Lean On Pete

In select theaters
March 30^th 2018

121 minutes

English

From acclaimed filmmaker Andrew Haigh (45 Years) comes LEAN ON PETE—a deeply moving story about love, loneliness, family, and friendship, told through the unique prism of one boy’s connection to a very special racehorse. Fifteen-year-old Charley Thompson (Plummer) arrives in Portland, Oregon with his single father Ray (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 (Buscemi) and his seasoned jockey Bonnie (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. Featuring incredible performances for the entire ensemble, LEAN ON PETE is a compassionate and heartrending look at the desire for love, family, and acceptance that drives all of us.

starring...

Charlie Plummer

Charley Thompson

Steve Buscemi

Del

Chloë Sevigny

Bonnie

Travis Fimmel

Ray

Steve Zahn

Silver

Director, Writer

Andrew Haigh

Novel By

Willy Vlautin

Music

James Edward Barker

Cinematography

Magnus Nordenhof Jønck

Editing

Jonathan Alberts

Production Design

Ryan Warren Smith

Producer

Tristan Goligher

78% on the CINEMETER

STL

83% - Mar 18, 2018

So good -- great acting. Wonderful ending.

Charley's journey is truly harrowing. Charley Plummer is superb and affecting as Charley. Strong screenplay and direction by Andrew Haigh. The sudden violence is harrowingly effective in contrast with scenes with Charley and Pete.
St. Louis Member

Charlie Plummer gives an exceptional performance. Watch this kid. His character's journey of grief and loneliness becomes ours because of his performance.

I adored "Lean on Pete." It's a beautiful story of humanity and compassion. It's amazing how strong and resilient the human spirit is. And it is encouraging to see hope and gentleness re-emerge after such a tragic period of darkness.

St. Louis Member

So good -- great acting. Wish the horse would have lived and found a great home.

Heartwrenching.

Words to live by: "The best women were a waitress sometime."
St. Louis Member

MIL

89% - Mar 18, 2018

One of the best films I've seen with the Cinema Club. Excellent!
Milwaukee Member

Really good film.!
Milwaukee Member

82% - Mar 11, 2018

Refreshingly realistic rough road of a teenager in tough circumstances, experiencing death, isolation, homelessness, and even PTSD. And yet a happy ending...
San Francisco Member

Quietly intense. Charlie Plummer is a gift. Lots to feel for in this story. I'm grateful the soundtrack was subtle.
San Francisco Member

As a parent this was an especially difficult and beautiful film to watch. I was very emotionally invested in all the characters.
San Francisco Member

Love this director's eye. Rare these days to find someone who lingers in real time on characters' faces and emotions.
San Francisco Member

Very moving film, outstanding performances especially by Plummer and Buscemi, and wonderful cinematography. The landscape felt like a metaphor for Charley's emotional state.
San Francisco Member

87% - Mar 11, 2018

Loved this movie. In an age of toxic masculinity, Charlie’s character remained tender and hopeful - his resiliency and tenacity to finding his aunt was so vulnerable and human. I love that he didn’t become bitter and was still in touch with his feelings. Unrelenting in its drill down of how deep suffering can be and how each day the sun rises. Hopeful!
Greater New Haven Member

I absolutely loved this film! Buscemi: incredible. Sevigny: excellent performance.
Greater New Haven Member

Charlie and Pete were both work horses in that they offered more support and comfort than extended them due to circumstances beyond their control. Both race for survival. I am happy that Charlie landed in a good place where he could heal and grow.
Greater New Haven Member

This movie provides a revealing perspective on a national problem: youth homelessness.
Greater New Haven Member

Powerful. Wonderful acting -- really draws one in. Long but perhaps necessary to relate experiences.
Greater New Haven Member

Such courage and faith from a young boy. It’s amazing that he remains such a good person enduring what he does. Charlie Plummer does a wonderful job. (Note: many comments praising Plummer.)
Greater New Haven Member

The best part: Charlie retained his independence through an awful sequence of events in his young life. His innocence breaks the heart of this adult.
Greater New Haven Member

I knew the horse would die. I spent most of the movie anticipating it and I was prepared to be so upset. But this movie did a remarkable thing: it unfolded in a way that held your emotions until he was finally safe to experience them. You got to feel good for him but not in a predictable way.
Greater New Haven Member

A terrific, quiet and understated and unsentimental film that pulls you in and makes you want to bring this kid home. My only critique is that it felt like three films. That’s fine, but made it feel slow at times.
Greater New Haven Member

Best film of the season so far. (Another identical comment.)
Greater New Haven Member

BOS

59% - Mar 11, 2018

Heartbreaking, moving, tragic.
Boston Member

I think the acting was well done. He conveys the very determination a person may possess to survive. There are so many teenagers who are homeless and searching for someone who cares, a safe place.
Boston Member

Story of survival, well done. Beautiful scenery
Boston Member

Extremely sad but powerful movie.
Boston Member

Touching! Good story telling a very good acting. Story of resilience. Unbelievably sad.
Boston Member

Timely film. Reflects a sad commentary on how we take care of our children.
Boston Member

81% - Mar 11, 2018

A Star is born! Charlie Plummer's performance is an amazing depiction o fa good boy in a bad world. The director had me on tinterhooks, so afraid Charlie would not find his only person who loved him, that he would lose his humanity along the way.
Washington, DC Member

The whole movie is a Quiet Riot! I was invested to see when this gentle, quiet soul woulfd fail or succeed. Loved it.
Washington, DC Member

Thank you for this film to remind me of the easy beautiful life I have. I leave with a grateful heart!
Washington, DC Member

Waitresses are the best women!
Washington, DC Member

Simply beautiful!
Washington, DC Member

One of the few movies where I completely lost my bearings. It is difficult to depict 'near' - hopelessness, but this does. It was painful to watch, but did not flinch, and that's rare.
Washington, DC Member

BOCA

64% - Mar 18, 2018

Great character study not just of Charley but of roles played by Steve Buscemi and Chloe Sevigny.
Boca Raton Member

An engaging boy on the cusp of manhood with only faulty (if somewhat well-meaning) masculine role models.
Boca Raton Member

A beautiful if sad story that takes you along on the journey.
Boca Raton Member

A24