Recently, Nicolas Cage proved once again that he has not lost touch with the unclassifiable ‘The unbearable weight of a great talent’in which the performer did not hesitate to laugh at himself with a proposal in which he proved to be able to defend multiple genres at the same time, having scenes of comedy, action, drama and thriller. Because distribution times are not the same as for festivalsthis clever parody directed by Tom Gormican arrived in Spanish cinemas before the project with which the former star of prestigious titles such as ‘Moon Spell’, ‘Wild Heart’ and Oscar winner for ‘Leaving Las Vegas’, showed one of the best performances not only of his recent filmography, but in general: ‘Pig’.
Winner of the Independent Spirit Awards for Best New Screenplay, the National Board of Review Awards for Best First Feature, and Critics’ Choice Award nominee for Best Male Performance, ‘Pig’ is a new demonstration that Cage, among his many B series projects, from time to time offers a proposal that reminds us that he continues to be an actor of the race. And, while this is not new in the interpreter’s most recent productions, this proposal is one of the most sublime.
Michael Sarnoski’s first film, the premise of ‘Pig’ deceives a priori. The film tells how Robin, a lonely man, who has been estranged from society, lives like a hermit and is dedicated to searching for truffles with his adorable pig looking for food. The only connection with the rest of the company is Amir, played by Alex Wolff, a young and inexperienced supplier of food for haute cuisine restaurants. The storyline will begin when A gang beats disheveled Robin and kidnaps his adorable sow, forcing the individual to leave his life as a penitent anchorite and work with Amir to find those responsible for the kidnapping.
The story seems like a raw proposition and, apparently, ideal for ridicule, as well as pure and simple action, as its protagonist is an angry man who will do anything to find his pet. But Sarnoski, who also wrote the script for a story he co-created with producer Vanessa Block, surprises with a thoughtful thriller., with a certain underground and noir touch closer to the contained violence of the suspense typical of Taylor Sheridan or Alberto Rodríguez than the impressive choreography of sagas like ‘John Wick’ or directors like Tim Miller. Also, who expects to find such a proposal, ‘Pig’ is not his movie.
An extraordinary Nicolas Cage
Sarnoski uses the conventions of suspense to create an unusual setting. The kidnapping of the little pig shows an underground world linked to haute cuisine and the gourmet client, a sector that no one would have related to street fights or settling of scores. The director takes advantage of this to create a sort of fable of redemption and duel, in which his protagonists are forced to face their own demons. Because of this, Sarnoski accurately doses the information of each character, in such a way as to be able to create expectation in the audience.who will remain attentive to each revelation, which will show the reasons why Robin has decided to live away from the madding crowd.
And on that cathartic journey, it is an extraordinary Nicolas Cage, who gives himself body and soul. No one would have thought that the actor would offer one of the best works of him in his more than four decades of career. Icon of the 90s with ‘Red Rock West’, ‘The Rock’, ‘Con Air’, ‘Face to Face’, ‘Snake Eyes’ or ‘City of Angels’, the interpreter and member of the Coppola clan had some a full season of surprises, since ‘Pig’ succeeds in other critical triumphs such as ‘Joe’, ‘Mandy’, ‘Color Out of Space’ or ‘Prisoners of Ghostland’, the latter already become a cult film.
However, it is Sarnoski’s first feature film that is the roundest of all those mentioned, what shows that Cage, among many low-cost products (remember that he works tirelessly to avoid economic ruin, which is well known in Hollywood), he still has a lot to prove as an interpreter and that should not be underestimated, given his seniority, as happens with other professional colleagues such as Liam Neeson or Robert De Niro, who, despite having put together several projects vilified by critics, are still able to prove they are still able to dare with risky proposals.
‘Pig’ is also a demonstration that American independent cinema continues to be risky and it is that gap capable of offering something other than an industry devoured by film sagas and multiverses, especially in an awards season that coincided with great titles such as’ Red Rocket ‘,’ The Dark Daughter ‘or’ C’mon C ‘Mon. Always ahead’. A solid debut featuring Sarnoski, who will direct the third installment of the horror saga ‘A Quiet Place’in which it will show if you have material for prestige blockbusters.
Note: 8
The best: Its atmosphere of restrained violence heightens the sense of expectation. A sublime Nicolas Cage.
Worse: Its finish leaves a too bitter aftertaste for what it should be cathartic.
Source: E Cartelera
