Going into Digger, I had a feeling this was going to be some pretentiously weird arthouse film, and honestly, I wasn’t wrong. It’s a dark comedy that’s messy and chaotic, and while it definitely has some interesting points, it’s simply not as funny or smart as it seems to think it is. Still, Tom Cruise and John Goodman are both amazing, while the visuals and sound design are incredibly effective. There’s also a twist that, in my opinion, unfortunately comes too early and hurts the film’s momentum.
Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, a powerful oil tycoon whose company is responsible for causing a potentially catastrophic disaster. There will definitely be comparisons to Les Grossman, Cruise’s Tropic Thunder character that audiences couldn’t get enough of. Both films pile on the prosthetics to make the A-lister almost unrecognisable, which was part of the charm for many.
Cruise’s performance is solid, committed and a refreshing change from the roles we usually see him in. However, once that novelty wears off, there’s not much more to latch onto beyond enjoying the ride and seeing how everything unfolds. Because of the film’s artistic nature and its anything-goes approach, I found myself becoming less invested as it went on. There is a slight reward in a reveal by the end, but the journey to get there was, to put it plainly, painful.
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Along for the bumpy and drawn-out ride are the President of the United States, played by John Goodman, and Ganesh, the scientist played by Riz Ahmed. Thankfully, their interactions with Digger are entertaining. Jesse Plemons also brings some welcome onscreen charisma, however brief his appearance is.
A big plus: the production design is amazing. The decor often feels almost like you’re walking through a museum. Just have a look at the beginning of the movie when it shows Digger’s home. Your eyes keep wandering around the frame, taking in all the little details. The visuals prove to be one of Digger‘s winning aspects, keeping you interested when things get dull.
I have to commend the sound design, as it adds much to the experience. From the echo of furniture moving, water dripping and clocks ticking, it all has a very stage play feel to it. It feels purposeful, heightening your senses and putting you on edge as you watch. Paired with camera angles reminiscent of Wes Anderson’s work, and a tone that occasionally recalls it too, Digger does have the overall appearance of a masterful piece of filmmaking.
And in terms of the film’s environmentalist message, the film adds little new to the conversation besides the ideas of greed and self-preservation. The humour isn’t much better, relying heavily on basic, misogynistic “bunch of old, powerful men” toilet humour. It works to a certain extent before becoming worn out and uncomfortable. A number of jokes come across as way over the top, with performances sometimes pushing them into try-hard territory.
Director Alejandro González Iñárritu takes major risks and continues down a creative path that feels closest to his Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). Kudos for taking those swings, but, at least for this particular reviewer, he misses the mark this time around. The film seems overly focused on being nutty and preachy rather than telling a story that gives you much reason to care. Even with Cruise doing something completely different and giving it his all, his performance can only carry it so far.
Finally, without going into detail, the film’s major narrative turn feels unearned. It would have been a nice touch if it had been saved until closer to the end, because its setup creates a disconnect of sorts from the core story. Nothing really builds from it until the film’s late, late stages, with the film instead focusing on developing characters that remain difficult to connect with.
Ultimately, if the only areas I can find to praise are the visuals and sound design, I would say this movie is a miss. Tom Cruise is acting his arse off along with his peers, but unfortunately, Digger is a slog to get through. It’s a shame, because there is intrigue at the beginning. But the deeper you dig, the clearer it is that there’s no black gold to be found here.
