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Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Netflix just added a remarkable mystery movie with Nicolas Cage — and it's already crashed the top 10
Nicolas Cage is one of the most exciting actors currently working in Hollywood. After a string of direct-to-DVD duds in the 2000s, he's enjoyed a career resurgence over the past decade, opting to pick some very interesting projects that showcase his immense talent and acting range. One such example is 2021's 'Pig,' a powerful mystery drama that sees Cage play a reclusive man kept company by his pet pig. But when unseen thieves take his pig in the dead of night, the man becomes obsessed with getting his sow back at just about any cost. Yes, it's a slightly strange premise for a movie. This unquestionably odd, but seriously impactful, movie recently landed on Netflix U.S., and it didn't take long to make an impression. 'Pig' has rocketed its way into the streaming service's top 10 list, currently ranked in the No. 4 spot ahead of Netflix original comedy 'Nonnas' and the divisive action-thriller 'Havoc.' Certainly not a bad result for this swine. If 'Nic Cage searches for his missing pig' isn't enough of a hook to sell you on streaming 'Pig' on the spot, and you need a little more convincing that this drama is worth your precious movie-watching time, here's the full scoop. Former big city chef, Rob (Nicolas Cage), now lives a simple life as a truffle-forager in the forests of Oregon. His only company, aside from the young supplier (Alex Wolff) who buys his produce every week, is his prized pig. The hog is basically his closest thing to family. Rob's peaceful existence is thrown into turmoil when unknown assailants steal his pig in the dead of night. What follows is an unfolding mystery as Rob desperately searches for his beloved animal. The hunt for answers forces him to return to the scene of his past and grapple with his trauma. But most of all, Rob wants his pig back, and over the course of the movie's trim 92-minute runtime, you'll see that the hermit is willing to go to pretty much any lengths to get it back. I'll admit when I first heard about 'Pig,' I expected a 'John Wick' style movie that would see Cage play a revenge-fueled figure on a rampage. The movie's frequent misclassification as a thriller didn't help on this front. Instead, what I got was something a lot more reflective. 'Pig' is a slowly unfolding mystery that sees Rob, with young supplier Amir (Wolff) dragged along for the ride, visit various spots around Portland hunting for any scraps of information about the missing pig. Each new place they visit doesn't just add a new puzzle piece to the mystery, but slowly peels back the curtain as viewers learn of Rob's traumatic past. The quest for the missing pig is compelling enough to drive you through the credits, but the real draw of the movie comes in its leading man. Nicolas Cage has put in some stunning performances in recent years, with 2023's 'Dream Scenario' a personal favorite of mine, but 'Pig' might just be his best work since his Oscar-winning turn in 1995's 'Leaving Las Vegas.' Yes, Cage is that darn good in 'Pig.' His character is a wounded soul, but also somebody who has found solace living off the grid. Free from the pitfalls of the big city, Rob lives a peaceful existence with his pig by his side. Right from the jump, Cage brings a textured quality to Rob, and as each new layer of his backstory is peeled back, the character only becomes richer. 'Pig' is slower paced than you might expect. I can't overstate enough that this isn't an adrenaline-pumping revenge movie, instead, it's a more reflective experience. However, the movie doesn't drag for a moment, because its lead character is so compelling and his slowly unfurling trauma is so impactful, and frankly, because you really will want to see him reunited with his pet pig. By the end, don't be surprised if you find yourself sobbing over this stolen sow. 'Pig' is one of those movies that aims to draw you in with its slightly silly premise, but underneath, it offers so much more than mere novelty. Beyond the intrigue of Nicolas Cage hunting down a missing pig, there's real soul to be found in this drama. You'll come for the kooky plot, but stay for the emotional pay-off. I'm certainly not the only one who has found a lot to appreciate about this pig either. 