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Pig (2021 film)

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Pig
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMichael Sarnoski
Written byMichael Sarnoski
Story by
Produced by
  • David Carrico
  • Adam Paulsen
  • Nicolas Cage
  • Steve Tisch
  • Vanessa Block
  • Dimitra Tsingou
  • Thomas Benski
  • Ben Giladi
  • Dori A. Rath
  • Joseph Restaino
Starring
CinematographyPatrick Scola
Edited byBrett W. Bachman
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed byNeon
Release date
  • July 16, 2021 (2021-07-16)
Running time
92 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3 million[2]
Box office$3.9 million[3]

Pig is a 2021 American drama film written and directed by Michael Sarnoski (in his feature directorial debut), from a story by Vanessa Block and Sarnoski. The film stars Nicolas Cage as a truffle-hunter who lives alone in the Oregon wilderness and must return to his past in Portland in search of his beloved foraging pig after she is kidnapped. It also stars Alex Wolff and Adam Arkin.[4]

Pig was theatrically released in the United States on July 16, 2021, by Neon. Critics praised its screenplay and Cage's performance. It won the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay and earned Cage a second nomination for the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actor.

Plot

[edit]

Robin "Rob" Feld is a reclusive truffle-forager who was once a renowned Portland chef. Living in a cabin deep in the Oregon forests, he hunts for truffles with the help of his prized foraging pig. Rob sells the truffles exclusively to Amir, a young and inexperienced supplier of luxury ingredients to high-end restaurants.

One night, Rob is attacked by unidentified assailants as they steal his pig. He contacts Amir, who helps him locate a pair of bedraggled drug addicts suspected by another local truffle-hunter. They claim the pig was taken to Portland.

After his old friend Edgar refuses to help, Rob leads Amir to an underground fighting ring for restaurant people below the defunct Portland Hotel, saying certain names carry cachet. Rob identifies himself to the crowd, then allows himself to be beaten to a pulp by a waiter in exchange for Edgar's information.

Shocked to learn his identity, the following morning Amir reveals that his parents had such a miserable marriage that the only happy time he remembers is a night when they had dinner at Rob's restaurant, before his mother died by suicide. Rob asks Amir to secure reservations at Eurydice, a trendy haute cuisine restaurant Amir's father does business with. Rob visits the house he used to live in with his wife Lori, whose death compelled Rob to withdraw to the woods.

At Eurydice, Rob asks to meet with its head chef, Derek, a former prep cook at Rob's restaurant. Rob pointedly yet empathetically criticizes Derek for opening a contemporary restaurant rather than the pub he always wanted to run. Overwhelmed by the memory of his dream and the reality of his current circumstances, Derek confesses that Amir's wealthy father, Darius, was behind the theft of Rob's pig, having learned of its existence from Amir. Rob angrily ends his partnership with Amir before going to confront Darius at his home. Darius offers Rob $25,000 in exchange for the pig and threatens to kill it if Rob continues his pursuit.

Rob leaves, finding Amir waiting outside, having just left his comatose mother in a care facility, revealing she is still alive. Rob admits he does not need his pig to hunt truffles, because the trees tell him where they are; he wants to find her simply because he loves her. He gives Amir a list of items and tells him to use Rob's name to obtain them.

Rob visits his former baker for a salted baguette and a few pastries he shares with Amir before they go back to Darius's house. Rob guides Amir as they prepare the same meal for Darius that Rob served to him and his wife, including a rare wine from Rob's personal collection, which Amir obtained from the woman caring for the mausoleum containing Lori's ashes.

All three men sit down to eat together, despite Darius's resistance. An emotional Darius leaves the table after just a few tastes. When Rob follows and confronts him, Darius asks why he is doing this, and Rob says he remembers every meal he ever cooked and every person he ever served. Darius tearfully confesses that the junkies he hired for the theft mishandled the pig, resulting in her death. Rob collapses in tears, and a remorseful Amir drives him back to a diner near Rob's home in the forest. Despite Amir's foolishness, Rob says he will see him next Thursday.

Returning to his forest, Rob washes his bloody face in the lake, before returning to his cabin to play a tape Lori recorded of herself singing Bruce Springsteen's "I'm on Fire" to him for his birthday.

