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Post by Pisces on Aug 15, 2009 9:25:40 GMT -5
I realize I am coming to the party late on this one, but I just saw this movie for the first time. It blew me away. No - Cillian blew me away.
Since I discovered this so late (and I am kicking myself for it now, believe me), I won't delve so much into the movie itself here, as I am sure it's been discussed a zillion times on this forum previously. LOL. What I want to bring up is how Disco Pigs relates to the movies Cillian has done since, and may do in the future. Seeing his performance in DP made me think of the thread we have going that concerns whether or not we want to see him as a villain again. Because I had an epiphany that it may not even be a villain that I want to see Cillian portray after all - Pig was not necessarily a bad guy, though he did some bad things - it's the intensity that I'm craving. The intensity that was so fully on display as Pig, and in flashes as Rippner... that go-for-broke, fearless and aggressive character that sticks with you long after.
So... Pig: villain, or not?
I did not identify him as a villain, per se - but then again, when someone is so violent and inflicts serious bodily harm on another (for so little provocation), perhaps that labels them 'bad guy' by definition. If so, then I suppose I do want to see Cillian play a villain again.
But it could also be said that Pig was not a villain or anti-hero at all, but rather a sympathetic figure who could not cope with the loss of his love/obsession. Does instability make one a villain?
I'm just rambling here. Trying to sort my thoughts on whether it's a villain I want to see Cillian play in the future... or simply a powerful character who feels strongly, and gives the audience something to feed off and think about. I don't think WTD did that. LOL.
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Post by Larvalee on Aug 18, 2009 2:30:37 GMT -5
Good question. I have wondered this myself. I don't think I would call Pig a villain but then again what is a villain exactly? I decided to look up the definition on wikipedia just to get the actual definition to debate this, and to be a uber nerd. lol
"A villain (also known in film and literature as the "bad guy," "black hat" or "heavy") is an "evil" character in a story, whether a historical narrative or, especially, a work of fiction. The villain usually is the antagonist, the character who tends to have a negative effect on other characters. A female villain is sometimes called a villainess (often to differentiate her from a male villain). Random House Unabridged Dictionary defines villain as "a cruelly malicious person who is involved in or devoted to wickedness or crime; scoundrel; or a character in a play, novel, or the like, who constitutes an important evil agency in the plot."
Even reading the definition I'm not sure if I'd call Pig a villain or not. He does have a negative effect on other characters in the film that's for sure. I wouldn't call him "cruelly malicious person who is devoted to wickedness or crime." or at least that is not his overall intention. I would call his character obsessive and kind of disturbed but I don't know if he really fully realizes what he is doing. I wonder the same thing, does the awareness have to be there to be considered a villain or are they kind a victim themselves in a way?
I think you are right, I think it's an intense character a lot of us want to see, not necessarily a villain per-say.
Oh and I think we can safely all agree that Neil in WTD is not a villain. lol
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Post by emma286 on Aug 18, 2009 7:08:15 GMT -5
Reading through this thread has got me deeply curious about that movie Disco Pigs. I have heard of that one before, and know it was amongst Cillians early stuff, and a drama story, but didn't know too much about it until now. It sounds as if he played a pretty interesting character in that one. I really like the sound of it! :-)
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Post by Larvalee on Aug 18, 2009 12:46:04 GMT -5
You really have to see it. It's pretty heavy but it will blow you away trust me.  |
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Post by emma286 on Aug 19, 2009 6:08:41 GMT -5
You really have to see it. It's pretty heavy but it will blow you away trust me. I'm sure it'll be well worth the look! Especially as every now and then I really do like a good heavy film - with a complex set of characters and plot. It seems to me that Breakfast at Pluto is the same kind of thing too. I'm really keen on the sound of both of them - and can't wait to see them! |
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Post by Larvalee on Aug 19, 2009 7:57:18 GMT -5
Actually Breakfast on Pluto is heavy and a little sad in parts but for the most part it's pretty light hearted and funny. |
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Post by emma286 on Aug 19, 2009 8:49:04 GMT -5
Hmm...sounds to me as if it's a black comedy type movie. Not that that puts me off at all though as I do enjoy them. I think it actually makes a movie all the more interesting if it has varying moods throughout. I think it definitely sounds as if both those movies would be highly worth watching. I'm definitely going to be checking them out at some stage!