'Pig' holds a near-perfect 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes, which is enough to earn a 'Certified Fresh' seal of approval. Plus, its audience score is also pretty strong at 83%. However, some viewers were left a little bewildered by the movie's somber tone and slower pace. '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,' reads Rotten Tomatoes' 'Critics Consensus,' and I echo this assessment. 'Pig' offers a lot more than you might expect. I'm glad to see more people discovering this impactful flick now that it's arrived on Netflix, and while I suspect it won't be to every subscriber's taste, Cage's powerhouse performance is reason enough to give it a chance. But, prepare yourself for a ride that will put you through the emotional wringer. Looking for something a little less heavy to enjoy this week? Here's a roundup of the best movies leaving Netflix this month that you need to stream before they're removed from the platform's library. Watch "Pig" on Netflix now
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Movistar Plus+ Pledges Commitment To Independent Film After Domingo Corral's Shock Exit
EXCLUSIVE: There was an outpouring of emotion and concern when it was revealed that Domingo Corral, Director of Fiction & Entertainment at Spain's Movistar Plus+, was leaving the Spanish company, but the streamer's head of cinema has moved to assuage fears. Addressing the news, which sent shockwaves through the Spanish industry, Movistar Plus+'s Head of Original Films & Spanish Cinema, Guillermo Farré, told Deadline the powerful local player will stay the course when it comes to original film. More from Deadline Cannes Film Festival 2025: Read All Of Deadline's Movie Reviews Bi Gan's 'Resurrection' Hits Cannes With 7-Minute Ovation At World Premiere 'Resurrection' Review: Bi Gan's Dream Scenario Is The Perfect Cure For Insomnia - Cannes Film Festival 'The goal is clear, the direction of what Domingo started works on many different levels,' he said. 'It works in terms of the numbers that we have, and it's a clear model to create movies and series that resonate in a very crowded world.' After it emerged the long-serving Corral was unexpectedly leaving, an open letter, signed by almost 150 Spanish industry names such as heavyweights Pedro Almodóvar, Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz, thanked Corral and his team for championing high-end original film and TV. The signatories also asked for those efforts to continue and standards be maintained. Farré has now offered those assurances, while admitting the recent exec upheaval has been emotional for everyone. 'Domingo has created a culture in Movistar Plus+ with a project that has been amazing for many years,' he said. 'I'm heartbroken that this happened, but these things happen in big companies. I expect that it will take some time until the pieces of the puzzle adjust, but I'm very confident that the vision is clear; the projects are working, and there is a path to continue in that direction.' Amid the glitz and glamor of the Cote d'Azur, Movistar Plus+'s commitment to original film will be welcome news in Spain and beyond. In comments that will resonate with cineastes and industry folk alike, Farré also discussed the importance of theatrical as part of the Movistar Plus+ film strategy, and unpacked how it will continue to lean into filmmaker-driven fare with commercial appeal. The company also shared details of La Bola Negra at Cannes, the latest from red-hot duo Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi. Cannes Contender: Deadline was speaking to Farré in the packed lobby of Cannes' Gray d'Albion hotel a couple of days after Sirât has had its red-carpet moment a little further along the Croisette. Óliver Laxe's film was one of two Spanish titles in competition this year, alongside Carla Simón's Romería. It's a feather in the cap of the Telefónica-owned company and goes a long way to validate its investment in an auteur-driven slate that also includes Los Tigres from Alberto Rodríguez, Alauda Ruiz de Azúa's Los Domingos, and Cinco Minutos Más, starring and written by Berto Romero and helmed by Javier Ruiz Calder. Farré recalled that the signs were good after the Cannes festival team first screened Sirât. 'They couldn't tell us right away that it was in competition, but we had the sense that they understood the movie, they understood the proposal, and they liked the radicality of it,' he said. 