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Watching a Nicholas Cage movie these days can be a real gamble. For better or worse, the actor has chosen some strange projects over the past decade or so. I went into Pig expecting this to be another weird one, but surprisingly it’s Cage’s most normal and accessible movie in years.
It’s definitely a little bit strange though, but in a subtle way. The world in this movie seems ever so slightly removed from reality, but never too far gone as to break immersion. Hear me out for a second, because this is going to be a bizarre comparison - This movie reminded me of the first John Wick, but instead of a secret underground network of assassins, you’ve got a network of culinary industry professionals. It’s not remotely similar in style, but spiritually, it’s on the same page.
The story also hits hard on an emotional level, which caught me completely off guard in a good way. What starts as a pretty basic story about a man looking for his stolen truffle pig evolves into something a lot deeper by the time the credits roll. I can’t really even write about it without spoiling the film, so it’s best to go into this one knowing as little as possible.
So how is the man himself? Well, to be perfectly honest, he is fantastic. Cage gives a restrained and emotionally raw performance that I think is one of his very best. His character is a man of few words, but I was wowed by how expressive he was without dialogue. Alex Wolff, who stars alongside, is also really great, and I really liked where they went with his character.
Pig is a movie that will sneak up and tug on your heartstrings. It’s got just enough of that signature Cage weirdness to keep things interesting, but grounded enough for the story to resonate with audiences. This is one of the biggest surprises of the year and I would highly recommend it for anybody looking for something different.
8/10
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Pig is John Wick as an existential drama.
And I think it might be the best film I've seen this year. I haven't stopped thinking about it.
The story is simple, Nicolas Cage plays a man that lives in a forest with his truffle pig, collecting truffles for Alex Wolff's restaurant investor and living a very simple, off-the-grid life.
Then one day his cabin is broken into and someone steals his pig...
However this is not the film you think it is and maybe even referencing John Wick is unfair, but there is an element of it here in that Nic Cage goes after the people that stole his Pig one by one, trying to get to the top of the power chain. With each person he meets, not only do we learn about them, but we learn more about Cage and his past, painting a full picture of the character we've been following.
It is a beautiful picture that is in no rush to tell its story. Directed by Michael Sarnoski, the film is propelled by a sense of meditative contemplation. It has a soft but constant flow that engaged me emotionally. It reminded me of Lynne Ramsay's fantastic You Were Never Really Here.
Written by Vanessa Block and Sarnoski, the writing feels so focused. Not only does the film tackle themes of grief and loneliness, but it's about how we need real connections and how those connections are what make life worth living. I'm not sure if it's eligible but the script should be nominated for an Oscar.
Then there's Cage in his best role for a long while (although I loved him in Color Out of Space and Mandy). He is excellent and brings an authenticity to the part of a man in search of connection and truth. Alex Wolff is also brilliant as the investor who didn't know he was lonely.
The cinematography has to be mentioned as well here, it is some of the most memorable work I've seen for a while. It doesn't just look good, the shots carry real meaning. One shot in particular comes near the end and captures Cage's long, rough hair blowing in the wind bringing to mind his lost pig. Shots like these guide you emotionally.
I could talk about this film for days. I absolutely loved it. This is real cinema and it's bloody gorgeous.
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OK alors clairement vous ne vous attendez pas du tout à ce que vous allez voir : ça fait combien de temps que vous n'avez pas vu un bon film avec Nicolas Cage par exemple ? Depuis Lord of War (en 2006, ça date !) ? Kick Ass (2010) ? Avec ce mélange improbable entre John Wick, Taken et Top Chef (oui oui), notre cher acteur stakhanoviste (il tourne bien entre 3 ou 4 films par an depuis 15 ans maintenant, très souvent des films d'exploitation sortant directement en vidéo) trouve ici un rôle à la mesure de son talent. Un vieil ermite vivant reclus dans les bois se fait voler son cochon truffier, sa seule compagnie, et c'est parti pour une recherche qui va mêler mandales, cuisine, filiation, deuil et leçons de vie. Ne prenant jamais vraiment le chemin que l'on attendrait de lui, déjouant souvent les attentes du public, ce Pig se révèle en bout de course hyper touchant, et nous donne à voir Nicolas Cage dans un rôle de Master Chef Jedi bourru et ronchon qui lui va à merveille. Difficile d'en dire plus sans révéler l'intrigue, sachez donc juste que ce Pig, non content d'être une excellente surprise, mérite aussi clairement de figurer dans la liste des meilleurs films sortis cette année en salles. Laissez-vous tenter, vous ne regretterez pas le voyage.
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