19. Pig (2021)
Choosing to leave his former life behind, a well known chef, Rob (Nicolas Cage) lives in the Oregon wilderness with his beloved truffle pig. They hunt and gather truffle’s for an up and coming restaurant supplier, Amir (Alex Wolff).
One night Rob is assaulted and his pig is stolen. Rob leaves his cabin and returns to Portland with Amir to find his pig. Along the way we learn that Rob remembers every meal he has ever prepared and uses this skill (and a few others) to find his pig.
Pig, is a revenge movie. But not in the traditional sense. Rob’s journey is one of discovery, heartbreak and violence. Again, the violence is not over the top, it serves as a way for Rob to get information about his pig. Rob actually doesn’t inflict violence on anyone, he uses his knowledge and his memory to tap into something much more visceral.
Nicolas Cage is outstanding in the film. After having to endure his over the top antics in several movies last year it was really nice letting him just be an actor er, I mean a thespian. His performance is subtle and powerful, that anchors a well told story.
I went into this movie almost oblivious to what it was about. I knew how it was sold and it doesn’t come close to how the movie plays out. I have left my review purposely broad and not too specific because you should experience this movie with as little knowledge of the film as you can, it makes it that much more impactful.
Grade: A
Pig Video Quality
Pig arrives on blu-ray finding a solid, not overwhelming video presentation. The film overall has a somewhat depressing color palette which fits the film properly, however there are some instances where the grain becomes pixelated which can be distracting. Overall, a pleasant viewing experience.
Grade: B
Pig Audio Quality
Pig squeals its way onto high definition with an impressive 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix that brings the film to incredible life. The film relies heavily on dialogue, where some of the most heartbreaking moments occur, in quiet places, making the crystal clear words that much more important. One scene delivers a couple of blows that hit the mark.
Grade: A
Pig Bonus Features
Nicolas Cage Cooks: This is one of the coolest most interesting bonus features I have watched in a long time. Broken up in two parts, Nicolas Cage works with some really talented chefs to create two dishes. First is “Three-Mushroom Tart” with Chef Chris Czarnecki, the second is “Pigeon and Pommes Anna” with Chef Gabriel Rucker. What I loved about these mini docs, is that Cage is in the middle of production of the film and is learning how to make these dishes for the film. The cameras are in the kitchen with Cage and the Chefs pull no punches. They get after him when he doesn’t prepare the dish properly, and to Cage’s credit he embraces the challenge and asks questions. A seemingly fluffy bonus feature is a great one.
Deleted Scenes
Theatrical Trailer
Overall: B+
Pig is one of the most surprising and great films of 2021. Anchored by an incredible performance by Nicolas Cage, Pig should not be missed.
Overall: A-