'It's a movie that is going to generate a lot of passion in one way or another and they understood that. When we knew that the film was selected in competition, the first thing that I felt was a lot of pride for Óliver, his work, his commitment, and because he's made an amazing film.' Sirât follows a father (Sergi López) and his son, who arrive at a remote rave deep in the mountains of southern Morocco to look for Mar, daughter and sister, who has been missing for months. A Theatrical Strategy Movistar Plus+ original films are released in theaters and drop on the streamer four months later. The plan is to generate maximum impact before a title bows on the streamer, where it will compete for eyeballs with myriad other movies and series. Amid the never-ending debate about whether films should play in movie theaters before launching on streaming, Farré said that, for Movistar Plus+, a theatrical release is simply good business. 'I love the cinema experience myself, but this [strategy] is not for romantic reasons,' he added. 'We see the data. When a film performs in theaters, it has a direct effect on how it performs on Movistar Plus+. It's crystal clear that there is no cannibalization. It's the other way around. 'Maybe if we released 50 movies per year, we would have a different approach, but in our current approach, which is more boutique, the theatrical experience is the key thing that starts everything.' Accordingly, the streamer is working with a variety of sales agents: The Match Factory for Sirât, Film Factory for Los Tigres, and Goodfellas for El Ser Querido and La Bola Negra. 'We live in a moment where there are so many choices that the most likely scenario when you release a movie is that it gets lost in a sea of different options,' said Farré. 'We believe in strong voices, strong ideas and strong stories, but always hand-in-hand with the ambition to reach the public. We don't believe in niche stories, we believe in unique stories with personality that have the potential to reach a big audience.' These filters apply to what gets made, he added: 'We end up choosing directors and screenwriters that have a unique voice and can say something different.' Rodrigo Sorogoyen collaborations One of those unique voices is Rodrigo Sorogoyen. His film El Ser Querido, starring Javier Bardem and Vicky Luengo as a film director and his estranged actress daughter making a movie together, is another title on the steamer's 2025 slate. It builds on an existing relationship with the writer-director, Farré explained. 'He did Antidisturbios with us and then he made The New Years, and we wanted to be his home. Now he's doing El Ser Querido, and we are in the editing step of the of the process and it looks amazing. In every single project, he challenges himself and he challenges us, so it's a very fruitful relationship in the sense that he always wants to push forward. He doesn't rely on any previous formula and it's super exciting because that's exactly what we want.' Soon after the Sirât premiere, Movistar Plus+ announced details of La Bola Negra from Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, who also go by Los Javis. They are considered the hottest next-generation creatives in Spanish film and TV, and Farré said they are a generational talent. 'There is an overuse of this word, but they are visionaries,' he added. Speaking about their new project, he said: 'It's the most ambitious movie that we've done so far on many different levels, starting with the budget, but also because we are supporting two of the most important creative people in Spain right now.' Inspired by the life and work of poet and playwright Federico García Lorca, the film will unspool across three timelines, namely, modern-day Spain, and the country before and then during the Spanish Civil War. It stars singer-songwriter Guitarricadelafuente in his big-screen debut, alongside Penélope Cruz, Miguel Bernardeau and Lola Dueñas. 'It's about what it felt like to be rejected being a gay man in different moments during the history of Spain,' said Farré. 'It's a movie about identity, rejection, and the power of art and literature to change your life, all told with a unique and sensitive voice. It has a poetic side, but the way Los Javis write is very approachable. It's going to be a film that will be very easy to connect with.' In terms of a release schedule, Sirât will hit movie theaters in Spain soon after Cannes then Los Tigres launches in the fall. These will be followed by Los Domingos and El Ser Querido. Details of Movistar Plus+'s new film slate are expected in January and Farré signed off his chat with Deadline by offering some final words of reassurance amid the exec shuffles. As the industry calls on Movistar Plus+ to continue to invest in singular film and TV projects he said: 'The Movistar Plus+ model is going to continue that direction.' 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Fox News