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Post by Bubbles on Aug 19, 2009 10:48:55 GMT -5
When I first saw Disco Pigs it really upset me, I'd never felt like that about any film before... but then I watched it again a couple of months later and just cried at the end, it was sooo sad. Pig was troubled but was a sweet and caring boy at times, but then he'd change and this temper would errupt. In Breakfast on Pluto, Kitten was just a loving, sweet and good natured boy who just wanted his mammy. I love all of the characters that Cillian plays, I loved him as Gus too in Bitter Harvest (or How Harry Became a Tree.) His work is good whatever it is, he does sweet natured, evil, or edgy characters so well. That's why I like Cillian, what ever you want to watch of his there is lots of choice because all of the characters are so different and he's one talented actor. Can't wait for his next films.......
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Post by Larvalee on Aug 20, 2009 0:27:31 GMT -5
You are so right Bubbles, there really is a Cillian movie for every mood you could possibly be in and each character is beautifully acted. |
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Post by emma286 on Sept 17, 2009 11:32:17 GMT -5
Well I'm pleased to say that I've now seen Breakfast on Pluto! Have to admit the first time I watched it I found it a little hard to get into (probably didn't help that at the time I was feeling pretty tired out - not to mention somewhat hung over - after a late night out the day before which stopped me taking all of it in properly lol!) but after a little while started to get into it more. And after watching it for the second time today, have to say that I do think it's a really good interesting little film - again with a fantastic performance from Cillian as Kitten, as well as good acting all round from the cast. I really enjoyed watching it!  Annoyingly though I still haven't had the chance to see Disco Pigs yet.  As though I ordered it on dvd from Amazon back around the 5th of September, I'm still waiting to receive it. It's the first time I've ever ordered a dvd from Amazon and have had it take this long to be delivered grrr! (lol). Still I'm supposed to be getting it by the 22nd at the latest, so hopefully I will have it by then! |
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Post by emma286 on Sept 25, 2009 10:11:26 GMT -5
Finally received the dvd today and have now watched the film!
After seeing this one, I can definitely see why people think this film is brilliantly done - as would agree. Again I think it was brilliantly acted, very well directed, found the story extremely gripping and the characters very interesting. However, at the same time it's definitely one of the saddest movies I've watched and because of that, I think it'll be some time before I watch it again. While I certainly don't regret my purchase, or choice to watch it, I found it to be one of those stories that not only left me with a really heavy depressed feeling at the end - but one that is taking it's time to wear off! I think my next choice of movie will have to be a comedy, to help me recover lol!
Anyways on the topic of Pig being a villian:
Hmm..have to admit that that's a question that I also find hard to answer. Certainly there seem to be elements of that in Pig. I would even say - to a certain extent - maybe even in Runt. For example, when you see that scene at the beginning of the film when Pig threatens that guy in the off licence for free alcohol and hits him - and Runt stands back - obviously enjoying the cruelty. They are being cruel for the sake of it. Not because of any provocation at that point. That's certainly the kind of way a villian would think. Yet at other moments in the film you get a different impression about both of them. I thnk both characters are probably supposed to be depicted (though particularly Pig) as having both elements of good and bad in them - rather than it being a clear cut case of being a villian or good person. But with Pig, as has been mentioned in here earlier, his mental instability and confusion make him extra prone to acting in bad ways to a large extent - even though as a person he's not wholly bad.
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Post by bunnie24 on Feb 1, 2011 12:03:37 GMT -5
I finally watched in on Netflix last night, I only got through half of it because well, I live in Texas, and that Winter Storm hit and knocked our power out for a few hours...but I liked what I saw so far...I can't wait to finish it!
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Post by Zombiekitten on Feb 11, 2011 16:37:09 GMT -5
I recently watched "Disco Pigs" (I felt like I just HAD to ;D Didn't want to miss this) I don't know how far I can go on interpretation of Pigs character for my English is not perfect and the Irish sometimes was hard to understand. So I hope no one gets my words wrong or something... In my opinion Pig is not a "classic" villain. He's more like a seriously mental ill person. Okay... lot of villains ARE maniacs, regarding all those comic book villains. ;D But in Disco Pigs the context is completely another one. It is a real life situation. While watching the movie, especially when it comes to the end, that scene in the palace disco, I felt a little bit like Pig has something autistic in his behavior... I mean... the way he couldn't express his feelings to Runt... the way he talks to Runt, repeating over and over "Happy birthday Runt" as if there was nothing else he could talk about... And he is aware of this! As you can see in the scene in the bathroom where he breaks the mirror. He sort of regrets his behaviour. (that's what I made out of this... But I can be wrong...) But Pig can do nothing against it, is caught in his own disability. I think, that boy has a serious mental problem. And in my opinion its not only obsessive love. This obsession is just another aspect of his mental illness. Another one is that he enjoys violence that much. There is something wrong in Pigs mind. Something serious. And it's not just some bad behavior. But that makes him kind of not responsible for the things he does, cause it's a mental problem. He's just sick. He's werchted... I feel deeply sorry for him as much as I hate him... Disturbing....  I hope I didn't offend anybody with this quite strong opinion about Pig... It is just what I felt watching the movie. But maybe I didn't get it all, for English is not my mother tounge... Despite this Cillians performance is outstanding and brilliant!! I would love the see him again in a role like this. ;D |
