Quick Takes: The Peanut Butter Falcon May be the Best Movie of 2019
“Quick Takes” is a feature of the Price of Business Digital Network, which USA Business Radio is a member. Always be prepared for potential spoilers.
“The Peanut Butter Falcon” is not a wrestling movie, but there is wrestling in it. It is not a traditional adventure movie, but there is plenty of that in it. It is not a love story, as we typically use that expression, but there is plenty to love about it. It is sweet, but not in a syrupy way. It is heart warming and the kind of film that makes the viewer want more. It may be the best film of 2019.
The film has a 95% Rotten Tomatoes and a 3.5 (0ut of 4) from Roger Ebert for many reasons. Audiences rated it even higher, according to Rotten Tomatoes, giving it a 96%. It is an adventurous and compelling drama that will make the viewer laugh — often. Rotten Tomatoes summarized its plot and charm well:
“A modern Mark Twain style adventure story, THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON tells the story of Zak (Zack Gottsagen), a young man with Down syndrome, who runs away from a residential nursing home to follow his dream of attending the professional wrestling school of his idol, The Salt Water Redneck (Thomas Haden Church). A strange turn of events pairs him on the road with Tyler (Shia LaBeouf), a small time outlaw on the run, who becomes Zak’s unlikely coach and ally. Together they wind through deltas, elude capture, drink whisky, find God, catch fish, and convince Eleanor (Dakota Johnson), a kind nursing home employee charged with Zak’s return, to join them on their journey.”
The casting was about as close to perfect as one can find in a movie. Gootsagen was the perfect protagonist for this story in the lead. LeBeouf was surprisingly sympathetic as the audience watches him transform from being nothing more than a user of others who is then willing to be used to help others. This transformation is done in a very realistic fashion. Johnson is often one of those actors people love or loathe. She is adorable, yet appropriately complex, in this film. Meanwhile, Thomas Haden Church has a relatively small role that leaves a big impression. He plays a former wrestler that time has forgotten, but absolutely loves being remembered by this young man with Downs Syndrome. An excellent story with an amazing cast.
Go see this special film while it is still in the theaters. Why not wait for streaming? Because of the excellent cinematography and those “big scenes” that call for a big screen. Also, do it in order to support this type of very high quality motion picture.