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Nicolas Cage 'could have died' getting 'pounded to smithereens' while filming latest movie
Nicolas Cage recently had a near-death experience. While filming for his latest role in "The Surfer," the 61-year-old actor revealed he "got pounded to smithereens" while practicing his surfing skills: a stunt, he said, that could've killed him. "I have surfed, but every time I've attempted surfing, I've been pounded to smithereens," Cage, who plays a businessman who returns to Australia in hopes of buying his childhood beach house, told Entertainment Weekly. "I surfed down on Sunset Beach. When I was trying to learn, my teacher gave me a short board. I said, 'Look, I want a long board.'" "I just got pounded and literally got stuck in the rip tide, and they said they saw my board, they call it 'tombstone,' like that triangle top," he continued, describing a situation in which the tip of his board stuck out of the water. "I'm climbing up the leash as I'm somersaulting, and I could have died," he continued. "Now I have a young kid, I don't know if I want to do it anymore." Not long ago, Cage, whose impressive career spans over four decades, expressed his desire to possibly retire. "I feel that I've, at this point, after 45 years of doing this, that in over 100 movies, I feel I've pretty much said what I've had to say with cinema. And I'd like to leave on a high note and say adios," Cage told Uproxx in 2023. "I think I have to do maybe three or four more movies before I can get there and then hopefully switch formats and go into some other way of expressing my acting." "I would've liked to have left on a high note, like 'Dream Scenario.' But I have other contracts that I have to fulfill, so we'll see what happens," he continued. "I am going to be very severe and very [stringent] on the selection process moving forward. But for me to do another movie, I do want to explore other formats." His end goal? "The goal is to retire, surf, drink red wine and eat spaghetti," he told EW.
Epoch Times
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
‘The Surfer': Nicolas Cage Goes Full-Tilt Gonzo
R | 1h 40m | Drama, Mystery, Thriller | 2025 Regardless of the issues he has in his personal life (excessive spending, tax debt, five marriages), few can deny the acting talent of Nicolas Cage and his seemingly tireless work in front of the camera. Some naysayers claim Cage's financial woes are why he works so much, which could be true. However, from my perspective, Cage just likes what he does for a living and prefers to stay busy. A fever dream psychological thriller, 'The Surfer,' finds Cage riffing on his 'paranoid persecuted victim' mode. Cage's character lands not too far from his roles in 'Raising Arizona,' 'Red Rock West,' 'Mandy,' and 'Dream Scenario.' The unnamed title character is equal parts optimistic, proud, unwavering, and more than a tad bullheaded. Exterior Chamber Piece The action takes place entirely at a parking lot and the Australian beach it overlooks. 'The Surfer' has a baked-in claustrophobic air that makes it play out like an outdoor chamber piece. Irish director Lorcan Finnegan ('Vivarium' and 'Nocebo') and his fellow countryman, first time feature writer Thomas Martin, slowly amp up the dread factor right out of the gate. Director Lorcan Finnegan (L) and Nicolas Cage on the set of "The Surfer." Roadside Attractions The Surfer and his teen son (credited only as the Kid, played by Finn Little) arrive at the fictional Luna Bay, where the Surfer grew up. After reaching the sand, they are told in no uncertain terms that if they don't live there, they can't surf there. Not wanting to be there to begin with, the Kid implores his father to leave, but the Surfer refuses. When told the same thing by Scally (Julian McMahon), the Surfer only digs in deeper. He tells Scally he's buying his childhood home (which is visible from the beach) in mere days, but no dice. The irresistible force has met the immovable object. Test of Wills For the next hour, 'The Surfer' becomes a test of wills between the Surfer, Scally, and the dozen or so members of Scally's gang dubbed the 'Bay Boys.' Mostly young beach bum types with foul mouths and questionable hygiene, the Bay Boys taunt the Surfer at every turn. This includes, but is not limited to, defacing his Lexus, stealing his