Tyler doesnt treat Zak with kid gloves, which is exactly what his always-underestimated friend needs. Formerly the TV editor at WhatCulture, he has a particular love of Star Wars (The Last Jedi was great), Game of Thrones (season 8 was good), and Harry Potter (J.K. Rowlingnever mind) - y'know, all that really niche, nerdy stuff. "[20] Sheri Linden of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "[Gottsagen's] sensibility infuses the modern-day fable with an engaging forthrightness. They build a raft and begin traveling by water. Sometimes you just need a fluffy, unrealistic chick flick featuring Hilary Duff's sister. Filmed in Savannah, Georgia (standing in for North Carolina's Outer Banks), PEANUT BUTTER FALCON tells the story of Zak (Zack Gottsagen) , a young man with Down Syndrome who runs away from his care home to make his dream of becoming a wrestler come true. One of Zaks natural gifts is incredible physical strength. 13. He and his wife, Dane Christian (Klas Bang) works as art director of the Stockholm Museum of Contemporary Art. The film's title appears again at the end of the closing credits. Tyler looks at Mark with admiration and takes it. I guarantee in any average American household that there is way more language than what this movie has, so if youre worried about that dont be. For directors Tyler Nilson and Mike Schwartz, this debut is the first feature film for which they wrote the screenplay themselves. . Given how much Zak cares about his birthday, this is very significant. However, when he meets Tyler, his kindness eventually gets the older man to open up. The girl treats Zach very well, but for her he is sick and destitute, like those old people in the orphanage whom she cares for. You can smell the salt and pollen and mold in the air. He is aa troubled thief and fisherman who helps Zak a runaway 22-year-old with Down Syndrome get to a wrestling school in North Carolina while reluctant at first he eventually warms up to Zak and forms a very close bond with him. [4] Filming took place in North Carolina and Georgia. An endearing film about what it means to live and experience all that life has to offer, the film offers a lot of insightful and quotable dialogue on Zaks journey to freedom. A quiet joy with breathtaking performances. Zak uses Tyler's shotgun to defend his friends. There are directors who are tempted to use people with problems in order to enhance the emotional response of the audience. An endearing film about what it means to live and experience all that life has to offer, the film offers a lot of insightful and quotable dialogue on Zaks journey to freedom. Eleanor soon finds them, but after learning her boss intends to send Zak to a more severe form of confinement, joins them to travel south. After shooting a $20,000 proof-of-concept video, with producer David Thies, the duo received funding for the film to star Gottsagen. But here, fortunately, this does not happen. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! They drop the F bomb four times and share a couple shots of moonshine that wasnt really focused on. Has to do with whats in here, in your heart. And so Zac tries to escape. Later in their journey, when Zak promises, I am going to give you all my wishes for my birthday, Tyler breaks down and literally leans on Zaks shoulder as he encounters his grief. First of all, Tylers act is absolutely incomprehensible here, who seems to be a positive character, but at the same time robbed other fishermen also, in general, almost impoverished poor fellows and then completely deprived them of their livelihood, burning down the pier with all its contents. More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Resume Born April 22, 1985 Add to list Awards 4 wins & 4 nominations Photos 23 Known for Duncan and Ratboy spread the word in their ongoing search for Tyler, while Eleanor Zak's caregiver searches for him. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. James is Screen Rant's Deputy Features Lead Editor, having started out as a writer for the site back in 2019. 