The best way to watch Tom Cruise’s new film Digger is to know nothing about it. The more you know beforehand, the less fun you’ll have with the surprise elements of the movie. And there are a few, dandy twists at hand. First and foremost, this movie was billed or hyped as an ultimate Tom Cruise vehicle, with that super nostalgic trailer that traced all of Cruise’s iconic movies and performances. But the truth is, this is an Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu movie, through and through. There’s a unique Wes Anderson hangover here and it really adds to the quirky setting of the film. But all said and done, despite Tom Cruise’s eclectic performance and a satire that’s relevant to the world, this film is a hot, beautiful, surreal mess.
The story deals with an American oil tycoon named Digger Rockwell (Tom Cruise) and how his complacent capitalist greed destroys the world, even as Digger projects himself as the saviour of the world. There’s an ensemble cast as well featuring some fabulous performances from Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Huller, Michael Stuhlbarg and more. Even if you’ve watched every Inarritu and Cruise movie in your lifetime, you won’t be able to guess the twists in Digger. This film creates a completely new setting with its subject and treatment. Is this a satire, is it a farce, is it slapstick, dark comedy or surrealism? Digger is all of these rolled into one.
Does the film try to do too many things all at once? Yes! Does it get a little too cuckoo and little too experimental? Yes! Does it become incomprehensible? No, never! Does it entertain throughout its 2 hour runtime? Absolutely! Digger attempts to tell a tale of American capitalism and Human nature by presenting everything in an unconventional narrative. It’s not entirely coherent, but that is by design. Is the end result a cold, clinical drama or satire that “wows” the viewer? Not immediately. If you truly decide to dig deeper into the story and screenplay, this film will hit a gut punch. But if you just “view” the theatrics and hope the meaning hits you in a literal sense, this film will disappoint.
Rarely has a film come close the legendary Dr Strangelove (1964), but Digger walks that path and delivers an experience seldom felt on celluloid. But it’s an acquired taste. If you’re exposed to the works of David Lynch, Maya Deren, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Terry Gilliam, you’ll be at home in Inarritu’s audacious mess. If you watch this like it’s a Tom Cruise vehicle, you’ll be left with a WTF aftertaste.
The choice is a tough one. But for those who are an informed audience, you’ll relish the final takeaway. That human beings are the true scourge of this planet. We’re truly the virus of Earth and even after we end up destroying this planet, we’ll still find a way to be resilient and survive. Even a post-apocalyptic scenario won’t stop us from our Roman Colosseum habits. We’re a doomed race and our humanity is nothing but farce, a satire, a comedy.
Also Read: Digger: Alejandro G. Iñárritu explains why he shot Tom Cruise starrer entirely in VistaVision
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