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Lean on Pete

  • 2017
  • R
  • 2h 1m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
14K
YOUR RATING
Ryan Warren Smith in Lean on Pete (2017)
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.
Play trailer2:31
4 Videos
94 Photos
Coming-of-AgeAdventureDramaSport

A teenager gets a summer job working for a horse trainer and befriends the fading racehorse, Lean on Pete.A teenager gets a summer job working for a horse trainer and befriends the fading racehorse, Lean on Pete.A teenager gets a summer job working for a horse trainer and befriends the fading racehorse, Lean on Pete.

  • Director
    • Andrew Haigh
  • Writers
    • Andrew Haigh
    • Willy Vlautin
  • Stars
    • Charlie Plummer
    • Amy Seimetz
    • Travis Fimmel
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    14K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Andrew Haigh
    • Writers
      • Andrew Haigh
      • Willy Vlautin
    • Stars
      • Charlie Plummer
      • Amy Seimetz
      • Travis Fimmel
    • 98User reviews
    • 148Critic reviews
    • 80Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 11 wins & 18 nominations total

    Videos4

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:31
    Official Trailer
    talking to the kid
    Clip 1:05
    talking to the kid
    talking to the kid
    Clip 1:05
    talking to the kid
    Pete
    Clip 1:16
    Pete
    Lean On Pete: Go Pete!
    Clip 1:16
    Lean On Pete: Go Pete!

    Photos94

    View Poster
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    + 88
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    Top cast40

    Edit
    Charlie Plummer
    Charlie Plummer
    • Charley
    Amy Seimetz
    Amy Seimetz
    • Lynn
    Travis Fimmel
    Travis Fimmel
    • Ray
    Steve Buscemi
    Steve Buscemi
    • Del
    Jason Beem
    • Race Announcer
    Tolo Tuitele
    • Lynn's Husband
    Ayanna Berkshire
    Ayanna Berkshire
    • Cop 1
    Connor Brenes
    • Cop 2
    Kurt Conroyd
    Kurt Conroyd
    • Nurse
    Chloë Sevigny
    Chloë Sevigny
    • Bonnie
    Dennis Fitzpatrick
    • Old Timer
    Rusty Tennant
    • Portland Downs Security Guard
    Julia Prud'homme
    Julia Prud'homme
    • Ruby
    Jason Rouse
    Jason Rouse
    • Mitch
    Lewis Pullman
    Lewis Pullman
    • Dallas
    Justin Rain
    Justin Rain
    • Mike
    Bob Olin
    • Mr Kendall
    Teyah Hartley
    • Laurie
    • Director
      • Andrew Haigh
    • Writers
      • Andrew Haigh
      • Willy Vlautin
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Chloë Sevigny revealed that she was originally approached to play Charley's aunt, but her agent fought for her to play Bonnie because the latter character is a larger role with "more [for Sevigny] to sink her teeth into."
    • Goofs
      Charley throws Del's keys too the ground in disgust and storms out of the building. He loads up the horse and proceeds to start up Del's truck and drive away.
    • Quotes

      Charley: Can I ask you a question?

      Charley: Why do you let him treat you like that?

      Laurie: I don't have anywhere else to go.

      Laurie: And... when you don't have anywhere else to go... you're kinda stuck.

    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Amazing Movies You Missed This Spring (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      Through the Eyes of Love
      Performed by Melissa Manchester (as Melisa Manchester)

      Courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment INC & Sony Pictures Entertainment INC

      Written by Marvin Hamlisch and Carole Bayer Sager

      Published by EMI Music Publishing Ltd.

    User reviews98

    Featured review
    7/10

    a boy and his burdens

    Greetings again from the darkness. Andrew Haigh's follow-up to his gut-wrenching 45 YEARS (2015) is "a boy and a horse" movie that is every bit as emotionally draining, and secures his spot as one of the best filmmakers at bringing characters we thoroughly believe to the screen. It's based on the novel by Willy Vlautin and could be described as coming-of-age, slice-of-life, or even a road movie. While it's each of these, it is also much more ... though I fear it is one of this year's indie gems that will likely slide between the cracks with far too few taking the time to experience it.

    Charlie Plummer was most recently seen in ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD as Getty's kidnapped grandson. Here he stars as Charley, a 15 year old boy living a half-step from poverty with his caring, but unprepared single dad (Travis Fimmel). Charley goes for morning runs around town, and his polite mannerisms include effusive praising and expressing gratitude to his dad's mistress (Amy Seimitz) for cooking a full breakfast - a rare treat for this growing teenager. Charley stumbles into part time work with has-been horse trainer Del (Steve Buscemi), a man whose career, health and demeanor have all seen better days. Horse trainer in this context is far removed from the glamour of the Kentucky Derby. Del works his horses hard for meager winnings on the county fair circuit, and when their time is up, the horses are shipped to Mexico for 'processing'.

    Charley and Del form a bond based on Del's cheapness and Charley's work ethic and love of the horses. When tragedy strikes, the movie shifts to a road trip vibe, with Bonnie (Chloe Sevigny) joining on as a jockey. The three are a quasi-family but mostly they are each just trying to get along in a life that isn't always kind. When Charley ignores Bonnie's advice to not get too attached to the horses, he and the titular Pete are soon trudging across the backcountry.

    Charley's life on the streets provides many life lessons, but not much joy. He crosses paths with an initially friendly addict named Silver (Steve Zahn), and along the trip, his childhood memories provide some hope - especially as related to Aunt Margy (Alison Elliott). These all feel like real folks that we could meet at any time. Some are helpful, yet the biggest life lesson of all comes roaring through these mostly quiet scenes - people care most about themselves.

    This most certainly isn't a Disney-style horse movie like DREAMER, and in fact, it's much less a horse story than it is Charley's story. The core message seems to be that no matter how gentle one's soul, human nature adapts in times of desperation. It's pure cinematic pleasure to have both Mr. Buscemi and Ms. Sevigny in the same film, but the shining light here is Charlie Plummer. With little dialogue, he conveys so much about what he is thinking and feeling. His desire is to have some stability - someone or something that he can depend on. It's the security many of us take for granted. Cinematographer Magnus Nordenhof Jonck (A WAR, 2015) beautifully captures the endless Pacific Northwest landscapes, while also managing the intimate and thoughtful moments. Mr. Haigh's two most recent films add him to my must-see list ... I just wish there were more who would find pleasure in his displays of lack of joy.
    Helpful•21
    13
    • ferguson-6
    • Apr 12, 2018
    • Permalink

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    FAQ19

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 4, 2018 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Instagram
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Chú Ngựa Già
    • Filming locations
      • Portland Meadows Race Track, Portland, Oregon, USA(Race Track scenes featured in film)
    • Production companies
      • Film4
      • British Film Institute (BFI)
      • The Bureau
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,163,056
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $46,975
      • Apr 8, 2018
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,443,584
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 1 minute
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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