belongings, and beating him whenever he encroaches their space, meaning everywhere. Scally (Julian McMahon, C) and the Bad Boys confront the surfer, in "The Surfer." Roadside Attractions The Surfer has separate yet equally disquieting encounters with the Bum (Nic Cassim) and the Cop (Justin Rosniak). He's now convinced there is a giant conspiracy looking to bring him down, which is understandable, but not entirely true. A combination of his own misplaced ego, perceived humiliation, past errors, summertime heat, dehydration, and some major league Bay Boy gaslighting is slowly but surely driving the Surfer mad. Related Stories 1/15/2024 10/13/2023 With many of Finnegan's framing choices, and an odd, up-tempo, light jazz score by composer François Tétaz, the movie carries an unmistakable 1970s-era exploitation genre vibe. This becomes even more apparent with the overlap of subplots. A quick glance at some of the early reviews on Rotten Tomatoes will reveal that many of them (mostly positive) contain the phrase 'toxic masculinity.' A term that came into vogue in the last five or so years, this intentionally negative catch-all description is beyond overused, and that's the case with these reviews. David Fincher This collective knee-jerk labeling could be because there are only four female speaking roles in the movie (one of them off-screen), and that most of the men behave like … well, men. A huge, thoroughly out-of-left-field (but very welcome) third act twist negates most of the alleged 'toxic' qualities. This is the point where Martin (non-spoiler spoiler ahead) tips his hat to two David Fincher movies: 'The Game' and 'Fight Club.' The Kid (Finn Little), in "The Surfer." Roadside Attractions Charged with appearing in all but two of the movie's 100 minutes, Cage spends close to half of that time performing solo, or only in the company of animals. This isn't quite as easy as it might initially sound. Acting is mostly reacting; not having another human to interact with and moving silently to one's own voiceover is something most actors can't pull off with conviction. Cage's performance here easily ranks among his all-time Top 10. 'The Surfer' isn't a movie for all or most tastes. It's blunt, raw, in your face, and unforgiving. It's also strangely cathartic and freeing. Sometimes one has to be broken in order to feel whole and complete. The film opens in theaters on May 2. 'The Surfer' Director: Lorcan Finnegan Stars: Nicolas Cage, Julian McMahon, Nic Cassim, Justin Rosniak Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes MPAA Rating: R Release Date: May 2, 2025 Rating: 4 stars out of 5 What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to
Los Angeles Times
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
‘The Surfer' is a gnarly psychodrama in which Nicolas Cage can't catch a break
A sunny beach noir sounds like a contradiction until you're sweating in the sand aware of the sting in your eyes and the uncomfortable sense that there's something wrong with you, your life and how you're living it. Why aren't you having more fun? 'The Surfer,' directed by Lorcan Finnegan ('Vivarium') and written by Thomas Martin, captures that scenic unease and cranks up the heat until even its own bright yellow retro title font looks sarcastic. It's a film in which the mythic crashes into the ridiculous, the intersection where its star Nicolas Cage has also staked his career. Playing an unnamed surfer stuck high and dry atop a parched parking lot, Cage stares down at the waves below with the thirst of a battered cartoon coyote. You half-expect to see his pupils pop out of his binocular lenses. The action all takes place on a small spot of coastland in fictitious Luna Bay, Australia, where Cage's character claims he grew up before moving to California at age 15. His accent doesn't have a trace of it, but at least his skin is tanned the same shade of orange as his hair. Now a linen-suit-clad businessman, he's returned with his own teenage son (Finn Little) shortly before Christmas with some paternal ocean wisdom. 'You either surf it or you get wiped out,' Cage tells his boy, philosophically. The kid is unimpressed by him; the local surf bullies even less so. Cage doesn't get a toe in the tide before he's given the heave-ho by a pretentious group of quasi-spiritual surfers called the Bay Boys. The beach is public, Cage insists. The Bay Boys' guru Scalley (Julian McMahon, fantastic) is unmoved. 