Pig: A Vingança

This is a film about loss and grief on many levels. In fact each of the main characters are hurting big time in one way or another and they are all drawn together because of a (totally gorgeous) pig. Whilst only being on screen for such a short time the pig causes events in peoples lives that are monumental. This is such a clever story, beautifully filmed, edited, scored, directed and acted by everyone.

He's looking for his truffle pig, and it's nick cage. That's enough for me.

While i'm certainly not on the 'Pig is a masterpiece' bandwagon, this is still an oddly engaging low key indie-flick with decent cinematography, sharp editing and an aptly atmospheric score, further boosted by the brilliance of Cage and a solid supporting cast, including the wonderful truffle pig itself!

However, it's a slow moving ditty that never really takes off and i was somewhat disappointed with the undercooked finale. It also has to be noted that our disheveled hero goes through the entire movie filthy dirty, bloodsoaked and battered in many public places without nary a raised eyebrow, which stretches all boundaries of credibility... and i'm not talking about the pig here!

Regardless of its faults, this sombre thought=provoking tale of love, loss and loneliness is worth a watch if you want to check out something fresh and quirky, and it's certainly good to see the enigmatic Nic Cage putting in a such solid turn again in between his many recent howlers (take note Neeson, Madsen and Willis). Bon appetite. Oink oink.

Pig follows a truffle hunter named Rob who lives alone in the wilderness of Oregon with his beloved foraging pig. One day, his pig is stolen, and he sets out on a mission to find her, revealing a hidden past and putting him in touch with his estranged former life in the process.

This movie is not your typical Hollywood production. Instead, it's a slow-burning character study that explores themes of loss, grief, and redemption. Nicolas Cage delivers a subdued, nuanced performance, showing a depth and range that remind us of his acting abilities beyond his typically over-the-top roles. He portrays Rob as a man who has suffered a great deal, but who has not lost his humanity, compassion, or love for his pig.

The cinematography is stunning, capturing the beauty of the Pacific Northwest wilderness, and the soundtrack is haunting and atmospheric, adding to the film's melancholic and introspective mood. The supporting cast also delivers strong performances, particularly Alex Wolff as Amir, a young and ambitious chef who becomes entangled in Rob's quest.

"Pig" is a quiet and contemplative film that rewards patient viewers with a moving and profound experience. It's not a film for everyone, but for those willing to engage with its themes and characters, it's a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant work of art.

I'm not sure what I expected but what I got surprised me. I like Nic Cage but I don't always like the choices he makes. This role is a good one. He is a wilderness man in Oregon, the state with the best hunting for truffles. He lives in a very rustic cabin, gets supplied delivered weekly, in exchange he provides top quality truffles. We see him early making a rustic mushroom tart, we get a sense of what his former career might have been.

The incident happens very early in the movie, at the 11 minute mark, when in the dead of night men break in, knock him unconscious, and steal his prize pig. The rest of the movie is his efforts to find his pig and get it back. More because of his attachment to the pig, not so much for his truffle hunting.

The overall theme is dealing with loss and grief, and not only one person or one loss. It is not a superficial story that one can pay scant attention to. Cage is really good in the role, as a former top chef who dropped out of the mainstream.

On DVD from my public library. My wife skipped.