Film Review: ‘Digger’

The trailer for ‘Digger’, a new production by Warner Bros. Pictures, showcases a film starring Tom Cruise, John Goodman, Riz Ahmed, Sandra Hüller, and Jesse Plemons, with direction by Alejandro G. Iñárritu.

While a successful satire should offer innovation and humor, ‘Digger’ fails to provide either, despite the efforts of Cruise and Iñárritu. Cruise transforms into Digger Rockwell, an eccentric oil tycoon with a fondness for both his wealth and his perpetually ill cat, Maggie.

Digger’s refusal to accept defeat in his oil drilling endeavors leads to an impending catastrophe. A minor crack at his Greenland site quickly escalates to an explosion, causing an ice shelf break which threatens Europe with a tsunami and catastrophic flooding.

John Goodman’s portrayal of President Compson and his evangelical cabinet rush to Rockwell’s estate for damage control amid the crisis. Despite the film’s potential, Cruise’s performance parallels past roles, and the cast largely delivers one-dimensional, often hysterical performances.

Goodman’s Compson draws clear parallels to Donald Trump, yet lacks nuance. Sandra Hüller’s portrayal of Digger’s half-sister Emma is underutilized, as her role primarily involves complaints about how the disaster affects her non-profit. Riz Ahmed stands out as the scientist warning about the consequences of Rockwell Corp’s actions.

Iñárritu attempts grand narrative swings but misses the mark, delivering fewer laughs than his previous celebrated satire ‘Birdman’. The film draws comparisons to Stanley Kubrick’s ‘Dr. Strangelove’, yet it instead mirrors the preachiness of Adam McKay’s 2021 satire ‘Don’t Look Up’.

Despite its storytelling failures, ‘Digger’ boasts impressive visuals from cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki and a whimsical score by Cosmo Sheldrake.

The Verdict:

‘Digger’ is a disappointing film that fails to meet the standards set by Cruise and Iñárritu’s prior work. It’s a notable misfire for the awards season.

Rated R for pervasive language.
Running time: 2 hours, 9 minutes.