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| Scene from Lean on Pete |
In case you didn't know, A24 is one of the great purveyors of modern cinema. Since 2013, the studio has found a way to innovate independent cinema by turning each release into an event. As a result, A24 A-to-Z will be an ongoing series that looks at every release from the studio by analyzing its production history, release, criticisms, and any awards attention that it might've received. Join me on a quest to explore the modern heroes of cinema by exploring every hit and miss that comes with that magnificent logo. They may not all be great, but they more than make A24 what it is and what it will hopefully continue to be for years to come.
Released: April 6, 2018
Release Number: 63
Directed By: Andrew Haigh
Starring: Charlie Plummer, Amy Seimetz, Travis Fimmel
Plot: A teenager gets a summer job working for a horse trainer and befriends the fading racehorse, Lean on Pete.
In 2018, the third time was the charm for A24 with the horse racing drama Lean on Pete. Director Andrew Haigh had been an acclaimed indie filmmaker in recent years for his intimate dramas, and the choice to make a film between a boy (Charlie Plummer) and a horse seemed like an odd choice. However, it was the first gut punch film of the year for the studio and one that proved that they still had the ability to deliver compelling drama. While the film didn't quite become the awards hit that other major films for the studio would be, it did well enough to become one of the better films of the year, as well as a firm reminder of the power that Haigh brings to his work. It may have not been a runaway success, but it was a stable reminder of what the studio could do with the right cast and crew.
The story begins during 2011 when Haigh was in the middle of promoting his breakout film Weekend. His spouse, Andy Morwood, introduced him to the novel "Lean on Pete" by Willy Vlautin, which Morwood believed could make for a good movie. Haigh saw the potential in it and became immediately interested in a project. The only catch was that he believed that he needed some personal experience in the race track scene before committing to it. He wanted it to feel authentic and not some glamorized version. Around the same time, he was also prepping for 45 Years, which would become his next film in 2015. Long story short, the film was another major success for Haigh and received critical praise as well as earning star Charlotte Rampling an Oscar nomination. It was during the festival circuit for the film that he began to acquire financing (including from A24 and the British Film Institute) and support for his next film Lean on Pete.
Having spent time at race tracks and garnered a sense of purpose to the story, he began to work on the casting. From over 200 audition tapes, Haigh found himself attracted to Boardwalk Empire star Charlie Plummer, who shared similar thoughts to the film's protagonist Charley. Charley was a lonely kid, abandoned by the world and in need of a friend. This came in the horse Lean on Pete. Similarly, there was a dynamic to the horse being a brittle creature that reflected Charly's personality, which Haigh sought not to overtly reflect on screen. When Plummer attracted Haigh's attention, he was immediately selected. Haigh would cast Steve Buscemi and Chloe Sevigny on the grounds that they were "the King and Queen of American independent cinema." With eight million for the budget, the film would seek to shoot on locations that were used in the book. For the most part, they were able to achieve this without any conflicts.
The film shot for eight weeks in Portland and Burns, Oregon. Among the challenges that the film would have is making sure that the horse actors weren't hurt in any way. Considering how brittle the animals are, it meant that certain scenes required animal experts to clear out dangerous bugs from desert landscapes, including 10 scorpions and a rattlesnake. There were also natural hazards like sandstorms. On average, the race track scenes were the hardest to film as horses were only allowed to do one race due to their health. With 100's of extras on hand, this meant that filming had to be perfect and spent days preparing. There were even petitions to film on location because of how beautiful the tracks were. Luckily, everything worked out after winning over the owners and residents who were skeptical of how it could be shot.
The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September 2017 to positive reviews. The film would win the Best Young Actor award there for Plummer as well as another nomination for Haigh in Best Film. The positive reviews continued as it played at the Toronto International Film Festival, and made many excited about the latest from Haigh. The film's American release was pushed back from late March to early April, where it would earn $2.4 million in limited release. From there the film would go on to pick up various critics awards and help it gain traction for a potential awards season run. While it didn't quite get there, it was able to survive on great word of mouth, though it was often in competition with fellow horse drama The Rider, which was out at the time and lead to some mistaking them for each other.
As the film festival awards would suggest, the film was receiving almost unanimous praise upon release. On critics aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes, the film would receive a 91%, which is one of the studio's highest rated in a few months. Chris Vognar of Dallas Morning News leads the positivity by suggesting "The film is a showcase for a very promising young actor named Charlie Plummer. Lanky, sensitive but assured, Plummer gives his character, 15-year-old Charley, a sense of raw decency maintained through trying circumstances." Jake Wilson of The Age (Australia) also praised the film's unique approach to storytelling when noting that "This is a film that succeeds in holding all its elements in balance - and in doing so, arrives at a depth of feeling that isn't commonplace at all." People like Mark Jenkins of NPR disagreed with the handling of tone when suggesting that "As its scenario goes from sad to worse...the movie seems to aspire only to bumming everybody out." Overall, it was another gem from A24 and one that finally got 2018 looking al little brighter.
