The Peanut Butter Falcon

Greg and Susan take you on a spoiler-filled journey through "The Peanut Butter Falcon." The 2019 American comedy-drama film -- written and directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz, in their feature film directorial debuts, and starring Shia LaBeouf, Zack Gottsagen, Dakota Johnson, John Hawkes, Bruce Dern, Jon Bernthal, and Thomas Haden Church -- pairs a run-a-way 22-year-old man named Zack with Downs Syndrome with a thief/fisherman named Tyler. While trying to escape to Florida to avoid arrest, Tyler latter reluctantly agrees to help Zack find a wrestling school run by "The Saltwater Redneck."

 

In this episode, the couple discusses the film's themes of family you choose for yourself and people's tendency to underestimate others. The two also talk about the film's inspirations (including Gottsagen himself), Shia Labouef's arrest and subsequent stint in rehab during the making the film, and Gottsagen's positive influence on Labeouf during recovery.

 

 

Resources referenced in this episode:

 

Shia LaBeouf says a costar with Down syndrome saved him after problems with alcohol resulted in his arrest, https://www.insider.com/shia-labeouf-zack-gottsagen-peanut-butter-falcon-arrest-2019-10

 

 

How 'Peanut Butter Falcon' Star Helped Changed Shia LaBeouf's Life, 

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-a-peanut-butter-falcon-star-helped-changed-shia-labeoufs-life-1263308

 

Peanut Butter Falcon's Unlikely Road From Dream to Screen, https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/08/peanut-butter-falcon-shia-labeouf-movie