Cast

[edit]
  • Nicolas Cage as Robin "Rob" Feld
  • Brandy The Pig as The Pig
  • Alex Wolff as Amir
  • Adam Arkin as Darius
  • Nina Belforte as Charlotte
  • Gretchen Corbett as Mac
  • David Knell as Chef Derek Finway
  • Beth Harper as Donna/Diner Waitress
  • Darius Pierce as Edgar
  • Cassandra Violet as Lorelai "Lori" Feld

Production

[edit]

In September 2019, it was announced Nicolas Cage and Alex Wolff had joined the cast of the film, with Michael Sarnoski directing from a screenplay he wrote.[5]

Principal photography began September 23, 2019,[6] in Portland, Oregon, lasting 20 days.[7][8][9]

Release

[edit]

In March 2020, Neon acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film.[10] Pig had a limited theatrical release in the United States on July 16, 2021, followed by screenings in the UK and Republic of Ireland on August 20, 2021.[11][12]

Reception

[edit]

Box office

[edit]

The film grossed $945,000 in 552 theaters in its first opening weekend.[13] It additionally grossed $565,000 in its second weekend.[14]

Critical response

[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 97% of 268 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.2/10. The site's critics consensus reads, "Like the animal itself, Pig defies the hogwash of expectations with a beautiful odyssey of loss and love anchored by Nicolas Cage's affectingly raw performance."[15] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 82 out of 100, based on 39 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[16]

Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film a score of four out of four stars, writing: "The unpredictable Cage delivers some of his best work in years."[17] Bilge Ebiri of Vulture gave the film a positive review and stated, "As it proceeds, it expands its vision and compassion, even as it de-escalates the tension. It's not about the thing it's about, except that it ultimately is totally about the thing it's about."[18] Richard Whittaker of The Austin Chronicle gave the film four-and-a-half out of five stars and stated, "At a time when so many people are struggling to find something of value in their lives, when people are fleeing jobs, cities, futures they thought they wanted, Cage has crafted a quiet soliloquy about grasping onto something that has meaning."[19]

Thelma Adams of AARP Movies for Grownups gave the film four out of five stars and stated, "Playing oddly against expectations, there's no Cage Rage, no showy violence or operatic monologues, just a simple, moving story of a broken man who lost his pig but, perhaps, has found his way."[20] Johnny Oleksinski of The New York Post gave the film three out of four stars, calling it "[an] undeniably odd, but surprisingly touching drama."[21]

Karen Han of Slate gave the film a positive review and stated, "Pig is a small film with a few big surprises executed very well, and well worth going into as blind as possible."[22] Mike D'Angelo of The A.V. Club gave the film a grade of "A", writing that "There are no plot twists, in the traditional sense, but each successive encounter reveals a new facet that enriches the tale."[23] Carlos Aguilar of TheWrap gave the film a positive review, writing, "Not all the ingredients make sense together, but the product of their intermingling inside the filmmaker's narrative plot render a special concoction."[24] Noel Murray, in his review of the film for the Los Angeles Times, wrote that, "Though its plot follows the same rough outline of a John Wick-style shoot-em-up, Pig is actually a quiet and often melancholy meditation on loss, anchored by a character who wishes he could shake free of the person he used to be."[25]

Kristy Puchko, in her review of the film for Pajiba, wrote: "Pig is not only a mesmerizing while meditative drama about love and loss. It is also a powerful reminder that Cage is one of the most talented, most captivating movie stars of our time."[26] Cody Corrall of the Chicago Reader gave the film a positive review and stated, "Even through its various webs of tragedy, relentless ambition, and destruction for capital gain—Pig remarkably and overwhelmingly champions care and kindness."[27] Randy Myers of The Mercury News gave the film three-and-a-half out of four stars and stated, "It is Cage who carries Pig with a measured performance in which his trademark outbursts pierce the soul. He's magnificent."[28]

Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times gave the film a positive review, writing that, "While Pig can at times feel engulfed by its own sullenness, there's a rigor to the filmmaking and a surreal beauty to Pat Scola's images that seal our investment in Robin's fate."[29] Matt Zoller Seitz of RogerEbert.com gave the film four out of four stars, and wrote: "What a beguiling, confounding film Pig is. From start to finish, it never moves as you might expect it to."[30] Michael O'Sullivan of The Washington Post also gave the film four out of four stars, writing that "Pig's stock in trade is a kind of visual and narrative poetry, and Sarnoski and Block ply it with the skill and light touch of master chefs."[31] The Guardian's Benjamin Lee gave the film three out of five stars and stated, "It... hints at exciting things to come from Sarnoski, a gifted visual filmmaker, who has assembled a promising, if imperfect, debut."[32]

