From the Woods, a Man Sets Out to Rescue a Friend

Nicolas Cage in "Pig"
Photo Credit: RottenTomatoes.com

In his stunning directorial debut, Michael Sarnoski brings us his drama-thriller, “Pig.”  It’s the type of movie where the plot seems deceptively simple at first, but then takes you down some avenues you wouldn’t expect.  And, for Sarnoski to accomplish this on his first movie, it’ll have you excited for what he can do.

Robin Feld (Nicolas Cage) is a former chef from Portland who now resides in the Oregonian forests with his truffle-foraging pig.  When two people break into his cabin and steal his pig, Robin ventures back into the city to get it back.

The work that Cage exhibits is some of the best that he’s done in years.  He delivers a performance that’s beautifully subdued, but still allows him to have one of his “Nicolas Cage” moments from time to time.  We always see a fury brewing underneath, a fury that threatens to come out at any moment.  He does wonderful work in presenting a character who has found peace in his new life, but doesn’t hesitate to leave his surroundings to get his friend back, walking through the city streets with a Terminator-like unstoppability.  In the quieter moments, Cage has dialogue that offers some Robin’s insights of the world and culinary arts, offering us a deep and somewhat tragic view of who this character is.  The emotion and subtitles that Cage uses in this role make you remember the talent of which he’s capable, and it’s a performance that you’ll want to revisit.

Alex Wolff has a supporting role as Amir, a businessman who sells the truffles that Robin unearths.  While his character might seem like a one-dimensional jerk at first, there’s so much more to him that’s revealed as the movie goes on.  There are layers of heartbreak to Amir that Wolff portrays to poignant effect, creating an arc that surpasses your expectations and keeps you wondering how it will unfold in the backdrop of Robin’s quest.  Wolff handles a smooth transition to this part of his character, showing a humanity that breaks through the initial selfishness.

Adam Arkin shows up for a couple of scenes, offering an intimidating presence that keeps you on your guard as you wait to see what his initial meeting with Robin will mean of the remainder of the movie.

While the cinematography by Patrick Scola provides superb imagery of both the forest and the city, the shots of the former are what stand out the most.  Scola shows Robin’s home in the woods with the sunlight streaming through the trees, as well as the morning mist creeping through, and it’s in these shots where we experience the tranquility that Robin has while living in the woods and the life that he’s built for himself.

Sarnoski’s screenplay doesn’t waste any time getting started.  It spends the first 10 minutes establishing Robin’s lifestyle, and then goes right to the break-in at his cabin and him venturing to Portland.  The narrative brings us to an underground world of restaurateurs, giving us a fascinating view into the urban landscape that Robin and Amir must traverse.  Along the way, we meet several characters, each for a short period of time, but are given a clear view as to how they fit in with Robin’s past and present.  It’s an absorbing and mysterious world to which we’re transported, and Sarnoksi offers several layers to his story that has more depth than you would expect.

Sarnoski maintains a strong sense of foreboding throughout the movie, keeping us on edge not only as to what might befall Robin and Amir, but also how far Robin will go in order to get back his pig.  We’re always aware of the potential dangers that lurk within the city, having us feel that sharpness of the transition from the seclusion of Robin’s home to the busy streets of Portland.  In the middle of this, Sarnoksi includes a humorous tone from time to time as we watch the mismatched pairing of the disheveled Robin and the well-groomed Amir go from conflicting with each other to a sense of understanding.  The movie is several things: a dark buddy-comedy, a revenge thriller, a meditative drama, and even a humorous critique on overly trendy dining, and the film’s tonal shifts fit with the intriguing strangeness of the narrative.

For one of the best films of the year so far, “Pig” isn’t just a return to form for an established actor, but is also an announcement for a thrilling new voice in filmmaking.

Grade: A