'Pig' film review: Somber Nicolas Cage shines in soulful, elegant & strange pig-napping drama

The melancholic Nicolas Cage dramatic thriller 'Pig' (opening in theaters July 16) is a truly unexpected rumination of love and loss.

In short: Truffle hunter Rob (Cage) leaves his isolated Oregon cabin and returns to his past in Portland in search of his beloved foraging pig after she is kidnapped. Alex Wolff and Adam Arkin also star.

The deceptive simplicity of 'Pig' belies its soulful depth, rejection of hollow pursuits and earnest reconciliation of loss and mourning. From the very outset, Rob could easily be mistaken for a homeless man. His hair is greasy and Amir (Wolff) notes Rob's apparent lack of hygiene. As the film progresses, Rob is covered in increasing amounts of sweat and blood. Yet the script patiently reveals Rob's rich past defies his unkempt outward appearance. Rob isn't merely looking for some pig that helps him find precious truffles - Rob admits he loves the pig, like any dog owner loves their canine. He is a man who has eschewed every excess in his life, content to live a simple life, with his beloved pig at his side. And rather than simply burn everything down in his path on some silly revenge quest, Rob is quietly philosophical and keenly insightful into the lack of passion he sees in the world he escaped.

Rob is the definitive hermit - a man seemingly incompatible with any type of civilization. His only human contact is with his finely dressed, classical music loving truffle buyer Amir, whose attempts at condescending conversation are totally one-sided - barely acknowledged by Rob or his pig. The unlikely pairing of the brusque Rob and his reluctant chauffeur Amir is entertaining odd couple vibe - with Rob seemingly totally out-of-place in the restaurant scene that is all-too-familiar to Amir. But slowly, the film reveals Rob isn't totally out of his element - he’s simply been away from it for a very long time.

The basic concept of a guy looking for a kidnapped pig simply wouldn't work at all, on any level, without this film's patient and quiet opening 10 minutes. This nearly wordless introduction to Rob's quiet and simple life with his adoring pig is the essential foundation for Rob's winding return from seclusion. He exists with the bare minimum. His only obvious relationship is with his pig - while the script hints at a past relationship that pangs Rob. And it's honestly adorable to watch the little animal dutifully accompany Rob around the forest.

There's a bizarre similarity between 'Pig' and ... of all movies, 'John Wick.' Both protagonists are laser-focused on their mission - totally unyielding in the pursuit of tracking down their target. The criminal underworld quivered in fear just hearing the Baba Yaga's name - merely mentioning Rob's name opens every door in Portland's fine dining scene. Rob isn't some secret commando or sitting on a secret cache - his only asset is his name. And at their cores, both protagonists have loved and lost - when the sudden loss of a pet upends their lives, throwing them back in the worlds they abandoned. Yes, ‘John Wick’ is viscerally satisfying in a purely bombastic sense, whereas ‘Pig’ is a thoughtful, emotionally satisfying personal journey.

The cornerstone of 'Pig' is Cage's disarmingly restrained and melancholic performance. Rob is always decisive and focused in his swine manhunt - yet there's an ever-present sadness in his voice. This allows 'Pig' to take some truly surprising turns - as the expectation is for Rob to just lay waste to anyone and everyone standing between him and his kidnapped pet. Yet, almost the exact opposite occurs. In almost every situation, Cage's performance exudes ... love. Rob implores those around him to pursue passions or smartly reminds them of what they loved. Cage radiates a sober wisdom - a somber insight that Rob has in his streamlined, solitary life in the woods. Yes, most of Cage's recent filmography justifies his nick name of Ridiculous Cage - but every few years he reemerges with a truly remarkable performance in a great, if odd, film.

Final verdict: 'Pig' is a soulful meditation on a life lived with love and the folly of existing without love - wrapped in a refreshingly strange plot and a resonant, unassuming lead performance.

Score: 4/5

'Pig' opens in select cities starting July 16. This dramatic thriller is rated R for language and some violence. The film has a runtime of 92 minutes.