20 Best Movie Performances Of 2021
3. Nicolas Cage - Pig
If you somehow needed a reminder of Nicolas Cage's sublime acting chops, he turned in his best performance in many years in Michael Sarnoski's stunning debut Pig.
As Rob, a reclusive former chef who sets out in pursuit of his kidnapped truffle pig, Cage is a portrait of simmering composure.
With perhaps just one major exception, the trademark Nic Cage freakouts are nowhere to be seen here, the actor instead enacting quiet, philosophical violence on those he interrogates about his pig's whereabouts.
The film's standout scene, a can't-look-away confrontation between Rob and one of his former pasta chefs, is one of the best things you'll see all year, and some of Cage's finest ever work.
Cage really, really deserves Oscar recognition for this, but it sadly doesn't seem very likely.