The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)
Country: US
Technical: col/2.39:1 97m
Director: Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz
Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Zack Gottsagen, Dakota Johnson, Bruce Dern, Thomas Haden Church
Synopsis:
A deadbeat North Carolina dock worker mourning the death of his brother goes on the lam and crosses paths with a Down syndrome runaway from a retirement home. Having little other purpose to his existence, he resolves to help his companion realise his dream of enrolling in Salt Water Redneck's school of wrestling. Meanwhile, a conflicted care worker is on their trail.
Review:
Casting Gottsagen as himself, the writer directors consciously or not construct a scenario around their own meta-narrative of empowerment. The dangers of sentimentality and earnestness are neatly avoided via handling in which humour is never far away and the characters' Mark Twain-like idyll permits a free-spirited tone for what might otherwise have seemed contrived or exploitative. LaBeouf's shambling, understated performance, further limited by a fulsome beard, provides the soulful heft of this comedy drama, leaving Gottsagen to take care of the rocambolesque side, in which he projects enough of himself to make the wish-fulfilment seem natural. Johnson is affecting as the young widow conflicted by an unfeeling care system but drawn by the chance to redefine her life.
Country: US
Technical: col/2.39:1 97m
Director: Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz
Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Zack Gottsagen, Dakota Johnson, Bruce Dern, Thomas Haden Church
Synopsis:
A deadbeat North Carolina dock worker mourning the death of his brother goes on the lam and crosses paths with a Down syndrome runaway from a retirement home. Having little other purpose to his existence, he resolves to help his companion realise his dream of enrolling in Salt Water Redneck's school of wrestling. Meanwhile, a conflicted care worker is on their trail.
Review:
Casting Gottsagen as himself, the writer directors consciously or not construct a scenario around their own meta-narrative of empowerment. The dangers of sentimentality and earnestness are neatly avoided via handling in which humour is never far away and the characters' Mark Twain-like idyll permits a free-spirited tone for what might otherwise have seemed contrived or exploitative. LaBeouf's shambling, understated performance, further limited by a fulsome beard, provides the soulful heft of this comedy drama, leaving Gottsagen to take care of the rocambolesque side, in which he projects enough of himself to make the wish-fulfilment seem natural. Johnson is affecting as the young widow conflicted by an unfeeling care system but drawn by the chance to redefine her life.
Country: US
Technical: col/2.39:1 97m
Director: Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz
Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Zack Gottsagen, Dakota Johnson, Bruce Dern, Thomas Haden Church
Synopsis:
A deadbeat North Carolina dock worker mourning the death of his brother goes on the lam and crosses paths with a Down syndrome runaway from a retirement home. Having little other purpose to his existence, he resolves to help his companion realise his dream of enrolling in Salt Water Redneck's school of wrestling. Meanwhile, a conflicted care worker is on their trail.
Review:
Casting Gottsagen as himself, the writer directors consciously or not construct a scenario around their own meta-narrative of empowerment. The dangers of sentimentality and earnestness are neatly avoided via handling in which humour is never far away and the characters' Mark Twain-like idyll permits a free-spirited tone for what might otherwise have seemed contrived or exploitative. LaBeouf's shambling, understated performance, further limited by a fulsome beard, provides the soulful heft of this comedy drama, leaving Gottsagen to take care of the rocambolesque side, in which he projects enough of himself to make the wish-fulfilment seem natural. Johnson is affecting as the young widow conflicted by an unfeeling care system but drawn by the chance to redefine her life.