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Lean on Pete

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Lean on Pete
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAndrew Haigh
Screenplay byAndrew Haigh
Based onLean on Pete
by Willy Vlautin
Produced byTristan Goligher
Starring
CinematographyMagnus Joenck
Edited byJonathan Alberts
Music byJames Edward Barker
Production
companies
Distributed byCurzon
Release dates
  • 1 September 2017 (2017-09-01) (Venice)
  • 4 May 2018 (2018-05-04) (United Kingdom)
Running time
121 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget$8 million[1]
Box office$2.5 million[2]

Lean on Pete is a 2017 British coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Andrew Haigh, based on the novel of the same name by Willy Vlautin. It stars Charlie Plummer, Chloë Sevigny, Travis Fimmel and Steve Buscemi, and follows a 15-year-old boy in the American Northwest, who begins to work at a stable and befriends a racehorse.[3]

It was screened in the main competition section of the 74th Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor or Actress for Plummer. It was released in the United States on 6 April 2018, by A24, before opening in the United Kingdom on 4 May 2018, by Curzon. It received highly positive critical reviews, with praise going towards its direction, screenplay, cinematography, and Plummer's performance. The National Board of Review named it one of the ten best independent films of 2018.[4]

Plot

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While out on a morning run by a race track, Charley Thompson, a 15-year-old who has just moved with his dysfunctional single father Ray to Portland, Oregon, finds casual work looking after a racehorse named 'Lean On Pete'. Pete's owner, Del, is an ornery man who assigns all the grunt work at the stables to Charley, but also attempts to bond by gifting him a pair of boots and teaching table manners. Charley opens up about not knowing his birth mother, and how his father does not let him see Aunt Margy, Charley's only maternal figure.

One night, a Samoan man breaks into Charley's home and attacks Ray for sleeping with his wife. Ray is pushed through a window and gets seriously hurt by the glass shards. He is taken to hospital, and it becomes clear that Ray is suffering from a serious septic infection. Despite Charley's insistence on staying by his side, Ray encourages Charley to leave for a job with Del.

Del's top jockey, Bonnie, races Pete and wins. However, even doped, Pete is getting too old for racing and will soon be sold to be slaughtered in Mexico. Returning home, Charley learns that Ray has succumbed to the complications and died. Charley is given Ray's belt and then escapes from the hospital before Social Services can be called to collect him. The following night, Pete loses his race and gets sold. Charley confronts Del and Bonnie, who collectively shrug off Charley's request to buy Pete. Charley then takes Del's keys and steals the horse, along with Del's truck, and heads for Wyoming in search of his Aunt Margy.

After a few days on the road, Charley runs out of money and resorts to siphoning gas and dining-and-dashing in order to survive. The truck then breaks down on a highway, and he continues on foot through the desert, leading Pete. Together, they stumble upon the home of Mike and Dallas, two Army veterans, who offer food and shelter. Charley feels apprehensive and sneaks out in the middle of the night after refilling his water jug. The next day, Pete is spooked by some motorcycles and bolts onto a desert road where the horse gets hit by a car and killed. As Charley mourns Pete's death, the police arrive and try to help him, but he flees the scene.

After reaching a new town, Charley breaks into a house in search of water and where to launder his clothes. He wanders the streets as a homeless youth before being taken in by a destitute couple, Silver and Martha; Silver scoffs at Charley's attempts to find work. Despite his disheveled appearance, Charley finds work painting houses and starts saving in order to get to Wyoming. One day Silver attacks Charley for the money and kicks him out of their shared trailer. Charley obtains a crowbar, beats Silver up and retrieves his savings. He takes a bus to Laramie, Wyoming, where he locates the town's public library and reunites with his Aunt Margy.

That night, Charley struggles to fall asleep. He visits his aunt in her room, confesses the crimes he has committed throughout his journey, and reveals that he suffers from nightmares about the deaths of both Pete and Ray. Aunt Margy consoles Charley as he bursts into tears. Some time later, Charley goes on a morning run and stops to admire the serenity of his new neighborhood.