Sheri Linden of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a positive review, writing: "Whatever the screenplay's stumbles, Cage's contained performance embraces his character's losses and his turning away from the world without the slightest play for sympathy."[33] Chuck Bowen of Slant Magazine gave the film three out of four stars and stated, "Nicolas Cage, in full martyr mode here, seems to get off on the perversity of, well, caging his brand of operatic hysteria."[34] Michael Nordine of Variety gave the film a positive review, concluding that, "As a descent into the apparently high-stakes world of truffle-pig-poaching, Pig is unexpectedly touching; as a showcase for Cage's brilliance, it's a revelation."[35] Lauren Milici of Total Film praised the film, writing: "Blood and weapons aside, the film is a moving meditation on grief and loss, and how sometimes the only way to move on is to return to the place that broke us in the first place."[36]

Ethan Brehm of Spoiler magazine named it the best film of the year.[37]

Cage has stated that Pig is his favorite film that he has starred in to date, and considers it his best performance.[38]

Gary M. Kramer, in a negative review of the film for Salon.com, wrote that "Pig doesn't give viewers much to care about, other than perhaps the title character. Sarnoski's film is undercooked."[39]

Retrospective lists

[edit]

The film has been cited among the best drama films of the 2020s by Collider and the best independent films of the 21st century by IndieWire.[40][41] Collider ranked the film at number 12 on its list of "The 20 Best Drama Movies of the 2020s So Far", writing that the film "showed the world why Cage had become such an icon in the first place; he narrowed his focus and gave one of the most moving performances of his career as the former chef Rob."[40]

