Pi@LFF: The Peanut Butter Falcon

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Pi@LFF is a series of reviews made by the Pi Culture team attending the 2019 BFI London Film Festival. In this article, Olivia Olphin reviews Nilson and Schwartz’s heart-warming adventure.

After the London Film Festival screening of The Peanut Butter Falcon, Shia LaBeouf was asked about the natural chemistry between himself and his co-star Zack Gottsagen. He sincerely replied, “We fell in love”.

Of all the things to fall in love with, this film is one of the easiest. The actors are charming, and the film has a natural exuberance for life. In a fractious time in western society, this story is a well-needed antidote that challenges both prejudice and the social system.

The plot follows Zak (Gottsagen), a young man with Down syndrome who has been living in an elderly care home for years as the social system doesn’t know where to put him. He dreams of becoming a WWE wrestler. Zak cleverly escapes the home in a comic sequence between himself and his elderly flatmate. Somewhat by chance he runs into the anarchic and grieving Tyler (LaBeouf) who is mourning his brother’s death. Both are looking for something else in their lives, and both are running away from situations they can’t cope with. Eleanor (Dakota Johnson) adds a light and caring touch to the film as the support worker searching for the missing Zak. His desire to become a wrestler propels him through the narrative and culminates in a wonderfully comic and touching scene in a wrestling ring at the end of the film. Our three main characters explore what it is like to not be accepted by society and whether acceptance of each other outweighs the pressures of society.

This is arguably one of Shia LaBeouf’s best roles. He exudes charisma and charm as Tyler learns to understand Zak and how to confront his own grief - to face the consequences of his decisions. As someone often critiqued and under the spotlight, it is touching to see LaBeouf’s passion for highlighting the much-needed representation in Hollywood for those with Down syndrome and other disabilities.

Zack is the real highlight here. A first-time actor whose character’s titular alter ego ‘The Peanut Butter Falcon’ embodies the comic seriousness of this film and the elements of magical realism shown in the final fight. Gottsagen is funny and heart-wrenching in equal measure, there is no pretence and one cannot help to support him. In an increasingly diverse Hollywood, it seems fitting that Zack’s talent is finally shown to a mainstream audience.

First time directors Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz’s vision of this film as a coming-of-age story brings out the beauty in human connection and individuality. The shots are simple and carefully selected to show the journey the characters follow, and that perhaps just straying off the beaten path isn’t such a bad thing. The score by Noam Pikelny, Gabe Witcher, Zach Dawes and Jonathan Sadoff is perfectly sparse and the country twang resonates with the travelling and self-sufficient nature of the film.

This film could be seen as ‘too light’ for its subject matter and some could argue that Zak is being used as the butt of many jokes. However, it is important to note that Nilson and Schwartz worked closely with Gottsagen in the creation of the film to accurately portray a character with Down syndrome rather than a stereotype of one. Although underused, Dakota Johnson holds down the film with an element of realism and sincerity, however there could have been a utilisation of more female characters.

The ‘dysfunctional family model’ is used perfectly at the end where there is a rejection of the modern Hollywood ending of trauma and rejection. What could be seen as a cop-out ending actually serves to unite our disparate characters and paint a positive light of their journey without the need to shock an audience with gimmicks.

Heart is often missing in Hollywood these days and this film has enough to last you for years. It envelops you slowly and creates a steady beat that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled.