Pig - Movie Review

Critics Score - 8 of 10

General Audience Score - 6 of 10

Nicholas Cage has never been know as a top notch hardcore actor who’s performances accrue much critical acclaim and awards buzz. He’s certainly had his share of very good movie roles and has filled some of them admirably, but he’s mainly stayed a cheesy action flick guy with a few romance films thrown in and skewed more recently towards the quirky horror genre. In trots Pig, Cage’s latest work and he turns in one of the best performances he’s given in the last couple decades. This probably won’t get an Academy Awards nomination, but it’s a great piece of work from him, comprable to what Ben Affleck just accomplished in The Way Back. Although Pig is a solid movie with an interesting story and Cage’s character is fascinating to watch onscreen, it certainly isn’t for everyone. This movie won’t blow away mainstream audiences by any means, but you might just be shocked at how effectively Cage is able to pull off this moving story about a man and his Pig. 

The story begins with the hermit Robin or Rob (Nicolas Cage) leaving his run down cabin with his pig to go searching for truffles, a type of tuber, similar to a mushroom for the food layman. Rob’s pig is no ordinary farm animal but a special breed of sorts that apparently has a keen sense of smell and is able to locate these rare and incredibly sought after culinary delicacies. But soon after establishing the reclusive life that Rob is living and the relationship he has with his pet pig, the tight hour and a half runtime pushes into the plot and we witness some thieves break in and relieve him of his only real friend and pet. Rob recruits his middleman Amir (Alex Wolff), the individual he uses to distribute his prized truffles, to drive him around Portland in search of his beloved farm animal. As Rob and Amir traverse the city making contact with former associates' of Rob that may hold some clues as to his pig's whereabouts, the film's tone and mood strike an excellent balance with the acting and direction that sets up everything for the grand finale.

When Rob finally makes it home at the conclusion of his journey, the simple story of a man trying to recover his animal friend is eclipsed by the emotionally powerful ending that is so deeply moving in it's delivery, the film is forgiven most of it's flaws. The direction of Michael Sarnoski is spot on and although his screenwriting is very good, the plot drags a bit and the pacing slows through the second act and if not for Michael's fantastic vision for the film, the third act might have faltered. Although the music and soundtrack the film uses is very well composed, it isn't until the final act that it really stands out and helps the film stick the landing. There aren't many actors present in the film but they all do pretty impressive work, even while performing in the shadow of Nicolas Cage, who is the main reason the film reaches the level of remarkable filmmaking.

SUMMARY - This movie has such a simple premise and will lose many audiences, even cinema lovers, through the first two acts as it goes about telling it's story. But stick it out, the simply stunning performance Cage is delivering combined with the focused direction provide the build up to the powerhouse third act, making Pig truly some incredible cinema and landing one of the finest final ending sequences of the year.