‘Digger’: A Layered, Ambitious Satire
In the opening moments of Digger, we are introduced to Tom Cruise’s Digger Rockwell, a larger-than-life oil tycoon. We see him go about his morning before he is alerted that an explosion at one of his oil fields has triggered a disaster that could destroy everything. He then meets with a group of leaders and experts, including US President Compson, played by John Goodman, to figure out what to do next. Up until this point, Digger is more or less what the trailers have made it out to be: a satire that touches on geopolitical issues and the wealthy and powerful people of the world. But then a tree falls and changes everything.
It is at that moment that the film reveals its true form, that it isn’t an out and out satire, but rather a statement on art, its purpose, and its function in unprecedented times. From then on, the film stops being straightforward and becomes a metatext with layers and elements that nobody could have expected this film to have going off of the promotional material. It is also at this point where it becomes clear to see why this film has had such a divisive reaction, as it is guaranteed to confuse and perhaps frustrate the average moviegoer. Those who end up on board for what Digger is ultimately going for, however, are sure to be intrigued and impressed by the audacious nature of the film, and will find a lot to ponder within it. I certainly fall into the latter camp, as this is a film that boasts some of Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s finest craft as a director, and has some fascinating ideas surrounding the intersection of art and reality that hit me on a deep level.
Aging oil magnate Digger Rockwell (Tom Cruise) is one of the most powerful men in the world. But when an explosion at one of his oil fields causes a large ice shelf to come loose, it sets off an ecological catastrophe that spells doom for planet Earth. With many pointing the blame at Digger and his company, he sets out to try and save the world and prove his worth before potential destruction.
There are few directors as divisive as Alejandro G. Iñárritu, as his brash style and audacious brand of filmmaking either turns people completely off or deeply fascinates them. I personally fall somewhere in the middle, as he isn’t my favorite director, but his films are interesting to watch at the very least. I have generally liked the films I’ve seen from him, but I wouldn’t necessarily call any of them my favorites. But while I am a bit mixed on him, I can’t deny that has a great eye for cinema and that he isn’t afraid to take big swings. These things are very much true when it comes to Digger, as it is visually stunning and takes a lot of risks that some will love and some will hate. What struck me with this film’s visuals compared to Iñárritu’s other films is that his previous films have a showiness to them, while this film thrives in the details. There is a grand scope to the visual nature of the film, but so many of the things that make it special is that some of the most impressive things are only found when you look closer. It made me want to watch the film again as soon as possible to examine the film a bit closer and to continue peeling back its layers.
Based on the marketing, I was thinking that this film was fancying itself more of a Dr. Strangelove. After watching it, I was surprised to see that it isn’t all that much like that, and instead feels more similar to something like Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City. While there is a satiric edge present, the heart of the film has to do with the relationship between art and reality and the nature of satire itself. Where the film ends up poses interesting thoughts about satire’s purpose in our society, as well as the intentions of the people who present it to the masses. It is hard to talk about without spoiling the film entirely, but it is fascinating nonetheless.
The film’s satire is admittedly broad, but that’s exactly the point. The film isn’t concerned with skewering specific people or pushing an agenda, but it is meant to engage with the very idea of satire, how we respond to it, and who holds the power behind it. There are aspects of this and the film as a whole that are as subtle as a sledgehammer, but it is still very thought-provoking and poses some interesting questions that are worth pondering.
The involvement of Tom Cruise is interesting enough considering that this performance sees him donning prosthetics and speaking in a Southern accent. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen something so wild from him, and I personally am glad to see he still has something like this in him. But his turn as Digger Rockwell isn’t just some cartoonish stand-in for the rich and powerful, there is a humanity to Cruise’s performance. While he goes big, he makes it feel more natural and is absolutely captivating. His finest moment is hands down a sequence where Digger addresses the European Parliament and gives a lengthy monologue that gets at much of what the film is saying. But what makes the performance truly incredible is how layered it is and how these layers work together to give us one of the best and most impressive performances from Cruise in a very long time. It takes one of Hollywood’s most powerful actors to pull off what the character and the film as a whole needs, and Tom Cruise absolutely delivers.
While Cruise is undeniably the centerpiece of the film, I would be remiss if I didn’t highlight some of its excellent supporting cast. Riz Ahmed is perhaps my favorite among them, as he plays against type so well as Dr. Ganesh, a scientist and Head of Environmental Safety for Digger. Ahmed plays the character as anxious, intellectual, and passionate, and disappears into the role almost as much as Cruise does. Not to mention that he and Cruise play off each other so well. John Goodman has probably the broadest role in the film, but he absolutely nails it. He is funny, but he’s also a tad intimidating, which is perfectly in his wheelhouse. I also found Jesse Plemons’s role interesting, as he first seems to not have much to do but eventually reveals himself to be crucial to the film’s overall message. He gets a monologue that may spell things out a bit, but it is excellently delivered and unlocks another level of commentary for the film.
Digger is the type of film moviegoers have been clamoring for: an original film that takes big swings. But of course, those same moviegoers are the ones who are angry at this film because it deviates so much from the norm and are unwilling to engage with what it is saying. It’s such a shame, because this film is quite incredible. It is a big-budget arthouse film starring one of the world’s biggest stars that excels across the board and is thematically rich to boot. This is certainly Iñárritu’s magnum opus in my book, as it feels more focused and more intentional than anything I’ve seen from him, and the imagery he brings to life here is astounding. I want to go into greater detail about Digger, but it’s hard to do so without majorly spoiling the whole thing. This is a movie that needs to be seen knowing as little as possible about it in order to get the full experience. As others have said, this is a film that might divide people now, but will be looked at more favorably in the future. For now, I’m at least glad that the film has sparked conversation and seems to have a growing number of appreciators. I personally am still processing certain details of the film and am looking forward to watching it again to see what else can be found in its layers. Whether you love it or hate it, it is hard to deny that Digger is a bold, original film, and isn’t afraid to take risks, even if it comes at the cost of ruffling some feathers.
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