Lean on Pete was another example of the studio working with Oscar-caliber talent to produce powerful dramas with unexpected protagonists. While the film didn't quite become as major of an awards contender as many hoped, it still had its fans and proved to be one of the studio's strongest films of the year. With their next film, A24 would continue to explore dark themes, only this time on a global scale full of contemporary conflicts and more Oscar-winning actors. Director Peter Fly's Backstabbing for Beginners was another example of the studio taking risks and trying to make hard-hitting subjects in the process. It may not be as well remembered as Lean on Pete, but it definitely has its place in A24 lore.
Up Next: Backstabbing for Beginners (2018)
In 2018, the third time was the charm for A24 with the horse racing drama Lean on Pete. Director Andrew Haigh had been an acclaimed indie filmmaker in recent years for his intimate dramas, and the choice to make a film between a boy (Charlie Plummer) and a horse seemed like an odd choice. However, it was the first gut punch film of the year for the studio and one that proved that they still had the ability to deliver compelling drama. While the film didn't quite become the awards hit that other major films for the studio would be, it did well enough to become one of the better films of the year, as well as a firm reminder of the power that Haigh brings to his work. It may have not been a runaway success, but it was a stable reminder of what the studio could do with the right cast and crew.
The story begins during 2011 when Haigh was in the middle of promoting his breakout film Weekend. His spouse, Andy Morwood, introduced him to the novel "Lean on Pete" by Willy Vlautin, which Morwood believed could make for a good movie. Haigh saw the potential in it and became immediately interested in a project. The only catch was that he believed that he needed some personal experience in the race track scene before committing to it. He wanted it to feel authentic and not some glamorized version. Around the same time, he was also prepping for 45 Years, which would become his next film in 2015. Long story short, the film was another major success for Haigh and received critical praise as well as earning star Charlotte Rampling an Oscar nomination. It was during the festival circuit for the film that he began to acquire financing (including from A24 and the British Film Institute) and support for his next film Lean on Pete.
Having spent time at race tracks and garnered a sense of purpose to the story, he began to work on the casting. From over 200 audition tapes, Haigh found himself attracted to Boardwalk Empire star Charlie Plummer, who shared similar thoughts to the film's protagonist Charley. Charley was a lonely kid, abandoned by the world and in need of a friend. This came in the horse Lean on Pete. Similarly, there was a dynamic to the horse being a brittle creature that reflected Charly's personality, which Haigh sought not to overtly reflect on screen. When Plummer attracted Haigh's attention, he was immediately selected. Haigh would cast Steve Buscemi and Chloe Sevigny on the grounds that they were "the King and Queen of American independent cinema." With eight million for the budget, the film would seek to shoot on locations that were used in the book. For the most part, they were able to achieve this without any conflicts.
The film shot for eight weeks in Portland and Burns, Oregon. Among the challenges that the film would have is making sure that the horse actors weren't hurt in any way. Considering how brittle the animals are, it meant that certain scenes required animal experts to clear out dangerous bugs from desert landscapes, including 10 scorpions and a rattlesnake. There were also natural hazards like sandstorms. On average, the race track scenes were the hardest to film as horses were only allowed to do one race due to their health. With 100's of extras on hand, this meant that filming had to be perfect and spent days preparing. There were even petitions to film on location because of how beautiful the tracks were. Luckily, everything worked out after winning over the owners and residents who were skeptical of how it could be shot.
The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September 2017 to positive reviews. The film would win the Best Young Actor award there for Plummer as well as another nomination for Haigh in Best Film. The positive reviews continued as it played at the Toronto International Film Festival, and made many excited about the latest from Haigh. The film's American release was pushed back from late March to early April, where it would earn $2.4 million in limited release. From there the film would go on to pick up various critics awards and help it gain traction for a potential awards season run. While it didn't quite get there, it was able to survive on great word of mouth, though it was often in competition with fellow horse drama The Rider, which was out at the time and lead to some mistaking them for each other.
As the film festival awards would suggest, the film was receiving almost unanimous praise upon release. On critics aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes, the film would receive a 91%, which is one of the studio's highest rated in a few months. Chris Vognar of Dallas Morning News leads the positivity by suggesting "The film is a showcase for a very promising young actor named Charlie Plummer. Lanky, sensitive but assured, Plummer gives his character, 15-year-old Charley, a sense of raw decency maintained through trying circumstances." Jake Wilson of The Age (Australia) also praised the film's unique approach to storytelling when noting that "This is a film that succeeds in holding all its elements in balance - and in doing so, arrives at a depth of feeling that isn't commonplace at all." People like Mark Jenkins of NPR disagreed with the handling of tone when suggesting that "As its scenario goes from sad to worse...the movie seems to aspire only to bumming everybody out." Overall, it was another gem from A24 and one that finally got 2018 looking al little brighter.
Lean on Pete was another example of the studio working with Oscar-caliber talent to produce powerful dramas with unexpected protagonists. While the film didn't quite become as major of an awards contender as many hoped, it still had its fans and proved to be one of the studio's strongest films of the year. With their next film, A24 would continue to explore dark themes, only this time on a global scale full of contemporary conflicts and more Oscar-winning actors. Director Peter Fly's Backstabbing for Beginners was another example of the studio taking risks and trying to make hard-hitting subjects in the process. It may not be as well remembered as Lean on Pete, but it definitely has its place in A24 lore.
Up Next: Backstabbing for Beginners (2018)
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