Movie Review: Pig

10/10

A tour de force performance by Nicolas Cage and a contemplative narrative about loss, love, friendship, and materialism in modern society.

Pig is the first 2021 film I watched that left a strong imprint on my mind afterwards. The remarkable debut film by writer/director Michael Sarnoski tells the story of Rob Feld, an outsider living in what seems like self-imposed exile in the wilderness outside Portland with his pet trotter pig. He gets mugged and his pig gets stolen, and he embarks on a quest into the city to find her.

The story reveals Feld’s backstory layer by layer, and as we follow him we learn that he was once a renowned chef; we also learn of a loss that sent him away from the city. Actor Nicolas Cage is the perfect choice for Feld. Cage, an enigmatic actor whose career has spanned the full spectrum of artistic quality, delivers a masterpiece here. He is utterly believable, and our heart breaks with his through the course of this story.

Also impressive is actor Alex Wolff as Amir, the closest thing Feld has to a friend on his quest into the city. Amir needs the trotter pig for his own aspiring entrepreneurial endeavors. A genuine and believable friendship develops between the two of them.

Slow and deliberate in pace, the film is more meditative than a typical thriller that one might expect from such a narrative. Instead the film lets its themes shine over any action set pieces, with subjects including the contrast of nature and civilization, the things we give up in our quest for materialism, love, and loss.

The Pacific Northwest has a stunning and majestic natural landscape and the cinematography deftly captures its beauty.

This is a film that will sit in my mind for a long time. For me, it’s 2021’s best surprise.