Pig
Movie Review by Ray Schillaci
Decal-Neon unveils the talent of writer/director Michael Sarnoski who in turn gives us one of the greatest performances of Nicolas Cage since Leaving Las Vegas. Pig is beautifully underplayed by all involved. The film adroitly captures loneliness, love, the deconstructing of human beings, and the wondrous simple pleasures of food. Sarnoski, working with a heart-wrenching story by Vanessa Block, reaches into the very soul of a person who has buried himself away in the Oregon forest, almost becoming one with the terrain only to have his life rocked by the kidnapping of his only companion… a truffle pig.
From Vampire’s Kiss to Prisoners of the Ghostland I could not help but wonder how long Cage could play batsh*t crazy in awful films. But, the arrival of his grounded work in this little arthouse movie practically redeems him as an actor to be taken seriously. Sarnoski has his entire cast taking Cage’s lead underplaying their roles while continuing to give us a world rarely exposed.
The slow reveals that Sarnoski plays with holds our attention from start to finish. From the majestic and near magical forests to the grunge of Portland and back again, there is careful thought put into each frame. Those expecting a wild-eyed Cage to kick ass over his swine will be disappointed. There are plenty of moments where one will anticipate the actor to go over-the-top, but he surprises us with a quiet wisdom that fascinates all the way to the very end.
This is a movie that should be seen with very little knowledge as to what it is about. That being said, I will try my best to omit any spoilers. First off, this is a film for a mature audience. There are no explosions, car chases, or elaborate fight sequences. There is some violence, but it does not take away from the story itself.
The story opens with Cage as “Rob” who has little to do with society. He appears to be living off the land as much as he can. He looks like he has not bathed in months. Rob lives a secluded life with his truffle hog, a domestic pig that finds and extracts the fruit bodies of fungi known as truffles.
A young ambitious man, Amir played by Alex Wolff (Hereditary, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle), delivers supplies once a week to Rob and in turn, the loner gives him truffles that have been unearthed. Apparently, the fungi are hard to find and used by the most elite restaurants. One evening Rob’s cabin is broken into, he is knocked out cold and his pig is kidnapped. This prompts Rob to call Amir for assistance to find his precious partner. That journey unveils eye-opening surprises.
Some may call Pig a slow burn (I will avoid all puns as much as I can have fun with them), but it is more than that. Sarnoski’s film is a character study of the highest order with every calculated shot revealing a little more about each person. There is not one wasted character in this film, all are integral. That is what makes Pig so damn fascinating.
Visually, the film as a whole has a somber tone that matches the characters and the story. This Blu contains a soft, earthy look with some standouts here and there. The garish yellow of Amir’s sports car stands out like a sore thumb along with the neon signs of the city. The fall colors are breathtaking, but they are pictures with a sense of loneliness. The Blu as a whole is not reference quality, but it does manage to capture the director’s vision.
The 5.1 DTS-HD MA fares far better with dialogue easily understandable. There is a wonderful crispness to the sounds while in the forest. Surround effects are subtle, adding depth to Rob’s experience in the wilderness. In contrast to the quietness, the city noises are purposely jarring.
Very little on the bonus side which is a shame. One segment is a big reveal. So, to avoid spoilers do not read any of the supplements. Just know there is one section that is a giveaway, some deleted scenes and a trailer. Pig is a profound experience with a class act performance by Nicolas Cage and a remarkable debut by writer/director Michael Sarnoski. It is available on Blu, DVD, On Demand and Hulu.
Lowest Price – $13.99 – Amazon & Walmart
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