Cast

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Production

[edit]

In May 2015, it was announced Andrew Haigh would write and direct the film, based on the novel of the same name, with Tristan Goligher producing the film under his The Bureau banner, alongside Film4 Productions.[5] In July 2016, Steve Buscemi was cast in the film,[6] as well as Charlie Plummer, Chloë Sevigny, and Travis Fimmel.[7][8] In September 2016, Steve Zahn, Amy Seimetz and Thomas Mann joined the cast.[9][10]

James Edward Barker composed the film's score.[11]

Filming

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Principal photography began on 13 August 2016, and took place in Portland[12][13] and Burns, Oregon.[14][15] Filming concluded on 10 September 2016.[16] Among the locations was Portland Meadows racetrack,[15] named Portland Downs in the film.[17]

Post-production

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During post-production, Thomas Mann's role was cut entirely.[18]

Release

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In May 2016, A24 and Curzon Artificial Eye acquired North American and UK and Irish distribution rights, respectively; among the other distributors the film was sold to was Focus Features, which acquired the film for German-speaking territories, Scandinavia and most of Asia and Eastern Europe.[19][20] The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on 1 September 2017.[21] It also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on 10 September 2017[22] and the BFI London Film Festival on 5 October 2017.[23]

The film was initially scheduled to be released in the United States on 30 March 2018, however it was pushed back a week to 6 April, and was released in the United Kingdom on 4 May 2018.[24]

Reception

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Critical response

[edit]
Charlie Plummer received critical acclaim for his performance as Charley Thompson.[25][26][27][28][29]

Lean on Pete received highly positive critical reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 90% based on 190 reviews, with an average rating of 7.9/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Lean on Pete avoids mawkish melodrama, offering an empathetic yet clear-eyed portrayal of a young man at a crossroads that confirms Charlie Plummer as a major talent."[30] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 80 out of 100, based on 44 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[31]

Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com gave the film 3+1⁄2 stars, saying "I marveled at the humanist depth of the world Haigh creates, one that can only be rendered by a truly great writer and director, working near the top of his game."[29] Austin Dale of INTO named the film the best of 2018 while grieving its modest box office returns, calling it "both the most American film of the year and the year’s toughest sell."[32]

Charlie Plummer received widespread praise for his performance,[33][34][28][25][29][35] with Stephanie Zacharek of Time writing his "unstudied grace is the movie’s greatest gift".[36] Haigh's direction and Magnus Joenck's cinematography was similarly lauded, with Jeffrey Bloomer of Slate commending how the film "slowly becomes a riveting chronicle of survival" and captures moments that are "observational, stoic, but also quietly tender".[33][36][27][34][25]

Critics welcomed the film's departure from other "boy and his horse"-type movies,[35][33][25] though others noted the film's unsparing plot may prove to be too downbeat for some audiences.[36][34] Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly wrote, "As Charley's situation becomes increasingly precarious, the movie also becomes a meditation not just on what it is to live on the social and economic fringes in America, but how easy it is to slip through the cracks entirely. That may feel like a bait and switch to viewers who just came for some nice boy-and-his-horse uplift, but Pete is no kind of fairytale; instead, it’s something far sadder and better and more real."[35]