1 Billboard Hits Under Three Names, Suga Now Claims The Most Top 10 Bestselling Songs Among Korean Soloists In U.S. History, The Snowman And 9 Other Great Crime Mysteries On Netflix, BTSs Suga And IU Chart The No. The boat quickly becomes unusable, Tyler is going to make his way to Florida, Zach asks to go with him: on the way to Florida there is a school of the famous wrestler Salty Redneck (Thomas Hayden Church), whose videotape Zach watched to holes. Language is fairly frequent, with a use of "f--k," plus several uses of "s--t," "bitch," "ass," "retard," and more. Is there anything stereotypical about Zak's portrayal? He is an actor, known for The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019), At Last (2020) and Delta Spirit: What's Done Is Done (2022). Characters drink a bottle of whiskey and suffer hangovers. Yet, the hero's journey has never been done with a hero like Zak. Larisa E. One reason to watch "The Peanut Butter Falcon" is so you can be one more person to support an individual who has Down syndrome in the Arts and to support the neuro-typical movie makers who are trying to support artists of all genres who were born "different . The Wife Explained: Whats Up With the Ending? When the two unlikely friends meet and bond unexpectedly, they embark on a heros quest to find the semi-famed wrestling school, eventually alongside Eleanor. Mark hands the present to Tyler. The fact that the crabber is Shia LaBeouf, a talented but . The Peanut Butter Falcon - Atomic Throw scene Sam Mensa 98 subscribers 53K views 3 years ago A spectacular scene towards the end of the movie starring Dakota Johnson, Shia Lebouf and Zack. When Tyler destroys the others' fishing gear, he finds himself fleeing for his life. That said, some of the material is fairly mature. Therefore, they rather serve as a background for him and give cues, especially since their characters are written quite casually purely from the script. Mark cracks a beer, goes to his pickup truck and pulls out a wrapped gift that is shaped like a baseball bat. A nervous Zak plays to the crowd as he enters the ring, and Sam, envious of Zak's reception, does not fight clean. When they reach Ayden, North Carolina, Tyler learns that the Salt Water Redneck has retired and closed the school, but convinces him to resurrect his alter ego for Zak. We finally got The Peanut Butter Falcon playing in my town so naturally I was first in line to see it. 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. However, this is by no means a complaint against LaBeouf and Johnson, rather the opposite: they acted very nobly, because their roles were not supposed to divert the attention of the audience from Zack Gottsagen. The second attempt was successful: Zak really escaped and began to hide in someones old boat. But after some time, Zak knows that Tyler is a good guy. The film ends with Tyler healing from the injury, as Eleanor drives him and Zak to Florida, implying the start of a new life for the three of them as a family. Personally, I would show this movie to my child at any time over 6 years old. Find more movies that help kids build character. Youre a hero. Horrified at Zak and Tylers exploits (they were almost hit by another boat and Zak has learned how to shoot a gun since hes been away), Eleanor plans to take Zak home, until Zak throws her car keys into a nearby body of water. The script for the first feature film turned out to be somewhat raw and unfinished, containing obvious script holes. Tyler (played quietly by a rough-around-the-edges Shia LaBeouf) is about Zaks age. HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JULY 31: Zack Gottsagen and Shia LaBeouf at Film Independent Presents [+] Special Screening Of "The Peanut Butter Falcon" at ArcLight Hollywood on July 31, 2019 in Hollywood, California. If all of this sounds too sentimental to be believed, it isn't. "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. He discovers Zak on his boat while he's on the run. Tyler and Eleanor kiss, but he uses the moment to handcuff her to a steering wheel to prevent her from intervening. August 8, 2019. The Peanut Butter Falcon might switch acting for wrestling and add in Shia LaBeouf, but that central idea remains true to Gottsagen's life. ,. Writers Michael Schwartz and Tyler Nilson met Zack Gottsagen at an acting camp. Zak ends up choosing The Peanut Butter Falcon, for his love of peanut butter and the strength of the falcon. (Especially since he himself lost his older brother.) A person with Down syndrome is as much of a person as you or I. Zak: Maybe we should have our own secret handshake Buds, dudes, friends. This boat belongs to Tyler (Shia LaBeouf), a crab fisherman embroiled in a quickly escalating war with a rival named Duncan (John Hawkes). Jasper is an eccentric sort of character who becomes a significant part of Zaks story. -Welcome to the Hero/Protagonist wiki! All rights reserved. This is a BETA experience. 8. Zac lives in the real world. The feeling of pity towards him as a person who got it very hard in this life is quickly replaced by sympathy and respect. How does the movie show bullying? Although The Peanut Butter Falconisn't wholly based on a true story, there is enoughtruth behind the events in the movie. He does not have a license to fish for crabs, so he works in the workshops of the fishing pier and occasionally steals crabs from other fishermens traps. There's also some smoking, as well as a flashback to a drunk driving incident. It is inconceivable to imagine an able-bodied "name" playing this role and bringing to it even half of what Gottsagen does naturally. In style, this is a completely typical indicino, made for the Sundance festival. Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners. The indie flick is screening at select theatres now. Its no secret that words are incredibly powerfulwhat others say to us, what we say to ourselves, what we say to others. And they kicked him at the beginning of the film for a reason, because he robbed their traps. Meanwhile Tyler, a man fired for bringing in illegal crab catches, decides to burn the gear of his rivals, and goes on the lam himself. Tyler is first seen being turned away from selling his stolen crabs at the local crab shack because he does not have a license. Both LaBeouf and Johnson (and later, Church) approach their roles with ease and simplicity, highlighting Gottsagen (who has studied acting since he was a child) beautifully. When Zak doubts this strength one evening, Tyler encourages Zak to choose a wrestling name. He doesnt have Down syndrome, and as a fisherman, he can go wherever his boat will take him. Zak: That is the greatest story to tell. Because he has no family, he's forced to live in a retirement home, under the care of Eleanor (Dakota Johnson). While on the run, Zak and Tyler meet, and embark on a journey to the Saltwater Redneck's wrestling school in North Carolina. When Zak escapes the facility, he meets up with Tyler, a fugitive, who becomes his mentor and friend. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. Tyler is the main protagonist of The Peanut Butter Falcon. Good guys get left, too, Zak . Not only does he counteract negative voices in Zaks past, but he also meets Zak in his places of doubt. Unlike so many disabled characters in film, Zac is not utilized as a symbol, a metaphor, or created to be "inspirational." Stream The Peanut Butter Falcon on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video. In a big way,The Peanut Butter Falconis based on a true story, one of Zack Gottsagen's own. Tyler punches a middle-school boy in Zak's defense. You cant be everything . She wants Zack back at the orphanage. But the unequivocal material often sticks close to the surface, and the film built around him, for all its physical sweep, can feel constricted by obviousness. THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON is based on real experiences from director Tyler Nilson's past, and it has the echoes of a Mark Twain adventure story as it also addresses the experiences of people with Down syndrome. PTSD has left him troubled and closed-off from the possibility of intimacy. Centered on a young man with Down syndrome who escapes his nursing home and joins a petty. Your privacy is important to us. Tyler discovers his "stowaway" while being chased by Duncan through the complicated tributaries of North Carolina's Outer Banks. Tyler intervenes and permits Zak to come with him, and agrees to accompany Zak to the wrestling school en route to his ultimate destination in Florida. Tylers trauma is presented as darkly and inescapably as should be expected. As Tyler warms up to Zak, he begins to see that he hasnt really been living in the aged care facility. Tyler: Whats that got to do with your heart? After some arguments, she is convincedby a smitten Tylerto join them on their outlaw journey. But these are nitpicks in the face of what "The Peanut Butter Falcon" accomplishes. A Most Violent Year Explained: Whats Up With the Ending? Hemakes his escape proper by getting on a boatowned by Tyler (Shia LaBeouf), who agrees to take him from Virginia to North Carolina, where Zak hopes to attend a wrestling school he's seen on TV. Zak is a 22-year-old who has been committed to an assisted living facility by the state, after being abandoned by his family. Medium Teens. But its greatest strength is not in shining light into what we often collectively perceive as darkness. Rather, the film encourages us to bring our own darknesses into the light and examine them through a new prism: friends who become family through shared struggle and pain. Its an endearing phrase that comes up a few times throughout the movie. With an unfinished script, a somewhat uncertain production, but quite sincere, not manipulative in any way, which I usually cant stand, and most importantly, with an excellent main character who evokes sympathy and respect. Thats all right. Questions whether theyre gonna have a good story to tell about you when youre gone. As detailed in The Peanut Butter Falcon featurette[via YouTube], the directors metGottsagen at a camp eight years ago, where he told them he dreamed of being an actor. 