[ad_1]
Nicolas Cage may be aiming for a (another) comeback of some sort with his latest film, “Pig”, but as far as he will be recognized for playing against the guy, this film is woefully poor.
Cage plays Rob (Robin) Feld, a once famous chef now living in the woods of Oregon on a truffle hunt with his beloved pet pig. He provides his findings to Amir (Alex Wolf), a young city dweller from Portland who gives Rob a cell phone and a shower. The opening scenes of the film portray Rob as a lonely man with unkempt hair. Cage whispers his few lines of dialogue. (Don’t worry, he yells a bit later.) The actor, who’s been prone to some crazy, manic performances, is here more in “internal” mode, and it’s okay for him to take a project seriously. , or a serious project. He digs the earth and tastes its silty richness; it’s not Nicolas Cage eating a cockroach like he did in “Vampire’s Kiss” decades ago.
However, director Michael Sarnoski, who co-wrote this revenge thriller with Vanessa Block, does not maintain this Kelly Reichardt calm for very long. Less than 12 minutes later, Rob is attacked and his pig is stolen. (Props to the sound designer who captures the sticky character as Rob pokes his injured head out of a pool of frozen blood.) Rob may be hurt and angry, but he really wants his pig back. (Expect this to become the new / latest Nic Cage meme).
“Pig” is pretty much an easy parable of loss, as Rob and various characters he meets mostly come to recognize that they have lost what they love. Sarnoski’s film is not much deeper than the ground where prized truffles hide, which is disappointing.
Rob’s isolation from society is his way of dealing with loss. (See Robin Wright’s upper “Land” for a more poignant portrayal of grief.) As Cage tries to capture Rob’s unfinished desperation with his thoughtful performance, his efforts never quite stick to the landing. Rob is right when he needs to be humble and too determined to get revenge – hot or cold – to earn real sympathy. On the other hand, Amir is just a moron who feels obligated to his cash cow, and Wolf plays him as flashy and whiny. It’s always a relief when Amir is offscreen.
Rob’s journey brings him to Edgar (Darius Pierce) and an underground fight club where Rob gets pummeled. He asks Amir to guarantee him a reservation for lunch at an exclusive restaurant run by Finway (David Knell), who worked for Rob. With his saggy face and still sporting the unwashed look of Grizzly Adams, Rob is served “locally sourced emulsified scallops coated with frozen seawater on a bed of blueberry mousse bathed in pine cone smoke. Douglas “. He takes a bite and asks to see the chef. As they speak, Rob pierces Finway so easily that “Pig” forces viewers to suspend their disbelief. Even if Rob was once a demanding Michelin-starred chef who fired Finway for overcooking pasta, could he really shatter his now successful protégé with just one reality check of not opening the English pub that Finway dreamed of? Apparently yes.
The episode is as dubious as Rob’s subsequent exchange with Amir’s father, Darius (Alan Arkin). A powerful food supplier who may know where Rob’s precious pig is, Darius has the upper hand. But Darius always allows Rob to serve him a dinner that will trigger his emotions and sympathies. Why?
Even a scene where Rob meets a young boy, Bryce (Davis King), who lives in the house where Rob once did, scratches his head. They talk about a khaki removed. Yes, it’s about the loss, but it’s kinda scary that Bryce lets in this stranger who looks like a homeless man. (Where are his parents?) Better a scene where Rob visits a baker he once knew, and they share a quiet intimacy and mutual respect.
Alas, Sarnoski, who should have presented more scenes like this, often favors the obvious and not the ambiguity. Amir is defined by his flashy yellow Camaro, his fear and anger towards his father. Amir’s talk about the dinner Rob served that gave his parents what may have been their only happy moment is more disheartening than inspiring.
Perhaps the best way to read “Pig” is as a metaphor for Cage’s uneven career. Darius said to Rob, “I remember a time when your name meant something…. You have no value… You no longer exist.” Likewise, in his exchange with Darius, Rob is told, “You have had your moment. There is nothing here for you anymore.” If only these remarks were delivered with impact or emotion. Instead, they ring hollow. (Viewers can simply watch the comedy skit: Nicolas Cage’s Agent for this kind of post). Additionally, Rob sends a version of these lines back to Finway, telling him that his customers “can’t see him” and that he needs – and must give his customers – “something to worry about”.
“Pig” doesn’t give viewers much importance other than maybe the main character. Sarnoski’s film is undercooked.
“Pig” is in theaters July 16.
[ad_2]
Source link