Accolades

[edit]
Year Award Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
2017
 Les Arcs Film Festival Best Actor Charlie Plummer Won [37]
Best Cinematography Magnus Nordenhof Jønck Won
Best Original Score James Edward Barker Won
Cristal Arrow Lean on Pete Won
London Film Festival Best Film Nominated [38]
Venice Film Festival Golden Lion Nominated [39]
Marcello Mastroianni Award Charlie Plummer Won
2018
 British Independent Film Awards Best Actor Nominated [40]
Best Supporting Actor Steve Buscemi Nominated
Best Director Andrew Haigh Nominated
Best Cinematography Magnus Nordenhof Jønck Nominated
Dublin Film Critics Circle Best Actor Charlie Plummer Won [41]
Greater WNY Film Critics Association Awards Best Actor Nominated [42]
Heartland International Film Festival Truly Moving Picture Lean on Pete Won [43]
Indiana Film Journalists Association Best Actor Charlie Plummer Nominated [44]
International Cinephile Society Best Picture Not Released in 2017 Lean on Pete Won [45]
International Online Cinema Awards Best Actor Charlie Plummer Nominated [46]
Jerusalem Film Festival Best International Film Lean on Pete Nominated [47]
Luxembourg City Film Festival Youth Jury Award Won [48][49]
Grand Prix Nominated
National Board of Review Top Ten Independent Films Won [4]
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards Best Cinematography Magnus Nordenhof Jønck Nominated [50]
Best Breakthrough Artist Charlie Plummer Runner-up
World Soundtrack Awards Public Choice Award James Edward Barker Nominated [51]
2019
 Chlotrudis Awards Best Actor Charlie Plummer Nominated [52]
CinEuphoria Awards Top Ten of the Year Lean on Pete Won [53]
Best Film Nominated
National Film Awards UK Best Independent Film Nominated [54]
Best Supporting Actor Steve Buscemi Nominated

