Seeing the initial trailer, the latest Nicolas Cage film Pig looks like it’s going to be a John Wick revenge thriller, with a pet pig replacing a pet dog. However, Michael Sarnoski’s directorial debut is a nuanced, beautiful film about loss and identity. It is less a tale about one’s man’s quest for vengeance and more a tale of a man’s quest to rediscover himself.
Cage plays Robin Feld, a former Portland, Oregon-based chef who has fled society to live a simple life in the wilderness. He hunts truffles with his beloved pig, and lives in a remote cabin. He works with Amir (Alex Wolff), who makes weekly visits to pick up the truffles Robin finds. It’s a simple life. Cage as Feld is basically what would happen if Guy Fieri quit life and went full transcendental Walden on everyone.
And then someone steals his pig, kicking off the action. It’s not so much a revenge thriller as it is a poetic exercise in self-reflection and desire. There are flashes of the John Wick influence, most notably in a bizarre Fight Club-esque scene involving restaurant workers. It’s a bit confusing given the rest of the film’s tone, but considering it is Sarnoski’s debut, it is forgivable. Amir and Feld travel through the underworld of Portland, looking for the beloved pig.
There are several scenes that are unbelievable, including an encounter Feld has with a former chef (that Feld fired) where the tension and unease is palpable. There is no climactic fight scene but there is a climactic dinner scene. The film transcends a mere search for a beloved pig, becoming an odyssey for meaning and connection. Cage is at his best here, and it is not hyperbolic to say that his performance is deserving of an Oscar nomination. Wolff also holds his own here, but Cage’s performance is unparalleled.
Pig is a stunning debut from Michael Sarnoski. It shows true creative vision and humanity and is an unforgettable cinematic experience. Highly recommended, Audience H, C.