Accolades

[edit]
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Austin Film Critics Association January 11, 2022 Top Ten Films Pig Won [42]
Best Film Pig Nominated
Best Actor Nicolas Cage Won
Best Original Screenplay Vanessa Block and Michael Sarnoski Won
Best First Film Michael Sarnoski Won
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards December 15, 2021 Best Actor Nicolas Cage Nominated [43]
Best Original Screenplay Michael Sarnoski Nominated
Milos Stehlik Breakthrough Filmmaker Award Michael Sarnoski Won
Coronado Island Film Festival — Best Narrative Audience Award Pig Won [44]
Critics' Choice Movie Awards March 13, 2022 Best Actor Nicolas Cage Nominated [45]
Detroit Film Critics Society Awards December 6, 2021 Best Actor Nicolas Cage Nominated [46]
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards December 22, 2021 Best Actor Nicolas Cage Nominated [47]
Best First Feature Pig Won
Georgia Film Critics Association Awards January 14, 2022 Best Actor Nicolas Cage Won [48]
Golden Raspberry Awards March 26, 2022 Razzie Redeemer Award Nicolas Cage Nominated
Gotham Independent Film Awards November 29, 2021 Best Feature Pig Nominated [49]
Independent Spirit Awards March 6, 2022 Best First Screenplay Vanessa Block and Michael Sarnoski Won [50][51][52]
National Board of Review Awards December 2, 2021 Best Directorial Debut Michael Sarnoski Won [53][54]
Online Film Critics Society January 24, 2022 Best Picture Pig Nominated [55]
Best Actor Nicolas Cage Nominated
Best Debut Feature Michael Sarnoski Nominated
Best Original Screenplay Vanessa Block and Michael Sarnoski Won
San Diego Film Critics Society January 10, 2022 Best Actor Nicolas Cage Won [56]
Best Original Screenplay Michael Sarnoski Nominated
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle January 10, 2022 Best Actor Nicolas Cage Nominated [57]
Saturn Awards October 25, 2022 Best Thriller Film Pig Nominated [58]
Seattle Film Critics Society Awards January 17, 2022 Best Picture Pig Nominated [59]
Best Actor Nicolas Cage Won
Best Screenplay Michael Sarnoski Nominated
St. Louis Film Critics Association December 19, 2021 Best Actor Nicolas Cage Won [60]
Best Original Screenplay Michael Sarnoski and Vanessa Block Nominated
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association December 6, 2021 Best Actor Nicolas Cage Nominated [61]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Pig". Neon. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  2. ^ Kit, Borys (October 25, 2022). "How 'Pig' Became Nicolas Cage's Cash Cow". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  3. ^ "Pig (2021)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  4. ^ Verma, Shikhar (May 19, 2022). "Pig Movie Explained: Who took away Rob's Pig? Is it alive?". High on Films.
  5. ^ Clarke, Stewart (September 23, 2019). "Nicolas Cage, Alex Wolff to Star in Pulse Films' Truffle Hunter Movie 'Pig'". Variety. Archived from the original on February 29, 2020.
  6. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 23, 2019). "Nicolas Cage & Alex Wolff Team For Truffle Hunter Pic 'Pig'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 29, 2020.
  7. ^ Reed, Connor (October 2, 2019). "Nicolas Cage Is Looking for His Pig in Portland". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on February 29, 2020.
  8. ^ Hanson, Nate (October 11, 2019). "Nick meets Nic: Portland Commissioner Nick Fish posts photo with Nicolas Cage on set of 'Pig'". KGW. Portland, Oregon. Archived from the original on February 29, 2020.
  9. ^ Canavan, Hillary Dixler (July 14, 2021). "Nicolas Cage Brings Home the Rave-Review Bacon in 'Pig'". Eater. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  10. ^ Donnelly, Matt (March 26, 2020). "Neon Wins Domestic Rights to Nicolas Cage Revenge Thriller 'Pig' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  11. ^ Romano, Nick (June 17, 2021). "Nicolas Cage is John Wick but with a Pig in new trailer for truffle-hunter thriller". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  12. ^ Fogarty, Paul (July 13, 2021). "Where to Watch Pig: Is the Nicolas Cage Movie on Netflix, HBO Max or in Theatres?". HITC. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  13. ^ "WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: Space Jam: A New Legacy ($31.65M) Soars Past Black Widow ($26.3M) to Score No. 1 Finish; Escape Room: Tournament of Champions ($8.8M) Debuts in 3rd Place". Box Office Pro. July 18, 2021.
  14. ^ "WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: Old Opens at No. 1 w/ Strong $16.5M, Snake Eyes Comes in 2nd w/ $13.35M". Box Office Pro. July 25, 2021.
  15. ^ "Pig". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  16. ^ "Pig". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  17. ^ Roeper, Richard (July 14, 2021). "'Pig': Nicolas Cage skips the hamminess in an elegant story of pain and purpose". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  18. ^ Ebiri, Bilge (July 16, 2021). "See Pig and Tremble Before Your Own Mortality". Vulture. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  19. ^ "Movie Review: Pig". The Austin Chronicle. July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  20. ^ Appelo, Tim (October 6, 2022). "Best Movies to Watch in Theaters or on Streaming This Week". AARP. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  21. ^ Oleksinski, Johnny (July 15, 2021). "Nicolas Cage is wonderfully weird in 'Pig,' an oddly touching truffle drama". New York Post. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  22. ^ Han, Karen (July 15, 2021). "Nic Cage's Pig Is So Much Better Than John Wick With a Kidnapped Hog". Slate. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  23. ^ D'Angelo, Mike (July 13, 2021). "Pig is so much richer than the Nic Cage revenge thriller it appears to be". The A.V. Club. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  24. ^ Aguilar, Carlos (July 15, 2021). "'Pig' Film Review: Nicolas Cage Cooks Up One of His Finest Performances in Gourmet Vengeance Tale". TheWrap. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  25. ^ Murray, Noel (July 15, 2021). "Review: The Nicolas Cage drama 'Pig' is an unusually beautiful meditation on loss". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  26. ^ Puchko, Kristy (July 15, 2021). "Review: Nicolas Cage's 'Pig' Is Not A 'John Wick' Ripoff; It's Better". Pajiba. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  27. ^ Corrall, Cody (July 15, 2021). "Pig". Chicago Reader. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  28. ^ "New movies: 'Summertime' shines from beginning to end". The Mercury News. July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  29. ^ Catsoulis, Jeannette (July 15, 2021). "'Pig' Review: Come Back, Trotter". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  30. ^ Seitz, Matt Zoller (July 13, 2021). "Pig movie review & film summary (2021) | Roger Ebert". rogerebert.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  31. ^ O'Sullivan, Michael (July 13, 2021). "Review | Nic Cage is looking for a stolen pig in 'Pig,' a film of — wait for it — enormous beauty and depth". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  32. ^ "Pig review – Nicolas Cage hunts for a stolen animal in meditative drama". The Guardian. July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  33. ^ Linden, Sheri (July 12, 2021). "Nicolas Cage in 'Pig': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  34. ^ Bowen, Chuck (July 12, 2021). "Review: Pig Evocatively Cages a Great Actor's Brand of Operatic Hysteria". Slant Magazine. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  35. ^ Nordine, Michael (July 12, 2021). "'Pig' Review: Nicolas Cage Is at His Melancholic Best in This Strange, Sad Porcine Drama". Variety. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  36. ^ Milici, Lauren (April 22, 2022). "The 10 best Nicolas Cage movies, ranked! From Kick-Ass to Con Air". gamesradar.com. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  37. ^ Brehm, Ethan (January 2022). "Spoiler Magazine's Top 10 Movies of 2021". Spoiler. p. 40. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  38. ^ "Nicolas Cage Answers the Web's Most Searched Questions | WIRED - YouTube". YouTube.
  39. ^ "Nicolas Cage's revenge thriller "Pig" is more about loss than bringing home the bacon". Salon. July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  40. ^ a b Gaughan, Liam (September 29, 2023). "The 10 Best Drama Movies of the 2020s So Far, Ranked". Collider. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  41. ^ Foreman, Alison; Erbland, Kate (January 3, 2024). "The Best American Independent Films of the 21st Century". IndieWire. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  42. ^ Partridge, Jon (January 11, 2022). "The 2021 Austin Film Critics Association Award Winners". austinfilmcritics.org. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  43. ^ "The Power of the Dog Leads Chicago Film Critics Association 2021 Awards, Wins Seven Honors". Chicago Film Critics Association. December 15, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  44. ^ "Jury | Coronado Island Film Festival". Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  45. ^ Pedersen, Erik; Cordero, Rosy; Topel, Fred (March 13, 2022). "Critics Choice Awards: 'The Power Of The Dog' Wins Best Picture & Jane Campion Is Best Director; 'Ted Lasso' & 'Succession' Top TV – Full List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  46. ^ Pettis, Caillou (December 6, 2021). "2021 Detroit Film Critics Society Award Winners". Awards Radar. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  47. ^ "2021 FFCC Award Winners". Florida Film Critics Circle. December 22, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  48. ^ "2021 Awards". Georgia Film Critics Association. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  49. ^ Sharf, Zack (October 21, 2021). "Gotham Awards 2021 Nominations: 'Pig,' 'Green Knight,' 'Passing' Compete for Best Feature". IndieWire. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  50. ^ Long, Brent; Tangcay, Jazz (December 14, 2021). "Indie Spirit Awards 2022 Nominations (Updating Live)". Variety. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  51. ^ Lang, Brent; Earl, William; Chapman, Wilson (March 6, 2022). "Spirit Awards 2022 Winners: 'The Lost Daughter,' 'Reservation Dogs' Score in Diversity-Focused Ceremony". Variety. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  52. ^ Patten, Dominic; D'Alessandro, Anthony; Topel, Fred (March 6, 2022). "Film Independent Spirit Awards: 'The Lost Daughter' Takes Home Best Feature As Netflix Reigns With Six Wins". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  53. ^ Sharf, Zack (December 2, 2021). "National Board of Review Winners 2021: 'Licorice Pizza' Takes Best Picture and Best Director".
  54. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 2, 2021). "National Board Of Review Names Paul Thomas Anderson & His 'Licorice Pizza' As Best Director & Film".
  55. ^ Gray, Richard (January 25, 2022). "OFCS: Online Film Critics Society announces 25th Annual Film Awards". The Reel Bits. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  56. ^ "2021 San Diego Film Critics Society Award Winners". San Diego Film Critics Society. January 10, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  57. ^ "SFBAFCC 2021 Awards". The San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  58. ^ Tinoco, Armando (August 12, 2022). "Saturn Awards Nominations: 'The Batman', 'Nightmare Alley', 'Spider-Man', 'Better Call Saul' Top List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  59. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 17, 2022). "The 2021 Seattle Film Critics Society (SFCS) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  60. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 19, 2021). "The 2021 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  61. ^ "Washington DC Critics: 'Belfast,' 'The Power of the Dog' lead nominations". AwardsWatch. December 4, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
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