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. But its greatest strength is not in shining light into what we often collectively perceive as darkness. Rather, the film encourages us to bring our own darknesses into the light and examine them through a new prism: friends who become family through shared struggle and pain. The Peanut Butter Falcon Explained: Whats Up With the Ending? Whether or not ThePeanut Butter Falconis based on a true story is somewhat up in the air. . See the release date and trailer. Budget: $6.2 million, Global gross: $22.8 million 14 Best Quotes from The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) An endearing film about what it means to live and experience all that life has to offer, the film offers a lot of insightful and quotable. This moment from Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz's The Peanut Butter Falcon is the most endearing scene I've seen in years.. Tyler insists that its only for when special sh*t happens, but Zak perceives everything as special. Zak, a 22-year-old man with Down Syndrome, escapes from a state-run care facility with the help of his elderly roommate, to train as a professional wrestler under the tutelage of his hero, the Saltwater Redneck. touches on familiar tropes about friendship, disability, trauma, and the twin freedoms and dangers of rural living. They were surprised to be able to secure the rights to many of the songs they used at a fraction of the cost they expected. The soundtrack contains original music composed by Zach Dawes, Jonathan Sadoff of Thenewno2, and Noam Pikelny and Gabe Witcher of Punch Brothers, as well as new and classic songs from Sara Watkins, Chance McCoy of Old Crow Medicine Show, Gregory Alan Isakov, Ola Belle Reed, and the Staple Singers. That night, while they shelter in a seaside shack, Duncan and Ratboy burn their raft and threaten to shoot Tyler's hand. Tyler unwraps an older, used, but beautiful . The Peanut Butter Falcon: Directed by Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz. How is it dealt with? Is Zak? The waves, cornfields, marshes, crab pots . In THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON, Zak (Zack Gottsagen) is a young man with Down syndrome. Zac's goal is to get to Salt Water Redneck's wrestling school, the one advertised in the video. [17], The film was met with positive reviews. Zak and Tyler become friends while travelling. Though its never verbalized, viewers see through flashbacks that Tylers brother died in a car accident in which Tyler fell asleep at the wheel. He was abandoned by his family, and the government placed Zack in a home for the poor in North Carolina. 7. Some of it feels contrived. Cliches aside, there's something at work in "The Peanut Butter Falcon," something eccentric and exuberant. Tragicomedy, USA, 2019, 97 min. Her work appears in several online and print publications. He turned out to be a very bright, lively and sincere character, indeed the main star of the film. He is a a troubled thief and fisherman who helps Zak a runaway 22-year-old with Down Syndrome get to a wrestling school in North Carolina while reluctant at first he eventually warms up to Zak and forms a very close bond with him. Crazy Rich Asians Explained: Whats Up With the Ending? His infectious charisma and past work led them to write a script with him as the lead. The film has garnered mostly positive reviews, reaching a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. And I am a bad guy.Tyler: Why do you want to be the bad guy?Zak: Because my family left me.Tyler: That dont make you a bad guy. There will be some funny jokes, embarrassing situations, colorful characters encountered during the journey, and some kind of catharsis should be expected at the end, although everything will definitely end well. Slurs are hurled at Zak at several turns by strangers, and the film doesnt shy away from illustrating the pain of discrimination. . Its one of the first rituals the pair establishes, and it becomes a humorous point of continuity throughout the story. After pushing Tyler to open up and have some fun for so long, Zak is exhilarated by the prospect of their grand adventure. as Clint / The Salt Water Redneck, In "The Peanut Butter Falcon," co-written and co-directed by, Zac takes shelter under a tarp on a rusty boat. At the same time, Tyler continues to be chased by very unfriendly fishermen, and Zack is looking for a volunteer from the shelter, Eleanor (Dakota Johnson), who looked after Zack at the shelter. has been repeatedly described thus far as a heartwarming, inspiring and feel-good indie film. In order to build Peanut Butter Falconinto a true story, what Nilson and Schwartz decided to do was figure outGottsagen's interests. A