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Sam Posten

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Sam Posten submitted a new blog post

The Peanut Butter Falcon - Bluray Review
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Continue reading the Original Blog Post.
 

Neil Middlemiss

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Thanks for the review, Sam. The utter lack of representation of people with Down syndrome in film, television and children’s books is frustrating (our son, Ryan, has Down syndrome as you know). This movie is one I have wanted to see since I heard about it earlier this year and can’t wait to soak it up. We own another movie from a few years ago, Where Hope Grows, featuring a main cast member with Down syndrome. I hope we see more representation, and more of Zach, soon.
 

Jake Lipson

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Thank you, Sam! I loved this movie and am glad to have the disc in my collection. Hopefully it finds an even larger audience in its home release than the theatrical run did.
 

Mike Frezon

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Yes, thanks Sam!

Peg and I are very much looking forward to checking this out...whenever Amazon can figure out how to get me a copy. Even though I pre-ordered for it's November 5th release, Amazon is giving me a window of November 25-December 5. :rolleyes:

This is a blind buy for us.
 

Robert Crawford

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Yes, thanks Sam!

Peg and I are very much looking forward to checking this out...whenever Amazon can figure out how to get me a copy. Even though I pre-ordered for it's November 5th release, Amazon is giving me a window of November 25-December 5. :rolleyes:

This is a blind buy for us.
Hey Mike, my new delivery date is November 27th so I can have it before Thanksgiving.;)
 

Mike Frezon

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Peg and watched tonight.

We both thought the film was "ok." It wasn't great, for sure. It was close (a neat idea), but no cigar.

The relationship between Zak and Tyler was nice. Eleanor was a rather superfluous character. She wasn't well developed and I was left scratching my head that she would leave with them on their journey. The flashback set-up explaining Tyler's history weren't really all that effective either.

Frankly, I would have liked much more conflict between Tyler and Eleanor as we watched an affectionate relationship between them start to take shape. More of that and less of the wrestling sequence at the end...especially the rather cheap trope in which:

Tyler gets smacked on the head with a tire iron--leaving us to supposedly believe he might've been killed by his enemies. Even to the point where we see a conversation between Eleanor and a doctor in which she appears visibly upset and clasp her hand over her mouth.

Like I said, a really neat idea. The actor who played Zak was terrific. And there were lots of nice scenes throughout the film. But I just didn't feel like the "whole" came together for me.
 

Colin Jacobson

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Peg and watched tonight.

We both thought the film was "ok." It wasn't great, for sure. It was close (a neat idea), but no cigar.

The relationship between Zak and Tyler was nice. Eleanor was a rather superfluous character. She wasn't well developed and I was left scratching my head that she would leave with them on their journey. The flashback set-up explaining Tyler's history weren't really all that effective either.

Frankly, I would have liked much more conflict between Tyler and Eleanor as we watched an affectionate relationship between them start to take shape. More of that and less of the wrestling sequence at the end...especially the rather cheap trope in which:

Tyler gets smacked on the head with a tire iron--leaving us to supposedly believe he might've been killed by his enemies. Even to the point where we see a conversation between Eleanor and a doctor in which she appears visibly upset and clasp her hand over her mouth.

Like I said, a really neat idea. The actor who played Zak was terrific. And there were lots of nice scenes throughout the film. But I just didn't feel like the "whole" came together for me.

I don't think there's any question that
Tyler gets killed!
 

Sam Posten

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We both thought the film was "ok." It wasn't great, for sure.

Like I said, a really neat idea. The actor who played Zak was terrific. And there were lots of nice scenes throughout the film. But I just didn't feel like the "whole" came together for me.

I support this 100%. As you see I gave it a 3.5 which to me is in the 'has good to great qualities but isn't overall a triumph'.

I didn't focus on any of the negative points in my review but they are there and you outlined them well.

It's an indy production with a very specific, well calling it a 'gimmick' isn't right but it has a unique origin. And that has pros and cons. Zak's acting overcomes any doubts as to whether people with down syndrome can act and be entertaining. They can and he is. But that doesn't absolve some of the film's other issues.
 

Mike Frezon

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giphy.gif


Colin: Maybe I need to go back and watch the ending again, but I sure would be interested in hearing more about your spoilerized comment above. :laugh: Like I said, I'm not always very good at these things.
 

Colin Jacobson

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But there he was...in the back seat...as they crossed the state line into Florida!

But I'm a pretty linear/literal thinker when it comes to these things. :D

He was???

Um...

Err...

I need to watch it again. Either I viewed that shot as not intended to be real... or I'm just a dope who missed it somehow!

Probably the latter! :D
 

Colin Jacobson

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Okay, I rewatched the movie's finale.

I still think
Tyler is dead. The reactions we see from Eleanor and Clint aren't the reactions you'd expect from people who expect Tyler to survive.

Also, note that after we see those reactions, Zak blows out birthday candles and presumably makes a wish.

I think it's highly likely the final shots represent his fantasy, not reality...
 

Mike Frezon

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He was???

Um...

Err...

:laugh:

Anyway...I dunno. Personally, I think that's a lot of supposition on your part. It all seemed pretty matter-of-fact to me.
Zak touched Tyler to wake him up and make him aware of their whereabouts and we see Tyler put his hand (familiarly) on Eleanor. If he wasn't really there, they might've been a bit more vague about things
 

Colin Jacobson

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:laugh:

Anyway...I dunno. Personally, I think that's a lot of supposition on your part. It all seemed pretty matter-of-fact to me.
Zak touched Tyler to wake him up and make him aware of their whereabouts and we see Tyler put his hand (familiarly) on Eleanor. If he wasn't really there, they might've been a bit more vague about things

Did you read my update above?

I don't claim Tyler wasn't there as Z and E drove to FL.

I claim none of that happened. The drive to FL was all Z's fantasy.

C'mon - you think the shot of Z as he blows out candles and presumably makes a wish was an accident?

And does E's reaction to the doctor's news look like the reaction of someone who was told her friend would recover?

And why show a glum-looking Clint if T is gonna be A-OK?
 

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