dreams and personal freedom, with wonderful performances from all of its leads. Zac is a huge wrestling fan and all day, every day he watches an ancient video tape put out by a wrestler named Salt Water Redneck (Thomas Haden Church), whom Zac idolizes. Able-bodied actors play disabled characters all the time, and sometimes win Oscars for it. The Peanut Butter Falcon is being shown as part of the BFI London Film Festival 2019 and will be released in UK cinemas on October 18, 2019. Extras are slim to none and are as follows: Zack’s Story: The Making of The Peanut Butter Falcon(HD, 6:00) – A very short focus featurette on our film’s hero, only offering a short amount of info that leaves you wanting know more. Gottsagen, who is in his early 30s, has Down syndrome himself and the filmmakers crafted “The Peanut Butter Falcon” specifically for him. The Peanut Butter Falcon is a sweet and surprisingly genuine look at friendship, dreams and personal freedom, with wonderful performances from all of its leads. They set off on foot through a swampy landscape. The Peanut Butter Falcon also makes a big step forward in terms of onscreen representation with the casting of a young man with Down syndrome in a lead role. The Peanut Butter Falcon is a heartwarming story about Zak (Zack Gottsagen), a young man with Down Syndrome who runs away from a residential nursing home in an attempt to fulfill his dream of attending the pro wrestling school of his idol, The Salt Water Redneck (Thomas Haden Church). And he’s just 22 years old. The Peanut Butter Falcon casts Zack Gottsagen as Zak, a young man with Down’s syndrome who escapes from the nursing home in which he resides and eventually embarks on a journey alongside Shia LaBeouf’s troubled Tyler. It is inconceivable to imagine an able-bodied "name" playing this role and bringing to it even half of what Gottsagen does naturally. Movie Review Mom GRADE: A- IN A NUTSHELL: This charming film won the Audience Award for Narrative Spotlight at SXSW Film Fest 2019. Meanwhile Tyler, caught stealing crab traps, is fired from his job and on the run. But though The Peanut Butter Falcon takes its name from the wrestling moniker Zak comes up with one whiskey-fueled night, this is Tyler's redemption story. DailyMirror Follow @ DailyMirror In "The Peanut Butter Falcon," co-written and co-directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz, Zac (Zack Gottsagen) is a man with Down Syndrome who has been placed in a nursing home by the state since he has no family and no resources. There are some minor spoilers ahead. The trio float down the coastline, unmoored from the trials and stresses of their respective worlds, like Huck and Jim floating down the Mississippi River. Gottsagen plays a slightly different version of himself called … The Peanut Butter Falcon Review: Navigating Disability With Grace Zak Gottsagen and Shia LaBeouf in "The Peanut Butter Falcon." Tyler discovers his "stowaway" while being chased by Duncan through the complicated tributaries of North Carolina's Outer Banks. About The Peanut Butter Falcon. The Peanut Butter Falcon was directly inspired by Huck Finn, but the two leads mold it into one of 2019’s most original movies. This boat belongs to Tyler (, If all of this sounds too sentimental to be believed, it isn't. Movie Review. He’s in search of a wrestling school run by a figure known as the Salt Water Redneck. He's always wanted to be "bro dawgs" with someone. The Peanut Butter Falcon has a number of big name stars, but the real star of the film is Zack Gottsagen as Zak. The conversation about "representation" in cinema often excludes the disabled. It represents a huge step forward for depictions of disability in mainstream cinema, placing an unusual (by Hollywood’s standards) value on empathy and authenticity. "Peanut Butter Falcon" is a buddy movie, but it has the quality of a fable, even down to how it's shot by cinematographer Nigel Bluck. But one finally succeeds, and off Zak goes, wearing nothing but white briefs. Shia LaBeouf delivers his most heartfelt performance yet in the Mark Twain-inspired fable “The Peanut Butter Falcon,” written and directed by Tyler Nilson and Mike Schwartz. The Peanut Butter Falcon absolutely roars as its stars turn in performances that are simply some of the best that I’ve seen this year. Zak doesn’t need much from life: All he wants to do is meet his all-time favorite wrestler, The Saltwater Redneck, and become a wrestler himself. Along with the cinematographer, Nigel Bluck, and the editors, Kevin Tent and Nathaniel Fuller, the directors achieve a relaxed and amiable vibe while moving the story forward with dispatch through picturesque Southern Atlantic land and seascapes. "The Peanut Butter Falcon" (2019 release; 98 min.) He and his co-star, Shia LaBeouf, make a winning team. By the time Eleanor catches up with them, they have built a raft with lumber given to them by a blind backwoods preacher. Related articles. Zak (played brilliantly by newcomer Zack Gottsagen) is portrayed as a man who is strong and kind and very funny, and who also Peanut Butter Falcon Review: Shia LaBeouf & Dakota Johnson Deliver Uplifting Greatness. Which is, yes, predictable. The Peanut Butter Falcon Review: The Peanut Butter Falcon follows Zak, a Down's syndrome patient living in an assisted living home, as he runs away from his care home to make his dream of becoming a wrestler come true. Peanut Butter Falcon - 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. Running time: 1 hour 33 minutes. The Peanut Butter Falcon is a sweet, tender and joyful portrayal of an unlikely friendship, and it won't fail to charm. There’s only one problem: Zak has down syndrome and is being forced to live in a retirement home. The Peanut Butter Falcon has a number of big name stars, but the real star of the film is Zack Gottsagen as Zak. Except for the "names," the film seems to be populated by many non-professional actors, or at least people who actually live in the area. 