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Post by Cait on Feb 11, 2011 17:36:34 GMT -5
I recently watched "Disco Pigs" (I felt like I just HAD to ;D Didn't want to miss this) I don't know how far I can go on interpretation of Pigs character for my English is not perfect and the Irish sometimes was hard to understand. So I hope no one gets my words wrong or something... In my opinion Pig is not a "classic" villain. He's more like a seriously mental ill person. Okay... lot of villains ARE maniacs, regarding all those comic book villains. ;D But in Disco Pigs the context is completely another one. It is a real life situation. While watching the movie, especially when it comes to the end, that scene in the palace disco, I felt a little bit like Pig has something autistic in his behavior... I mean... the way he couldn't express his feelings to Runt... the way he talks to Runt, repeating over and over "Happy birthday Runt" as if there was nothing else he could talk about... And he is aware of this! As you can see in the scene in the bathroom where he breaks the mirror. He sort of regrets his behaviour. (that's what I made out of this... But I can be wrong...) But Pig can do nothing against it, is caught in his own disability. I think, that boy has a serious mental problem. And in my opinion its not only obsessive love. This obsession is just another aspect of his mental illness. Another one is that he enjoys violence that much. There is something wrong in Pigs mind. Something serious. And it's not just some bad behavior. But that makes him kind of not responsible for the things he does, cause it's a mental problem. He's just sick. He's werchted... I feel deeply sorry for him as much as I hate him... Disturbing.... I hope I didn't offend anybody with this quite strong opinion about Pig... It is just what I felt watching the movie. But maybe I didn't get it all, for English is not my mother tounge... Despite this Cillians performance is outstanding and brilliant!! I would love the see him again in a role like this. ;D You weren't the only one who had that thought, Zombiekitten. I, too, thought that Pig had underlying mental illness along with obsessive tendencies (clearly), and the separation from Runt was like a trigger and his mental health just continued to deteriorate. There are many kinds of villains, and I find that each type gives me a different feeling. Sometimes I hate them, simply because they're against the heroes and are otherwise annoying. Other times I find them compelling, and appealing, for example, Jackson Rippner. But villains like Pig fill you with emptiness and pity - my heart was breaking for Pig the entire time because being able to see that he was sick dissuaded me from hating him. How could I hate someone who was so lost and helpless? Yes, he did terrible, violent things, but he was not in control. Although the obsession with Runt had a huge role in it, it was beyond that. It was an illness deep within Pig that was already a part of him, just waiting to come out. Perhaps I've over-analyzed Pig's character, but I think he is a really complex being, and there was definitely more going on than obsession. The ending was especially painful for me, because he saw no other option besides death, but I wonder if he expected Runt to follow him? I just hated that he had to die.  Cillian did such an outstanding performance. He is always so convincing in his roles. I imagine portraying someone as unstable as Pig would not be an easy task, yet he was flawless. |
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Post by Zombiekitten on Feb 11, 2011 17:53:26 GMT -5
But villains like Pig fill you with emptiness and pity - my heart was breaking for Pig the entire time because being able to see that he was sick dissuaded me from hating him. How could I hate someone who was so lost and helpless? Yes, he did terrible, violent things, but he was not in control. Although the obsession with Runt had a huge role in it, it was beyond that. It was an illness deep within Pig that was already a part of him, just waiting to come out. Perhaps I've over-analyzed Pig's character, but I think he is a really complex being, and there was definitely more going on than obsession. The ending was especially painful for me, because he saw no other option besides death, but I wonder if he expected Runt to follow him? I just hated that he had to die. Yes, I agree, I felt emptiness too as much as my heart was breaking! Pig was not in control, you're right. That makes this story so damn sad. And his death in the end... I felt too that death was the only way out for him. It was like killing a poor animal that isn't able to live anymore because of some serious injury. In my opinion, he expected Runt to fallow him... Which is also sad, because he might imagined a happy "life after death" with her. Pig is really a complex being, you're absolutely right, Cait. And the movie is worth watch it more than one time. I 'm sure I 'll see some more aspects of his psych if I watch Disco Pigs again. |
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As though I ordered it on dvd from Amazon back around the 5th of September, I'm still waiting to receive it. It's the first time I've ever ordered a dvd from Amazon and have had it take this long to be delivered grrr! (lol). Still I'm supposed to be getting it by the 22nd at the latest, so hopefully I will have it by then!
