SPOILER ALERT: This article contains significant spoilers for “Digger,” now showing in theaters through Warner Bros.
When does a poor film transform into an intriguing experience?
Typically, the downfall of a film lies in its ability to bore audiences; the sense of déjà vu from recycled plots, disengaged performances, and lackluster visuals. However, “Digger” defies this trend. Despite being on track for a box office failure, the film maintains a level of intrigue. Tom Cruise delivers an over-the-top performance, while director Alejandro G. Iñárritu adds a bold flair to the narrative, complemented by Emmanuel Lubezki’s dynamic cinematography.
The film’s beginning is a loud and exaggerated introduction to Cruise’s character, ambitious oilman Digger Rockwell. With grotesque prosthetics, Cruise quickly unveils Digger’s vulgarity: sharing sardines with his pet cat, exposing himself awkwardly to his maid, and flaunting a wild comb-over.
Digger is surrounded by an ensemble of off-the-wall caricatures as he discovers that his oil operations might have inadvertently triggered a global climate crisis. This approach feels tired and cliché, as the filmmakers shout their environmental themes rather than subtly weeding them into the narrative. The film’s promotional tagline promising “a comedy of catastrophic proportions” seems more of an empty boast than a manifestation of satirical brilliance reminiscent of “Dr. Strangelove.”
An unexpected twist, however, reinvents the narrative. While “Digger” isn’t a musical, it reveals itself as a play within a play: the preceding scenes are from a rehearsal for an ambitious theatrical production titled “Fossil Fools.” At this juncture, Cruise drops his southern accent to present himself as Curtis Markson, the struggling lead actor tasked with balancing satire and real-world implications.
This meta twist engages audiences on a deeper level, uncovering layers of Cruise’s psyche through a character that resonates with his past iconic roles. During a promotional tour for “Digger,” interaction with journalists yielded little insight into his character, but a confrontation with director Hannah (played by Sophie Wilde) about the delicate balance between satire and reality sparks a renewed intensity in Cruise’s performance.
This narrative structure frames Iñárritu’s commentary on satire, particularly in a contemporary context where everything seems larger than life. The thespians play out scenes that echo the tension of real-world discussions at the United Nations, where Digger, oblivious to the ire directed at him, fumbles requests for absolution for his environmental misdeeds.
A pivotal moment involves Digger’s nephew, Kenny (Jesse Plemons), who acquired the rights to “Fossil Fools” and funded the production through his wealth, wrestling with motives ranging from atonement to a familial tribute. This backdrop serves as a reminder of the ongoing turmoil at the Warner Bros. studio, now grappling with new ownership and the specter of decisions made under David Ellison’s guidance.
The film concludes on a poignant note, highlighting the aftermath of Digger’s environmental transgressions as audience members don gas masks and exit into a charred world of abandoned vehicles and militarized officers. The film closes with a focus on the sky, engulfed by the sounds of nature— a haunting finale that resonates with themes of destruction and negligence, marking it as potentially the last film from Warner Bros.
While not all plot elements deliver effectively—such as Curtis’ subplot regarding his daughter’s missing flight feeling insufficiently explored—the film presents a multitude of ideas rather than drowning in superficial dialogue. At its zenith, it recalls Charlie Kaufman’s far superior 2008 film “Synecdoche, New York,” which features a theater director who builds an entire city in a warehouse for the sake of authenticity.
Even though the decision to infuse this additional layer of artistic commentary doesn’t elevate “Digger” into the realm of essential cinema, it offers enough substance to attract a diverse audience— from dedicated Cruise fans to those enchanted by cinematic train wrecks— presenting more depth than what initially seemed like a hollow façade.
Read more about this topic:
‘Digger’ Twist: Tom Cruise Movie Is About More Than the Climate Crisis
