After running away from a residential nursing home to pursue his dream of becoming a pro wrestler, a man who has Down syndrome befriends an outlaw who becomes his coach and ally.
There is something to be said for actors with Down Syndrome. They are exceptional at conveying a sense of naivety, innocence, and uninhibited joy. Stevie Payne was one of the standout performances in Ride Like A Girl; and in Peanut Butter Falcon, Zack Gottsagen manages to form the heart of the film.
Peanut Butter Falcon is the directorial debut of Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz, with a screenplay that they have both also written. Inspired by Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Peanut Butter Falcon is a simple story with a beautiful message, portrayed in a very engaging manner. The film revolves around the characters of Zak (Gottsagen) and Tyler (Shia LeBeouf), two individuals from two different walks of life, searching for something. Zak, who wants above all else to be a professional wrestler, and Tyler, who wants to catch a break and have a fresh start somewhere.
What the film does really well, is its treatment of Zak's Down Syndrome in the film. Tyler at no point treats him like a lesser person; there is no sign of condescension in his character. Like every other character, they have various qualities, skills, and personality quirks. Some helpful, some...not so much, but it's Tyler's positive character traits that lead him to help Zak try to achieve his goals. In fact, the characters in the film can be split into two categories, those that are actively trying to help Zak reach his goals, and those actively working against him doing so. The surprising thing is that the protagonists fall in both categories.
Both Shia LeBeouf's Tyler and Dakota Johnson's Eleanor want to do what is best for Zak, but they have completely opposing opinions on what that would entail. Such is the crux of the film, thematically speaking. If someone is afflicted with an intellectual disability, is that enough to demand that they remain institutionalized for the remainder of their life? To rob these young people of the opportunity to experience life, to have dreams and goals. And at what point are our attempts to constantly help them, treating them with the same disrespect as calling them a slur. There are some great quotes in this film that make you question your stance on a variety of ideas.
As far as the cinematography goes, you can see Michael Schwartz's experience in directing documentaries is coming in handy, with crisp and clear camera shots and lovely wide shots of scenery. No extensive colour grading required, the clean look of the film brings a sense of authenticity to the story. The pacing of the film is quite lethargic and meandering, often with little narrative direction. In many situations, this would make for a boring film, but these quiet moments are where we get the interactions between the characters and the majority of our character development. Little occurs in the film, and yet the audience is fully invested in the story because the characters are so charismatic and well fleshed-out.
The antagonists in the film do create some tense moments from time to time, but the standout element of the film is its positivity and uplifting nature. The fact that Nilson and Schwartz wrote the screenplay specifically for Zack, who they met at a camp for actors with disabilities, inspired by his determination to achieve his goal, it all adds to the feel-good nature of Peanut Butter Falcon.
Shia LaBeouf has flip-flopped throughout his acting career, with some great films (Borg vs. McEnroe, American Honey, or Fury), but also some shockingly bad ones too (the Transformers franchise, The Even Stevens Movie, of Eagle Eye), but It's exciting to say that this is one of his best performances to date. Reigning in his usual over-the-top performances, there is a strong emotional background to this character and his pairing with Gottsagen shows them as kindred spirits.
Peanut Butter Falcon is a brilliant comedy, with heartwarming performances, and well-developed characters. Full of drama and charisma, this is a film not to be missed!
Peanut Butter Falcon is in theatres from December 26, 2019