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ Grater, Tom (9 September 2017). "The story behind Andrew Haigh's 'Lean On Pete'". Screen Daily. Screen International. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Lean on Pete (2018)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  3. ^ Kermode, Mark; critic, Observer film (2018-05-06). "Lean on Pete review – coming-of-age quest for a horse and his boy". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  4. ^ a b "2018 Award Winners". National Board of Review. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  5. ^ Mitchell, Wendy (21 May 2015). "Andrew Haigh's next film to be 'Lean on Pete'". Screen Daily. Screen International. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  6. ^ Jafaar, Ali (7 July 2016). "Steve Buscemi Set To Star In Andrew Haigh's 'Lean On Pete'". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  7. ^ Jafaar, Ali (11 July 2016). "Charlie Plummer Lands Lead Role in Andrew Haigh's 'Lean On Pete'". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  8. ^ Jafaar, Ali (19 July 2016). "Chloe Sevigny And Travis Fimmel Join Cast Of Andrew Haigh's 'Lean On Pete'". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  9. ^ Grater, Tom (10 September 2016). "First look: 'Lean On Pete'". Screen Daily. Screen International. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  10. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (13 September 2016). "Tommy Flanagan Sings Along With 'The Ballad Of Lefty Brown'; Thomas Mann Joins 'Lean On Pete'". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  11. ^ "James Edward Barker to Score Andrew Haigh's 'Lean On Pete'". Film Music Reporter. 15 March 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  12. ^ "'Lean on Pete' filming in Portland". Fox 12 Oregon. KPTV. 20 July 2016. Archived from the original on 23 July 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  13. ^ Haigh, Andrew [@andrewhaighfilm] (15 August 2016). "Day 3..." Archived from the original on 2021-12-25. Retrieved 15 September 2016 – via Instagram.
  14. ^ "Film Crew Seeks Movie Extras". Burns Times-Herald. 24 August 2016. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  15. ^ a b Baker, Jeff (10 April 2018). "'Lean on Pete' gets its setting and its soul from Portland Meadows". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on August 25, 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  16. ^ Sevigny, Chloë [@chloessevigny] (10 September 2016). "Middle of #nowhere last day on #leanonpete🐴 thank you @andrewhaigh1973 #whenlovetakesyoutofaroffplaces". Archived from the original on 2021-12-25. Retrieved 15 September 2016 – via Instagram.
  17. ^ Turan, Kenneth (5 April 2018). "Review: A lonely teen finds the horse he needs in 'Lean on Pete'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  18. ^ Turner, Kyle (19 March 2018). "A Place To Always Go Back To: Andrew Haigh and Charlie Plummer Talk Lean on Pete". Paste. Paste Media Group. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  19. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (13 May 2016). "A24 picks up Andrew Haigh's 'Lean On Pete' for North America". Screen Daily. Screen International. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  20. ^ Grater, Tom (20 May 2017). "'Lean on Pete' sells out for The Bureau". Screen International. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  21. ^ Anderson, Ariston (27 July 2017). "Venice Competition Includes Films From George Clooney, Guillermo del Toro, Darren Aronofsky". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  22. ^ "Lean on Pete". Toronto International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  23. ^ "Lean on Pete". BFI London Film Festival. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  24. ^ "Lean on Pete". Launching Films. Film Distributors' Association. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  25. ^ a b c d Bradshaw, Peter (May 3, 2018). "Lean on Pete review – beast and boy bond in the new wild west". The Guardian. Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  26. ^ Sims, David (April 5, 2018). "'Lean on Pete': A Deeply Sad Tale of a Boy and His Horse". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  27. ^ a b Lizotte, Chloe. "Review: Lean on Pete". Film Comment. Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  28. ^ a b Semerene, Diego (October 8, 2017). "BFI London Film Festival 2017: Andrew Haigh's Lean on Pete". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  29. ^ a b c Tallerico, Brian (April 6, 2018). "Lean on Pete". RogerEbert.com. Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  30. ^ "Lean on Pete (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  31. ^ "Lean on Pete". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  32. ^ "25 Great Films — and 5 Disappointments". www.intomore.com. December 23, 2018. Retrieved 2019-02-09.
  33. ^ a b c Bloomer, Jeffrey (April 6, 2018). "Lean on Pete Is a Trojan Horse". Slate. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  34. ^ a b c Dargis, Manohla (April 5, 2018). "Review: In 'Lean on Pete,' a Boy's Survival in the Other America". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  35. ^ a b c Greenblatt, Leah (April 2, 2018). "Lean On Pete is a lovely, unconventional kind of horse movie: EW review". EW.com. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  36. ^ a b c Zacharek, Stephanie (March 30, 2018). "Lean on Pete Has Too Much Horse Heartbreak to Bear". Time. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  37. ^ "Les Arcs Film Festival 2017". Les Arcs Film Festival. 20 September 2017. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  38. ^ Mueller, Matt (31 August 2017). "BFI London Film Festival unveils 2017 line-up". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  39. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (9 September 2017). "Venice Film Festival: Guillermo Del Toro's 'The Shape Of Water' Scoops Golden Lion – Backstage Reactions & Full Winners List". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  40. ^ "Winners & Nominations - BIFA - British Independent Film Awards". British Independent Film Awards. 29 October 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  41. ^ "ADIFF 2018 Discovery Awards, Shorts Awards, the Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards and the Fantastic Flix Children's Jury Awards Announced". Screen Ireland. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  42. ^ "AWARDS: Our 2018 Winners". Greater WNY Film Critics Association. 29 December 2018. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  43. ^ "Truly Moving Picture Award - Archives". Heartland International Film Festival. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  44. ^ "IFJA 2018 Film Awards Eligible Films and Performances (as of 12/6/18)". Indiana Film Journalists Association. December 7, 2018. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  45. ^ "2018 ICS Award Winners". International Cinephile Society. 4 February 2018. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  46. ^ "International Online Cinema Awards (INOCA)". Cineteka. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  47. ^ "International Competition". Jerusalem Film Festival. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  48. ^ Millot, Loïc (19 February 2018). "Luxembourg City Film Festival: a remarkable programme in the Grand Duchy". Cineuropa. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  49. ^ "Israeli film Foxtrot Wins Luxembourg City Film Festival Grand Prix". Chronicle.lu. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  50. ^ "2018 San Diego Film Critics Society Award Winners". San Diego Film Critics Society. 10 December 2018. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  51. ^ "World Soundtrack Awards 2018 – Winners". SoundTrackFest. 18 October 2018. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  52. ^ "2019, 25th Annual Awards". Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  53. ^ "CinEuphoria Awards (2019)". IMDb. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  54. ^ "Nominations for the 2019 National Film Awards UK are announced". National Film Awards UK. 7 January 2019. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
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