← Back to Reviews
in
Pig -
This is a very good movie that, if anything, deserves credit for using a simple story - a hermit, truffle hunter and former master chef (Cage), Robin, searches for his lost pig - to reflect the state of late '10s/early '20s life. I like seeing Nicolas Cage in crazy mode as much as the next fan of his, but I'm glad that his preference for such projects lately hasn't affected his interest in being in or ability to perform in movies like this one. He's totally convincing as a man out of time and one for whom the companionship of his pet is all that gives him a reason to get up in the morning. Equally impressive is Alex Wolff as Amir, Robin's buyer and less than willing companion in his search, who makes their relationship recall Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman's in Rain Man. While whodunit lovers may be let down since the mystery of what happened to Robin's pig isn't really one, they'll surely get something out of how expertly gradual Robin's search reveals what kind of person he is, who he used to be and what he thinks about modern life. As for the look and feel of the movie, it has a precision and attention to detail reminiscent of the classiest restaurant brochure or supply catalogue you can imagine that deserves just as much credit for making these reveals. With all that said, just what's to be found in this pig hunt? I think it's in what motivates Robin to find her, which is something that some have blocked, some have forgotten about or, unfortunately, that others have no idea about. What's more, the movie shows how all the above can happen. It does this in subtle ways such as how the classical music podcast Amir listens to reveals an increasing preference for commentary to content and obvious ones like when a former employee of Robin tearfully reveals that he caved to market conditions and in doing so squashed his dream of opening a pub. Despite not being in the vein of Left Behind, Willy's Wonderland, etc., the movie still has its share of oddities. For instance, Robin spends most of the movie unwashed, wounded; in short, not looking like he'd be let into some of the establishments he searches, but there are more good oddities than awkward to bad ones. Besides, would it be a Nicolas Cage movie without any? It ends up being a subtle gem of a movie that is bound to make you think about what you would put everything aside to pursue. Luckily, Nicolas Cage still has it in him to be in movies that ask such questions.
This is a very good movie that, if anything, deserves credit for using a simple story - a hermit, truffle hunter and former master chef (Cage), Robin, searches for his lost pig - to reflect the state of late '10s/early '20s life. I like seeing Nicolas Cage in crazy mode as much as the next fan of his, but I'm glad that his preference for such projects lately hasn't affected his interest in being in or ability to perform in movies like this one. He's totally convincing as a man out of time and one for whom the companionship of his pet is all that gives him a reason to get up in the morning. Equally impressive is Alex Wolff as Amir, Robin's buyer and less than willing companion in his search, who makes their relationship recall Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman's in Rain Man. While whodunit lovers may be let down since the mystery of what happened to Robin's pig isn't really one, they'll surely get something out of how expertly gradual Robin's search reveals what kind of person he is, who he used to be and what he thinks about modern life. As for the look and feel of the movie, it has a precision and attention to detail reminiscent of the classiest restaurant brochure or supply catalogue you can imagine that deserves just as much credit for making these reveals. With all that said, just what's to be found in this pig hunt? I think it's in what motivates Robin to find her, which is something that some have blocked, some have forgotten about or, unfortunately, that others have no idea about. What's more, the movie shows how all the above can happen. It does this in subtle ways such as how the classical music podcast Amir listens to reveals an increasing preference for commentary to content and obvious ones like when a former employee of Robin tearfully reveals that he caved to market conditions and in doing so squashed his dream of opening a pub. Despite not being in the vein of Left Behind, Willy's Wonderland, etc., the movie still has its share of oddities. For instance, Robin spends most of the movie unwashed, wounded; in short, not looking like he'd be let into some of the establishments he searches, but there are more good oddities than awkward to bad ones. Besides, would it be a Nicolas Cage movie without any? It ends up being a subtle gem of a movie that is bound to make you think about what you would put everything aside to pursue. Luckily, Nicolas Cage still has it in him to be in movies that ask such questions.