Danny Glover in Mr. Pig (2016)
Technical Rating
Plot and Story: 29/35
Cinematography: 21/25
All Editing: 11/15
Acting: 14/15
Script: 5/7
Musical Score and Soundtrack: 3/3
Total: 83/100
If you take a look at my list of favorite films, you’ll likely be familiar with many of them. I appreciate movies that bring you into a world or situation so unique that you briefly forget about the reality you live in. Although this tends to describe most of my favorites, it’s a secondary reason for why I love them. The films I consider the best are those that I am able to make an emotional connection with. Personally, I loved Mr. Pig, because I was able to relate to it on a deeper level.
Danny Glover stars in the low-budget film as Ambrose, aka Mr. Pig, making just as much money for his role as he did in his first feature. Ambrose is a hog farmer in the midst of an end-of-life crisis, traveling through Mexico to sell his precious hog, Howard, to someone willing to give Howard a good home. His daughter, played by Maya Rudolph, is really worried about him, and drives down to find him struggling and alone on the outskirts of town. The remainder of the movie focuses on their relationship as she tries to make the connection with her father that she has always desired.
I was lucky enough to get to listen to Danny Glover comment on and answer questions about the film before and after its showing at this year’s Minneapolis Film Festival. I wasn’t quite alive yet when the Lethal Weapon films came out, so I’ve never really had the opportunity to become a big Danny Glover fan. Watching him in Mr. Pig and hearing him speak, however, considerably changed my perspective. Every story he told about his life and his experiences was so impressive; with each word he spoke I grew to respect him more and more not only as an actor, but as a human being. I’ll add in some fun facts from the Q & A at the end, but there’s one thing in particular that he said that really resounded with me. He offered a piece of advice to everyone, something that someone he used to work with told him when he was much younger: “Make people want to sing your song.” This is what he did with Mr. Pig, but also what he has done with his entire career. With humility in his character, his success has followed. As an aspiring writer so desperately seeking to get involved in the film industry, this meant a lot to me, a statement that everyone should want to live their life by.
Mr. Pig was an amazing film. I love all animals and am a strong supporter of the ethical treatment of them, so that part of the movie’s message had a significant effect on me. That was my connection to Mr. Pig. Other viewers will relate to having an aging father or mother and reversed caretaking responsibilities. Not everyone will be able to connect to this film, but it speaks a very thoughtful message for those who can.
On a technical level, Mr. Pig was beautiful. The story was simple yet intricate, letting the emotional aspect of every component shine through. Diego Luna’s directing was fairly unorthodox at times, but it always felt natural, and it showcased Danny Glover’s award worthy performance extremely well. Maya Rudolph looked very comfortable in her role as the daughter, continuing to show that she’s capable of excelling in more than just comedy skits. Though few will notice or point this out, the film’s sound editing was incredible. The way in which Howard’s snorting was exemplified at crucial points in the story was so well crafted.
Altogether, Mr. Pig is a film best suited for the older generations, but something that any true cinephile will enjoy.
Fun Facts from Danny Glover
– 3 different hogs were used to play the part of Howard
– They were all rescued from the plantation shown in the film
– They are all now living lives that Ambrose would be content with
– Glover’s grandfather used to raise pigs (Glover told a funny story of how he fed them watermelon rinds as a kid and they all got sick)
– He never had pets growing up but felt a real connection with these hogs
Review Source: Reel People Reviews