Sports Journalism graduate, James quickly realized that supporting Sunderland AFC was painful enough without writing about it, and so decided to talk a load of rubbish about movies and TV instead. suggesting a diversity update. Suga Has Now Charted No. Largely filmed in Georgia, the movie makes beautiful use of land and sea, sun-baked shores and boats; it feels warm and open-aired, smelling like salt and fish. Tyler: He believes in you. He's fuelled by pint-sized cups of tea, peanut butter, more tea, and a quiet, constant anger (like the Hulk, only not green, or strong, or big). Follow. Tyler: That dont make you a bad guy. See our, This movie was a heartfelt warm unique beautiful movie that has a foundation and a morality that more people should live by. Bluegrass, country songs, gospel hymns punctuate the narrative. Wrestling is shown as a violent sport, but also as one that can be empowering. The feel-good movie received positive reviews when The Peanut Butter Falconpremiered at SXSW2019 back in March, winning an Audience Award at the festival. While these adjectives about the bluegrass-steeped, unlikely buddy film arent wrong, they dont quite do it justice, either. . If all of this sounds too sentimental to be believed, it isn't. Zach is a smart guy, and hes not going to be locked up in four walls all his life. Zak runs away from his care home to make his dream of becoming a wrestler come true. Zak, a young man with Down syndrome, escapes from a state-run care facility with the help of his elderly roommate, to train as a professional wrestler under the tutelage of his hero, the Salt Water Redneck. Together, the two train themselves to be fighters while fleeing Eleanors pursuit and the men after Tylers money. The conversation about "representation" in cinema often excludes the disabled. Zak comes to care very deeply for his friend, so much so that hes willing to give away all of his birthday wishes. The carefully crafted narrative touches on familiar tropes about friendship, disability, trauma, and the twin freedoms and dangers of rural living. One of the other heartwarming traits Zak exhibits is his kindheartedness. Tyler convinces her to accompany them on their journey instead, which she agrees to do on the condition that they return to the home after reaching the wrestling school. Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations. Filmmakers Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz met Gottsagen by chance at Zeno Mountain Farm, a camp for people both with and without disabilities. Gottsagen then asked them to make a film for him, and they agreed, wanting to build a movie around him to provide the same opportunities afforded toother actors. Crowd-pleasing drama explores race, class, friendship. I was struck by how Tyler helps Zak move from identifying himself as a Down syndrome (with no indication of his personhood attached) to a good guy, which acknowledges his dignity as a person. The hero's journey archetype has been utilized in countless films and stories starting from the time of Homer's great epic the Odyssey. This dream is stronger with the many taunts over the course of his life that he would never achieve anything for being "retarded". Zak: Yo, please dont mess with the Peanut Butter Falcon. They break out into a dance and do, indeed, party. Thanks! Enjoy the movie. Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of all kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. Without a biological family anymore, young adult Zak, with Down Syndrome, is housed against his own wishes in the only facility in the state open to him, the Britthayven Retirement Home in Richmond, Virginia, where his primary caregiver is a young, caring woman named Eleanor. Oddly enough, both approaches result in a kind of spontaneous unpredictability." He prefers silence. Lee Spencer is the actor, Glen is the character. Youre a hero.Zak: I cant be a hero because I am a Down syndrome.Tyler: Whats that got to do with your heart? You can smell the salt and pollen and mold in the air. Along the way, Zak and Tyler begin to bond,which is further developed whenDakota Johnson's Eleanor (who worked at the nursing home) joins them. [10] Shortly after, Roadside Attractions acquired distribution rights to the film, and released it in theaters on August 9, 2019. Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. 4. [22][23], LaBeouf and Gottsagen appeared as themselves presenting Best Live Action Short Subject at the 92nd Academy Awards.[30]. Zak runs away from his care home to make his dream of becoming a wrestler come true. Later in the film, when Tyler asks what the first rule is, Zak replies with party and Tyler agrees with him.

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