Digger

Some movies seem destined for mixed reactions. That may be somewhat apparent before their release, but it invariably surfaces once in distribution. And it would seem to be very much the case with the latest and long-awaited release from writer-director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, a project that has been heavily promoted for some time. To complicate matters, “Digger” is a film that could easily fall prey to spoilers if too much is revealed in advance (a point decisively driven home in a caution posted on screen before the picture’s start at press previews), so I apologize in advance if this analysis seems somewhat cryptic or evasive. The film primarily follows the wily exploits of Digger Rockwell (Tom Cruise in his first return to a character who essentially isn’t an action-adventure hero since “Magnolia” (1999)), an aging, loud-mouthed good ole boy oil tycoon who is one of the most powerful men in the world. He’s good friends with the equally boisterous President Compson (John Goodman in what is arguably the best performance of his career), a bought-and-paid-for politician who conveys an impression of independence but is nevertheless quietly beholden to the protagonist and the commodity his corporation controls. But, for all the power these two colleagues wield, even their considerable resources and responsiveness are taxed when an explosion on a Greenland drilling tract leased to Digger’s company triggers an environmental emergency – the detachment of an enormous ice shelf destined for collision with northern Europe. And, since Digger is responsible for the disaster and whatever fallout stems from the actions of his American company, how are he and Compson supposed to respond? But that’s only the half of what’s transpiring here, and that’s where those spoilers come into play. What’s more, this is also where the mixed reactions to this offering are most likely to emerge. Indeed, to say more would reveal too much, but suffice it to say that the movie takes a radical turn at this juncture, one that some may find hard to follow initially, even though this shift is not entirely unexpected given that it recalls similar changes found in some of the filmmaker’s previous pictures, like “Birdman” (2014) and “Bardo” (2022). While some of this could probably have been handled differently (and better), the overall narrative nevertheless makes for an intriguing story filled with insightful (if familiar) messages about environmental decline, the unchecked power of big business, greedy CEOs and compromised politicians, and a public that often complains but takes few meaningful steps to counteract any of the foregoing. The picture could have also used a little less shouting, not only in the characters’ dialogue, but also in the conveyance of its sentiments. The writing has its strong points (especially in its piercing one-liners and pointed contentions), and the performances are generally solid, including those by the leads and supporting cast members Riz Ahmed, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg and Jesse Plemons. But the biggest drawback in this satire is that there’s really no one to pull for, and that keeps me at least from giving this release a stronger endorsement. Perhaps it would take another viewing to recommend it more enthusiastically. But that would undoubtedly take some digging.

Check out my full review @ https://www.manuelsbento.com/digger-2026-tom-cruise-and-alejandro-g-inarritu-make-noise-worth-arguing-about/ Rating: B DIGGER hammers its numerous capitalistic themes with zero subtlety, and yes, it's loud, repetitive, and not as funny as the comedy of catastrophic proportions it thinks it is. But I quite enjoyed riding this crazy rollercoaster of a movie. Tom Cruise's over-the-top performance is purposefully captivating, Riz Ahmed is the supporting standout, and the VistaVision cinematography and production design are at an award-worthy level of stunning. Its final message, "compliance is freedom," stuck with me. We stay quiet to protect the lives we like, but what about everyone else's? Divisive? Of course, as any satire worth its salt should be! It gets everyone talking, and this one has, so job well done.