LEAN ON PETE

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LEAN ON PETE movie poster

Janet's TAKE: #LeanOnPeteMovie is an emotional roller coaster in this coming-of-age tale. Charlie Plummer carries this film about a teen with many hardships to overcome. Grade/B+
The strong
indie supporting cast lift this heart-tugging drama to above average.

Directed by Andrew Haigh  (Weekend; 45 Years)

Starring Charlie Plummer (The Dinner; King Jack; All The Money in the World), Chloë Sevigny, Travis Fimmel (Vikings), Steve Buscemi

Synopsis: Based on the novel by Willy Vlautin, Fifteen-year-old Charley Thompson (Charlie Plummer) arrives in Portland, Oregon with his single father Ray (Travis 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 (Steve Buscemi) and his seasoned jockey Bonnie (Chloë 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. Charley and Pete head out into the great unknown, embarking on an odyssey across the new American frontier in search of a loving aunt Charley hasn’t seen in years. They experience adventure and heartbreak in equal measure, but never lose their irrepressible hope and resiliency as they pursue their dream of finding a place they can call home. -A24


Rating: R for language and brief violence
Running Time: 121 minutes

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