'Yeah, but nah,' Scalley says and shrugs, his chill turning ice cold. An intimidatingly fit and happy life coach, Scalley promotes the power of male primal energy, although the film is savvy enough to point out that he was also born rich and curates an Instagram. Kudos to costumer Lien See Leong for outfitting McMahon in a hooded terry cloth poncho that makes him look like Jesus walked across the water to hang ten. 'The Surfer' has a plot you could recount in 30 seconds. First, Cage won't leave and then he can't leave — and then he can't do anything without the Bay Boys making him suffer. ('Suffer' and 'surfer,' Martin's script points out, are only one letter apart.) The film is inspired by a real-life surf gang from the Palos Verdes Peninsula, but everything from the pace to the performances has been amplified into absurdity. A minute never goes by without Cage's circumstances getting worse. His insistence on staying put makes him sacrifice one status object after another — his phone, his shoes, his car — and it isn't long until he's limping and ranting and crouching next to condom wrappers while men chase him with tiki torches. Luna Bay drives people lunatic. It's all building toward the same tsunami of rage. Cage has been on a streak of making catchy low-budget B-movies by rising filmmakers such as 'Pig,' 'Dream Scenario' and 'The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.' It's a brilliant approach: His fame gets interesting projects off the ground and, in turn, he gets to be the biggest thing in them. Not every film works, but enough of them do, particularly the ones that promise violence — which this delivers, but not in the way you might think. Most of 'The Surfer's' damage is mental; we're steeped in Cage's descent. It would make a great double-feature with Burt Lancaster's 1968 'The Swimmer,' another hallucinatory psychodrama about a braggart skidding downhill. The tribalistic Bay Boys deserve sea urchin spikes jammed into their toes. You come to hate their enviable ease, the pink zinc cream slashed across their noses, their wagging tongues and middle fingers. (They even sabotage the water fountain, just like Rome's Gen. Aquillius is said to have poisoned his enemy's wells.) Their giant, phony smiles reminded me of dolphins circling their prey and their mean laughter is blended into the sound of cackling birds. I think the film knows that the gang name Bay Boys — the same one as the actual Californians — is a lame idea of cool. It's hard for the characters to say it with menace. More unnerving is the way everyone just accepts these guys are in charge. Shrugs one ritzy woman, 'It stops them beating the Botox out of their wives.' At stake is our outrage that the beauty in this world has been commandeered by people who act like they own the planet. We wouldn't be as invested if the stakes were privately owned — say, a golf club or a gated community — although Cage's character with his luxury car and costly latte habit probably cares about those, too. He's no honorable underdog, brushing off a bum (Nicholas Cassim) who begs him for help. Cage doesn't want to equal the playing field. He either wants to belong or burn it all down. For him, this beach is personal. As a boy, he played on this exact spot. As a man (and there's more testosterone in this movie than water in the Pacific Ocean) he's desperate to buy back his grandfather's house on the cliff. These blue-green waves are his birthright. In phantasmagoric flashbacks, we learn that his family spilled blood in their foam. Now, that promise is receding by the hour as guys with happier families and healthier muscles take his place. The grief in this film is relatable to anyone who's realized how hard it is to go home again, whether that means a newly gentrified neighborhood or simply the security of what a middle-class wage used to afford. Sun and sea are in every frame. Golden light dapples on Cage's face. Aerial shots of water are used as scene wipes and their crashing noise underscores his psychic distress. Radek Ladczuk's psychedelic camerawork loves dramatic zooms and lenses that make bodies blend and distort, underscoring how easily someone can slide from comfortable to wretched, and the grandly mystical soundtrack by François Tétaz is wonderful, even if it uses enough wind chimes to summon Poseidon. 'It's all building to this breaking point,' Cage says of the waves. Audiences hoping for a gonzo bloodbath will be disappointed that Finnegan keeps his morality murky. But it's the right choice. It bugs you just like 'The Surfer' intends to, making the film follow you home like sand in your shoes.