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. This movie is rife with name actors: Dakota Johnson, Bruce Dern, John Hawkes, Shia LaBeouf, Thomas Haden Church. Johnson's irrepressible sense of humor serves her well as an actress (even in the "Fifty Shades of Grey" franchise), and watching her react to LaBeouf's initial flirtation—trying to maintain her boundaries all while she is drawn into his humorous rat-a-tat—is just a small example of what this film—and its cast—does really well. Directed by Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz. 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. There’s little doubt that The Peanut Butter Falcon improves steadily as it progresses, as the movie manages to overcome a somewhat lackadaisical and overly … Read full review The Peanut Butter Falcon puts a fleeing young man with Down Syndrome, a fleeing small time crook, and a care home worker into an adventure about coming of age, finding your chosen family, and floating down river on a raft. ‘The Peanut Butter Falcon’ Review: Big Dreams and Possible Big Trouble A young man who has Down syndrome, played by Zack Gottsagen, goes on … Church's eventual appearance as The Salt Water Redneck does not occur as planned. The Peanut Butter Falcon opens Aug. 23. The Peanut Butter Falcon is charming, enveloping, and an absolute joy. Gottsagen’s character was specially written for him by Nelson and Schwartz and it proves essential to making this Huckleberry Finn meets Rain Man crossover work. One of those might be "The Peanut Butter Falcon," a tiny, heartwarming, well-acted and scripted film with terrific performances from the entire cast. But he’s determined to make his dreams come true. Zak takes frequent pratfalls and is often seen in various un-self-conscious states of undress, but the movie never makes him a figure of fun. "Peanut Butter Falcon" is a buddy movie, but it has the quality of a fable, even down to how it's shot by cinematographer Nigel Bluck. The Peanut Butter Falcon refuses to condescend to its star and tells a story that’s authentic to the life and experiences of adults with Down Syndrome. MOVIE TITLE: The Peanut Butter Falcon RATING: PG-13. ‘The Peanut Butter Falcon’ Review: Big Dreams and Possible Big Trouble, Zack Gottsagen, left, and Shia LaBeouf in “The Peanut Butter Falcon.”, Seth Johnson/Roadside Attractions, Armory Films. Directed by Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz. Film Review: ‘The Peanut Butter Falcon’ Shia LaBeouf plays an outlaw fisherman who takes a wrestling-obsessed young man with Down syndrome under his … Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 Laura Di Girolamo Exclaim! The film takes place in a very specific locale. And Gottsagen is a disarming performer who creates a sweet and funny character. Nothing really does. The Peanut Butter Falcon refuses to condescend to its star and tells a story that’s authentic to the life and experiences of adults with Down Syndrome. Neither, by the same token, does it try to wrench sentimental tears out of his condition. The Peanut Butter Falcon review – Shia LaBeouf brings soul to odd-couple adventure. As storytellers, Nilson and Schwartz are careful to cover their bases — an early reference to Eleanor being a woman of independent means helps the film’s finale go down easier, plausibility-wise — but the center of their film is completely without contrivance. You can smell the salt and pollen and mold in the air. It's also powerful from a representation standpoint, as it centers on a character with Down syndrome (Zack Gottsagen). Bluegrass, country songs, gospel hymns punctuate the narrative. Chris Stuckmann reviews The Peanut Butter Falcon, starring Shia LaBeouf, Dakota Johnson, Zack Gottsagen, John Hawkes. The Peanut Butter Falcon was directly inspired by Huck Finn, but the two leads mold it into one of 2019’s most original movies. And so Zac tries to escape. Thomas Haden Church Heartwarming and sweet, The Peanut Butter Falcon might follow a road movie trajectory that’s familiar to most audiences, but that doesn’t make its overall premise and approach any less original or enlightening. Parents need to know that The Peanut Butter Falcon is an empowering road/buddy movie with themes of kindness and empathy. Zac's goal is to get to Salt Water Redneck's wrestling school, the one advertised in the video. Early moments from The Peanut Butter Falcon — and indeed its title— could be grafted straight from an early Taika Waititi comedy circa Boy or Eagle Vs Shark.Set in … “The Peanut Butter Falcon” saves the worst for last, as the plot kicks into gear during the third act and blunts the film’s delicate emotional texture into a contrived drumbeat of dull choices. Directed by Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz. But these are nitpicks in the face of what "The Peanut Butter Falcon" accomplishes. Channeling a Mark Twain-like fable, The Peanut Butter Falcon is a charming little odyssey that plays things very simply and benefits from the enthusiasm of its cast. 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. Even with context – and there is plenty – The Peanut Butter Falcon is a hurdle of a name. Zack Gottsagen plays Zak, a young man with no family who lives in an old-age home in North Carolina. But I suspect almost nobody who sees “The Peanut Butter Falcon” will mind much. Movie Review. The Peanut Butter Falcon review – Shia LaBeouf brings soul to odd-couple adventure 3 / 5 stars 3 out of 5 stars. The Peanut Butter Falcon comes with a matte slipcover and a digital code in the case. Rated PG-13 for pratfalls, shenanigans, language. A heartwarming buddy comedy, The Peanut Butter Falcon is a modest film that is filled with emotion, humour, and empathy with charming performances across the board. Zak doesn’t need much from life: All he wants to do is meet his all-time favorite wrestler, The Saltwater Redneck, and become a wrestler himself. The Peanut Butter Falcon Review: Navigating Disability With Grace Zak Gottsagen and Shia LaBeouf in "The Peanut Butter Falcon." Film News, Trailers, Movie Reviews & Previews Menu The Peanut Butter Falcon is an awkward name for an amazing movie. 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